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. Arcana Exploration. Arcana has had the luxury of having had the site location for over three years, and for this reason we have been able to reverse engineer, historical information and put many of the pieces together. In January 2011, three sets of remains assumed to be those of the lost men were retrieved. The man is barely alive. Up until Ruths disastrous expedition, the mines were little more than a footnote in the history of Arizona; one of a thousand so-called. This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. Director Tara Anase Writers Tara Anase (story) Tamara Blaich (story) Stars Ron Eagle D'Andre II Adam Haley Sage Howard TheSuperstition Mountains, furthermore, are the abode of the Thunder God, and he causes the frequent regional thunderstorms. Lights, screams, and shadows of Apache armies have been reported. These trails traverse from the desert floor up into the edges of the mountains. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. He would vanish into thin air for his efforts. 2: Cashiers for questions about whats happening at the museum and local area Get the latest on your favorite shows, plus updates on HISTORY events and more. To begin with, there was never any real Dutchman involved with the lost gold mine. 3: Gift Shop and Event Manager Dave McElligott Finally The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! Thorne sold the ore for $6000 and became a wealthy man. They are bound on three sides by U.S. Route 60, Arizona State Route 88, and Arizona State Route 188, and are visible from miles away. The only thing slightly off the cuff, is that three of them do ride their Harleys from central Ohio to Sturgis and back on a regular basis, but more about them later. The Superstition Mountains Superstition Mountain has an elevation of 5,024 feet. When is the documentary goimg to start back up? Randomly stopped by on my way home from Lost Dutchman State Park and I was super happy I did! Animals like deer coyotes, pumas and bobcats live here, existing alongside birds, rodents, snakes, and other reptiles. In certain seasons, they also have gun fighters and mule/donkey rides for the kids as well. All Rights Reserved. That was circa 1850. The Grand Canyon State. Lost Dutchman State Park is located near the Superstition Mountains in central Phoenix, about 40 miles from Phoenix. [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. Ahh, heres the chronological faux-pass. Due to the out-of-control fire, the Arizona authorities were forced to close the State Route 88, and, along with it, public access to the Canyon, Apache Lake, Apache Campground, picnic sites, and trailheads. It is believed that all were killed except for two Peralta family members who were severely wounded but managed to escape. Producers included Tamara Blaich, Jennifer Harrington, and Megan Peterson with cinematography by Pyongson Yim and editing by Jennifer Harrington. Waltz is also said to make a deathbed confession to Julia Thomas, and draws or describes a crude map to the gold mine. The newcomers, thus, became the Pennsylvania Dutch. However, the Peralta Mine eventually became unprofitable and after the money was gone Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. According to the account, 1912 Erwin C. Ruth gave s Gonzales legal aid, saving the riff-raff from almost certain imprisonment. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The St. Johns herald. Most stories go like this, the family of a man called Miguel Peralta struck gold by accident they were just passing by and started drilling the mine. Others that it was Waltz. And is that information relevant? She was oblivious, baffled, and would apparently later sell the map of the now dead treasure hunter to parties unknown. [17] Note that tombstone pictured shows birth year as 1808. X while searching for the mines. 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. Im talking Smaug levels of the shiny stuff. Waltz is attacked and wounded by marauding Apaches, but survives at least long enough to tell a man called Dr. Walker about the mine. Hike to Praying Hands in Lost Dutchman State Park - The Outbound Supposedly one of their 18 mines was very rich and they considered it their alfa mine. The Superstition Mountain Historical Society was formed on December 27, 1979. George Johnston, who first tried to find the treasure in the 1950s, was still working for the Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum up until his August 30, 2017, death at age 97. Going on a year now. The story differs but heres the most common take, mind you there are over 100 different versions of the Story. , Barry Storm declared to have nearly escaped from a mysterious sniper he later called Mr. 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. Waltz would claim to have been out prospecting when he had come across an unimaginably vast vein of gold out in the mountains, curiously supposedly near Weavers Needle. Check it out! The Peralta Stones are a set of engraved stone tableted works that are approximately 18 inches long and weigh about 25 lbs. As to why his head had been carried off no one knows. Im talking Smaug levels of the shiny stuff. About Us - Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum There are a lot of terrific shots and brilliantly edited moments -- especially, the opening montage as the characters drive to the Superstition Mountains. [volume], October 11, 1933, Page NINE, Image 9, "Arizona desert searched for missing Denver man seeking gold mine", "Mother of missing treasure hunter holds onto hope", "Body of man who hunted legendary 'Lost Dutchman's' gold mine believed found in Arizona mountains", "3 Utah men still missing on Arizona treasure hunt", "3 Search for men looking for Lost Dutchman's gold suspended", "More remains found in Superstitions; may be hiker's", "Escape - When The Man Comes, Follow Him", "The Lost Dutchman's Mine History and Bibliography", Arizona Mining Scams and Unassayable Ore Projects of the Late 20th Century, "Skeptoid #347: The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lost_Dutchman%27s_Gold_Mine&oldid=1137505190. The mine is named after German immigrant Jakob Waltz (c. 18101891), who purportedly discovered it in the 19th century and kept its location a secret. The Superstitions are one of four mountains which mark the ancestral territory of the Apache People. People have been seeking the Lost Dutchman's mine since at least 1892,[2] while according to one estimate, 9,000 people annually made some effort to locate the Lost Dutchman's mine. Tries to portray danger and incidentin fact nothing going on. A found footage thriller inspired on actual events, DARK MOUNTAIN is directed by Tara Anase and written by Tamara Blaich and Tara Anase. A beautiful site just below the western edge of the Superstition Mountains was found and obtained. In many areas they cannot, and will not for any reason land, and actually have designated no fly zones. Blair contended that this story can be divided into "hawk" and "dove" versions, depending on whether the German(s) are said to behave violently or peacefully. Near Apache Junction, Arizona there is a place called the Supersition Mountains where legends and superstitions come alive to tell their ghostly tales. Cravey said he would walk out of the mountains on June 28, 1947. However, things can go wrong. In the weeks and months to come we will use much of the historical information, and show how it ties directly to what we have found. Willing died in 1874 before there had been a thorough investigation of the documents or opportunity to cross examine him on the stand as was later done with Reavis. On July 11, 2010, Utah hikers Curtis Merworth, Ardean Charles, and Malcolm Meeks went missing in the Superstition Mountains while looking for the mine. After moving to the area, Ruth lingered numerous days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. Is this all just a spooky legend or id there something more to it? Lost Dutchman's Mine - Superstition Mountains - Treasures in America Also in that year was the disappearance of two young boys, Ross Bley and Charles Harshbarger, whose bodies were never found. The family is later attacked and butchered in the so-calledPeralta massacre. The short "Discovery Trail" is a clear route with several placards giving the natural history of the area. The neighboursJulia Thomas, Rhinehart Petrasch, and Hermann Petraschspent weeks looking for the gold, but failed to find it. (Doug Dolde / Wikimedia Commons). Some places have long been thought to be simply no good. May through September 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. In appreciation, Gonzales told Erwin about the Peralta mine in the Superstition Mountains and an antique map of the site. Members of the Apache tribe were said to have a truly valuable gold mine located in the Superstition Mountains. Long before Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and grifter-socialite Anna Delvey, we had the Gold Rush and even today, plenty of Americans are still fixated on an either long-lost or fictional gold mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains.For more than a century, adventurous souls have sought the Lost Dutchman Mine, and since 1891 . From the Press Release 2023 Copyright Phoenix Ghosts. Nobody has been able to interpret them correctly. Cute fun stop for anyone visiting the area to learn more about the history of the area. January 7, 2023 12:00 pm - April 29, 2023 3:00 pm, Desert Safety and Survival (March Sold Out), Weaving Class with Nanabah Aragon (March Sold Out). The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. 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. Get-rich-quick schemes are as American as the Fourth of July. Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in likely wilderness accidents. Read on to find out if you should start planning your trip to a Dark Mountain. Skeptoid Media, 29 Jan 2013. 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. 6 episodes that go absolutely nowhere. Over the next few weeks and months I will share some photos that will not give away the location but will show things that until now have never been shown before. There have been tales ofU.S. Armysoldiers that are said to have stumbled onto a river of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. The mine is named after German immigrant Jacob Waltz,18101891. Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. They even had the old rock crusher up and working. The story became a national sensation and suddenly everyone knew about the mines and its horror riddled backstory. During Kinos time other Missionaries in California and Mexico were jealous and suspicious of Kino because, while they were poor and struggled his missions were rich and flourished, they said he had a secret gold mine from which he took rich gold and funded his missions and rancheros amassing 50 thousand head of cattle making him the Southwests first mega rancher. In the year 1870, with his consent, they blindfolded him and took him on a 20-mile trip to an unknown location piled with gold ore. Hiking and camping are popular activities. Yet it is also a place of fabled mysteries, talk of dark curses, strange disappearances and deaths, high strangeness, and a secret treasure that it allegedly holds close to it, reluctant to ever give it up. Around 1860 a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz moved into the Wickenburg Arizona area about 80 miles from Phoenix. Along with the, The Superstition Mountain Museum presents a celebration of fine art from Mexico at this free three-day event, March 10-12, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 4, Private Events have become an important part of the Superstition Mountain Museum event schedule over the past few years, and next season will be no, As a member of the Apache Trail Attractions Committee, Superstition Mountain Museum shares in the concern with reopening Apache Trail (SR-88) from Apache Junction all, On November 25-27, 2022 and again on December 10-11, the museum will be hosting Holiday Boutiques featuring artists and merchants displaying and selling their unique, The Superstition Mountain Historical Society was awarded an Arizona Humanities grant in September, 2021 to build a public outdoor exhibit of an authentic Apache Wickiup. 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. If you find the above article inaccurate or biased, please let us know at[emailprotected]. [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. After moving to the area, Ruth lingered numerous days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. The Supers are east northeast of Phoenix. Treasure hunting at Superstition Mountains Arizona - The Lost Dutchman's Mine. Come on. Generally speaking, this mine is claimed to be situated in the Superstition Mountains, described by one source as "a collection of rough terrain that has gained the name of a single mountain" which lies to the east of Phoenix, the Arizonan capital. Arcana Exploration has been there on four separate trips the first in October of 2015. More please. Legend of the Superstition Mountains: With Keenan Johnston, Mark Dodson, Frank Augustine, Wayne Tuttle. Afterwards, Waltz fell ill (he was rumored to have contracted pneumonia during the flooding). Museum Members are FREE. The Lost Dutchman's Mine has gone on to become a pop cultural legend, written of in countless books and appearing on numerous TV shows. The mysterious deaths and disappearances go on and on. Blair suggested that this Waltz could be the same Waltz who later came to be regarded as the legendary Dutchman, and that he Americanized the spelling of his family name. You came here for the nasty bits that are constantly swept under the rug. He would take this secret location practically to his grave, but as he lie dying from a bout of pneumonia in 1891 he allegedly told all, laying out the secret location of the lost and cursed Apache treasure, giving detailed but cryptic instructions on how to navigate the rough terrain to the entrance, as well as scrawling out a crude map to it all as he lay on his deathbed. The glitches that periodically disrupt the footage are also particularly effective. No sign of the filmmakers themselves has been found to date. But, loyal reader, you came here for the things the tourist board fails to mention. Two Pennsylvania Dutchmen, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser, were prospecting for gold in the area, when, one night, they happened to save a mans life in a bar brawl. "Most. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. A note in a bottle found floating down the Salt River said that he needed help on account of his leg and that he had found the Lost Dutchmans gold mine. On Valentines Day Elvis was available at the church for weddings. Starring Sage Howard, Andrew Simpson, and Shelby Stehlin. The multi-acre museum site soon saw the addition of a historic Cossack 20-Stamp . The Lost Gold Mine At Superstition Mountain. They trek into the mountains. 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. 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. Legend of the Superstition Mountains - The HISTORY Channel Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. "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). Two prominent landmarks here are the Weavers Needle and the Miners Needle. They are encircled by U.S Route 60 on the south Arizona State 88 on the northwest, and Arizona 188 on the northeast. In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. is, according to folktales, a magnificent, rich, Scrooge McDuck like repository of gold hidden somewhere in southwestern United States. Brent Swancer is an author and crypto expert living in Japan. 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. Most likely because Pedro de Peralta had been the Spanish Governor of New Mexico (in the 1600s) his family name of "Peralta" was the inspiration for a number of legends in the American Southwest. First you drive to the outskirts of Phoenix and find Apache Junction, then pick up the old Apache Trail (route88) and go about 35 miles to Tortilla Flat, site of the old stage coach Pony express stop, along the Apache Trail. After one hundred and twenty- five plus years incredibly, the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine has been found, proving that the legend is more than mere myth and as predicted by Jacob Waltz himself No miner will ever find my mine. Gone. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman Mine. Furthermore, Wilburn stated that geology indicates that there is no gold in the Superstition Mountains, which are igneous in origin. 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 Something, a doctor once told his family, having chewed at his sanity and left nothing but brittle bones. He dies, screaming from a nightmare in 1891. Mysteries Of The Superstition Mountains - Grunge.com Many people took the landmark to be the Weavers Needle but had no luck finding any gold nuggets in its vicinity. "The Lost Dutchman Gold 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. You came for the yellow rag gossip. 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. Front View of the Peralta Stones. We have imaging taken, with Go-pros, Sony 7000s; Osmo stabilized film cameras and Dji Phantom and Bee-bop drones. The Superstition Mountains and the Legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine But Blair suggested that this core story was distorted in subsequent retellings, comparing the many variants of the Lost Dutchman's story to the game of Chinese whispers, where the original account is distorted in multiple retellings of the tale.[15]. The search, nevertheless, still continues. He had allegedly made many forays to this mine, taking gold as he pleased and boasting of its discovery, but all who tried to follow him or learn his secret were said to get hopelessly lost, or end up vanished or dead. Hes led back to town and the tale spreads like wildfire. The Legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine - C&I Magazine Two prospectors saved his life and, in gratitude, he gave them directions to the gold mine, thus setting off a wild goose chase that continues to the present day. The story of the Lost Dutchmans Mine would go on to become a persistent legend and obsession for many would-be treasure hunters over the years. Beautiful gift shop with tons of great things to buy. The soldiers have stalked back to town, fistfuls of gold but their sanity shot, only to die a day later or in one case, murdered while rambling on and on about the albinos in their hospital room. Whether a wedding, elopement,, The amphitheater and other outdoor locations on the Museum's property are available for outdoor events including small catered receptions. Yet the mountains and their cursed treasure would get their most well-known mystery with the arrival of a German immigrant named Jacob Walz, also often spelled Waltz, who was a gold prospector in the Phoenix valley in the late 1800s. Blair argued that this Peralta story (well known to Arizona residents) was eventually incorporated in the Lost Dutchman's story, in a severely distorted version, following the renewed interest in the Lost Dutchman's mine in the 1930s. "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. Much of the truth has laid obscured in old Spanish, Jesuit and Catholic Church documentation, including maps, expedition journals, and diaries and in many cases with those buried in long ago lost and forgotten graves. 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). For a small fee you can see items owned by locals and learn all about the local history. This is only speculation, what I do know is that, people who have dismissed the information on the stones, no matter who carved the stones, those non believers have been badly mistaken. Jacob Waltz took to returning to the mountains only when he needed the gold. The early Spanish the Peraltas the Jesuits and many others all came to the Superstition Mountains looking for legendary gold. Lights, screams, and shadows of Apache armies have been reported. The University of Arizona is the oldest college in the state, existing before Arizona achieved statehood. T Just a few miles south of Tucson lies Colossal Cave, an often overlooked natural landmark with well over a thousand years of history. Wasnt it Dutch? Since Ruth's death, there have been several other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains.