The mans campsite would be found to hold many books on the lost mine, and this would join a further three more mysterious deaths in 2010 and 2011 in the same area, all of whom had been seeking the legendary Dutchmans Mine. This land grant was the basis of the James Reavis Arizona land swindle (Reavis became Willing's partner and continued to try to prove the authenticity of the land grant for years after Willing's death). They even had the old rock crusher up and working. Superstition Mountains and the Lost Dutchman Mine The lost Dutchman Gold mine is generally believed to be somewhere near or in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. Anyway, the great west after Grant decided to Manifest Destiny and promote those great plains maybe theyll forget all that Civil War squabble if they start to settle into lands without so much emotional baggage tended to promote El Dorado like tales. is, according to folktales, a magnificent, rich, Scrooge McDuck like repository of gold hidden somewhere in southwestern United States. In 1847-1848 during the time of the Hidalgo Treaty when Mexico sold the territory to the United Sates the Peraltas, knowing they would lose access to their mines made one last trip bringing hundreds of miners from Sonora to mine as much as they could, but were attacked by Apaches. Their bodies were never found, but their camera was." The story differs but heres the most common take, mind you there are over 100 different versions of the Story. A beautiful site just below the western edge of the Superstition Mountains was found and obtained. Apache Junction, AZ 85119-8409, Phone options: The area is basically a free-for-all for wilderness lovers. Intrigue Journal. [25] Blair noted that the conclusion of the Arizona authorities was rejected by many, including Ruth's family, and "those who held onto the more romantic murdered-for-the-map story". Dark Mountain is beautifully directed and filmed, it really took me by surprise. You'll find us in the rugged 160,000 acre Superstition Mountain range in the Tonto National Forest in Central Arizona. For the price, this is well worth the visit. [9] As of 1975, ruins of the Peralta mine were standing.[9]. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. Since Ruth's death, there have been several other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. This account is usually dated to about 1870. All funds and donations go back into preserving the area. In later years, in 1945, a would-be treasure hunter named Barry Storm would claim that as he had been out looking for the treasure he had been fired upon by a mysterious sniper who he called Mr. The mysterious deaths and disappearances go on and on. They would be uncovered in the 1940s, but whether there is any truth to this story is anyones guess. These trails traverse from the desert floor up into the edges of the mountains. Later, he remarked that he had noticed a towering rock formation nearby, but otherwise remained clueless about the whereabouts of the place. I feel the information on the Peralta stones is most likely from a very old map of Jesuit origin. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchmans Mine. And, where praytell do most folks believe said El Dorado is safely hidden Why, in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction. These are rectangular, cross-shaped, and heart-shaped stones with etchings of a horse, a priest, a dagger, a trail, topographic features, and Spanish inscriptions. They removed his blindfold and let him take away as much as he could carry. Blair cited evidence of the historical Jacob Waltz and suggested that additional evidence supports the core elements of the story that Waltz claimed to have discovered (or at least heard the story of) a rich gold vein or cache. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. German? May through September There were also strange stories among the Apache of a magnificent, hidden cavern full of gold, said to be a vast treasure long buried within the mountains and protected by spirits, troll-like beasts called Tuar-Tums, and even their Thunder God himself. You came here for the nasty bits that are constantly swept under the rug. After moving to the area, Ruth lingered numerous days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. Hunting for the Lost Dutchman is typically a one-man journey, but lifelong Dutch Hunter Wayne Tuttle is breaking with tradition and partnering with a team of experts to follow a newly revealed clue that could finally solve the 500-year-old mystery of Americas most famous and deadliest buried treasure. "Dutchman's Gold" was a chart hit in 1960 for, "When the Man Comes, Follow Him" episode of the, "The Peralta Map" episode of the CBS Radio series, The Lost Dutchman Mine ride was a popular attraction at, The Lost Dutchman's Mine features prominently in the, The Lost Dutchmans Mine is the subject of Season 6, Episode 10 of podcast Unexplained. Their bodies were never found. Barkely repeatedly urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine, because the terrain of the Superstition Mountains was treacherous even for experienced outdoorsmen, let alone for the 66-year-old Ruth in the heat of the Arizona summer. 4: Volunteer Coordinator He's written articles for MU and Daily Grail and has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM and Binnal of America. Im talking Smaug levels of the shiny stuff. The staff and volunteers at this Museum were all very friendly and helpful. If you find the above article inaccurate or biased, please let us know at[emailprotected]. After traveling to the region, Ruth stayed several days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. Waltz forms an expedition party; two Peralta descendants, an archaeologist, and Jacob Weiser. Theyre filled to the brim with ghosts and spirits. It is truly magnificent at twilight., The Apacheland barn figured prominently in dozens of western films and TV western episodes shot at the original Gold Canyon movie ranch. In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. Blair insisted that the Peralta portion of the story is unreliable, writing: "The operation of a gold mine in the Superstitions by a Peralta family is a contrivance of 20th century writers". (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 18851903, September 8, 1892, Image 2", Dunning, B. Hardie agrees to join a father searching for his son who is seeking a lost gold mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains. Keep in mind for security reasons for now I have to be selective on what we divulge. About this campaign You may also be interested in Gogopicks Funding The MOST PROFESSIONAL Smart Toothpaste Dispenser each. Two prominent landmarks here are the Weavers Needle and the Miners Needle. DARK MOUNTAIN is the chilling reconstruction from their footage of their last days. [12] Thorne related his claims to three U.S. soldiers in about 1858. There have been many books, films, and cartoons about the Lost Gold of the Superstition Mountains. "Dutchman" was a common American term for a German ("Dutch" being the English cognate to the German demonym "Deutsch", and not a reference to the Dutch people). Travis Tumlinson, a policeman, discovered the Peralta Stones on a roadside near the Superstition Mountains in the 1940s. The large wooden structure overlooking the museum is a 100-year-old Cossak 20-stamp ore mill, a state-of-the-art piece of mining equipment that was used around the turn of the century in the West. Years later, a man called Dr. Thorne treats an ailing or wounded Apache (often alleged to be a chieftain) and is rewarded with a trip to a rich gold mine. Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. Jacob, meanwhile, the lone survivor, is near catatonic. The Museum Gallery offers a detailed exploration of the history of this region with artifacts, multi-media, testimonials and docent-led tours. A lack of historical records leaves uncertainty as to whether a Peralta family ever had possession of land, or mines, in or near the Superstition Mountains. It does not matter if Tomlinson engraved them or someone else did, exactly when they were made is not important, what matters is what is on them. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. Walking along tyre tracks saying they are in the middle of nowhere at a treasure location. This is considered to be the starting and gathering point for most Dutch Hunters. The story became a national sensation and suddenly everyone knew about the mines and its horror riddled backstory. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Gone. In-Season In yet another version of the tale, two (or more) U.S. Army soldiers are said to have discovered a vein of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. Then his body would finally be found wedged into a remote and inaccessible crevice, with the official cause of death a mystery. There have been other mysterious and ominous disappearances as well, including an abandoned campsite found in the mountains in 1958 complete with blood-soaked blankets, but no bodies and no suspect. July 3, 1947 James A Cravey, age 62, a retired photographer, was reported missing after he had chartered a helicopter June 19, 1947 to drop him off in the Superstition Mountains to look for the Lost Dutchmans Mine. Ruth did not return as scheduled, and no trace of him could be found after a brief search. Arizona place-name expert Byrd Granger wrote, as of 1977, the Lost Dutchman's story had been printed or cited at least six times more often than two other fairly well-known tales, the story of Captain Kidd's lost treasure, and the story of the Lost Pegleg mine in California. 27.07 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Flames of Prophecy, 29.07 - MU Podcast - Contract with the Goddess, 27.06 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Secret Vaults of Time, 29.06 - MU Podcast - Italian Disco Abductions, The Mystery of New York's Renegade Subway Psychic, Forget About What We Know About Roswell: It's What's Missing About the Case That We Need to Look For, Archeologists Discover Another Secret Corridor Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, A Boat-Swallowing Sea Monster of Norse Legends Still Lives Today, Ghosts, Fairies, and a Spectral Hag on Canada's Most Haunted Island, More on the Matter of the Most Dangerous Creature of the Mind: The Slenderman, Unmarked Black Helicopter Above Chicago Sparks Conspiracy Theories, "What's the Creepiest Thing You've Ever Seen or Heard?" Over the years, subsequent search for the mines has only lead to heartache and death. A TwinTygr Film. Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6]. Come on. (Chris J / Flickr). There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. According to these legends, this treasure was almost never seen by mortal eyes, at least not by anyone who lived to tell about it, but there are some tales of outsiders stumbling across it. Over the next few weeks we will provide some images and photos taken at or very near the site. There have been tales of, soldiers that are said to have stumbled onto a river of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. [17] Note that tombstone pictured shows birth year as 1808. [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. Dont expect High Street class; do expect old West charm, plenty of local history and lore, and the beautiful backdrop of the Superstition Mountains, not to mention a surprisingly good gift shop. Is someone or something trying to keep this treasure hidden? Hiking and camping are popular activities. Dr. George M. Willing Jr. paid Peralta $20,000 for the mining rights for an enormous swath of land about 3,000,000 acres (12,000km2) in southern Arizona and New Mexico based on a deed originally granted by the Spanish Empire in the 18th century. According to the story, in about 1912 Erwin C. Ruth gave some legal aid to Gonzales, saving him from almost certain imprisonment. The lost stash of gold, which has gone on to be rather oddly known as the Lost Dutchmans Mine, has catapulted itself into one of the most intriguing unsolved modern mysteries there is, and the allure of its undiscovered riches has led many people to their deaths, with some estimates saying that over 600 people have mysteriously died or vanished during attempts to try and pry it from its ancient resting place. Monday Sunday Ruth disappeared while searching for the mine in the summer of 1931. Next week I will list some clues that are absolutely relevant to what we have physically on site. Barkely urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine: the area and the mines cursed and full of devils.. He was remembered as having been obsessed with finding the mine for several years. The Superstition Mountain Museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountain region and the Apache Junction area. Thorne is said to be either unwilling or unable to relocate the mine. Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located in the Sonoran Desert, at the base of the Superstition Mountains, only 40 miles east of Phoenix. The newcomers, thus, became the Pennsylvania Dutch. There have been countless such deaths and disappearances in the region over the years, many of them with missing heads or gunshot wounds to the head. To begin with, there was never any real Dutchman involved with the lost gold mine. Because of what we have discovered at the site, Arcana Exploration believes we have proof for the first time that there is a common link between Waltz and the Peraltas. The gift store was absolutely fantastic and was filled with high-quality books about Arizona and southwest history, folklore, Native Americans, and the Wild West. But they're even better known for something else: the legendary Lost Dutchman's Mine, a much-ballyhooed secret stash of wealth sought by daring adventurers known as "Dutch hunters." And, where praytell do most folks believe said El Dorado is safely hidden Why, in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction. Students 11-17 $4.00 That was circa 1850. "The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine." TheSuperstition Mountains, furthermore, are the abode of the Thunder God, and he causes the frequent regional thunderstorms. Though the remains had been scattered by scavengers, they were undoubtedly Ruth's. Indeed, in the decades since Waltz made his mysterious proclamation of the mine public, there have been numerous earnest attempts to try and track it down, and these have the sinister habit of meeting rather gruesome ends. For the next 20 years, he falls in and out of consciousness, whenever he wakes its just garbled speak and horrific tales; hes enveloped in kaleidoscopic delirium, Over the years, subsequent search for the mines has only lead to heartache and death. Very similiar to big foot hunters. Lost Dutchman State Park is located near the Superstition Mountains in central Phoenix, about 40 miles from Phoenix. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Superstition Mountain Museum is located in an area full of legend, history and intrigue. While this theory did not ignore the two holes in the skull, it did fail to explain how Ruth had managed to remove and bury the empty shell, then reload his gun, after shooting himself through the head". You came for the yellow rag gossip. Months pass, years some say, until one day Jacob comes back battered and bloody atop a lame mule. There are numerous hiking trails that hikers can access from multiple points, one of the more well-known ones being the Peralta Trailhead. This is your spot. Cravey said he would walk out of the mountains on June 28, 1947. Very sweet museum with great views of the Superstition Mountains. Interestingly it was found that he had amassed a small fortune in a short amount of time after starting his forays into the mountains, urging suspicions that he had found the lost mine. He turned out to be the surviving Peralta, and, to express his gratitude, he gave them directions to his familys gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. [5] One Lost Dutchman's mine is said to be in Colorado, another in California; two are said to be located in Arizona. When and where we can get a direct line of sight, we use high tech Walkie talkies, to communicate with each other. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. So let me say it again, the documentation found ON the stones is the most important thing not so much who carved them. [26], Blair wrote that "the national wire services picked up the story [of Ruth's death] and ran it for more than it was worth", possibly seeing the mysterious story as a welcome reprieve from the bleak news that was otherwise typical of the Great Depression. In January 1932, human remains were discovered about three-quarters of a mile (1.21km) from where the skull had been found. On July 11, 2010, Utah hikers Curtis Merworth, Ardean Charles, and Malcolm Meeks went missing in the Superstition Mountains while looking for the mine. Bands of roaming cannibals are said to hunt the area and the curse of the Lost Mine to many isnt a tall tale but a stark reality. Arcana Exploration has been there on four separate trips the first in October of 2015. More please. Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! For a small fee you can see items owned by locals and learn all about the local history. DARK MOUNTAIN (2013) "In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. The legend of the lost gold continued to attract people, and, in 1932, a veterinarian in the Park Service, Adolph Ruth, decided to go treasure hunting. Find a wide array of distinctive and unique items including books, apparel, local Native American arts and crafts and seasonal gift selections. By what name was Legend of the Superstition Mountains (2015) officially released in Canada in English? This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. We at Arcana Exploration believe we can show that this was later worked by Jacob Waltz, and after his death came to be known as the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. The short "Discovery Trail" is a clear route with several placards giving the natural history of the area. Visitors are treated to a working display of historic large scale model trains and learn about the prominent role they took in the settlement of the West. The Native Apache people of the area had already long held this as a rather sinister scared place even before outsiders came in to settle the land. In a story that echoes some of the earlier tales, Ruth's son Erwin C. Ruth was said to have learned of the Peralta mine from a man called Pedro Gonzales (or Gonzalez). Since the turn of the twentieth century, thousands of people have scoured the mountains in search of it, hundreds have lost their lives in the process, but not one has returned with an ounce of gold. [11] According to Blair, the origin of this story can be traced to a doctor named Thorne who was in private practice in New Mexico in the 1860s. Up on the mountain, if someone breaks a leg; it will take at least two on the team to get you down; it is dangerous for three healthy climbers, much less one with broken body parts. They were supposedly dug up in the desert, in area east of Gold canyon and Tucson in the late 1940s byTravis E Tomlinson. Front View of the Peralta Stones. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. Image property of Arcana Exploration, photo taken at the Lost Dutchman Museum Apache Junction, Arizona. They trek into the mountains. Others that it was the ghost of the Peraltas. Richman, Irwin. We arrived at Shaun's house at 7:30 am in St. George Utah. But, loyal reader, you came here for the things the tourist board fails to mention. After he had spent many years in their midst, the Apache Elders decided to reward his selfless service with gold. Among the many legends to have emerged from the area, one of the most enduring ones is that of The LostDutchmansGold Mine. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable and I am looking forward to returning with my kids. In a few scenes the characters are shown wearing their packs while walking one moment, and not wearing them the next. Some places have long been thought to be simply no good. The haunted state? In the 1800's, a german goldhunter named Jacob Waitz discovered a huge goldmine within the mountains that has since been named the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (German <- > The Netherlands; let . One of the most prominent such tales is that of an affluent mining family from Mexico, the Peraltas, although some versions of the story say they were ranchers. With cursed mountains said to drive men mad and a hidden fortune of gold worth killing for, the treasure hunters greatest danger may be the man at his side. Early on during the Spanish Conquest, Conquistadors such as Francisco Vazquez de Coronado (1535) came to the American southwest (New Spain) in search of gold trying to locate, Montezumas Seven Cities of Cibola. As a sort of reward for this generosity, he was apparently one day asked to put on a blindfold, after which he was told he would be led to the mythical lost cavern of gold. Supposedly a mine with fabulously rich gold deposits. [7] A man named Miguel Peralta and his family did operate a successful mine in the 1860s but near Valencia, California, not in Arizona. "Dutchman's Gold" was the season 4, episode 19 of, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 00:14. When is the documentary goimg to start back up? German? [3] Former Arizona Attorney General Robert K. Corbin is among those who have looked for the mine.