Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. 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. Producers included Tamara Blaich, Jennifer Harrington, and Megan Peterson with cinematography by Pyongson Yim and editing by Jennifer Harrington. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. You came here for the nasty bits that are constantly swept under the rug. Starring Sage Howard, Andrew Simpson, and Shelby Stehlin. Dr. Thorne starts to investigate. Months pass, years some say, until one day Jacob comes back battered and bloody atop a lame mule. We are currently in the process of planning for a return trip to further document our findings. 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 . For the price, this is well worth the visit. The man is barely alive. Adolph Ruth is really the amateur explorer and treasure hunter that made the mines into a national phenomenon. [16] A man called Jacob Walz was born in September 1810 in Wrttemberg. [10] Trouble came after Willing learned that the deed was entirely bogus. The Dutchman " was a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz. A raspberry into the face of common sense. Arcadia Publishing. The area is basically a free-for-all for wilderness lovers. Out in the remote badlands of the U.S. state of Arizona, just to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area lies a sun scorched, dried up, arid moonscape of twisted peaks and sprawling expanse of badlands called the Superstition Mountains, at one time called the Sierra de la Espuma by Spanish settlers. 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 . Tantalizingly, Ruth's checkbook was also recovered, and proved to contain a note written by Ruth wherein he claimed to have discovered the mine and gave detailed directions. For more macabre tales check out our Top Ten list of haunted spots in Phoenix. The museum itself is clean and well organized for the small space it is currently occupying and boasts loads in local history. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. This is your spot. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman Mine. These include Barry Storms book Thunder Gods Gold, published in 1945, detailing his own efforts to find the gold, and the Glen Ford and Ida Lupino movie, Lust for Gold, from 1949. They are mysterious, they are cool as ice, and for all those Dark Tourism enthusiasts, they are full of legends and weird happenings. People from the town below certain that only death and demons travel acrossSuperstition Mountain at night. He is blindfolded and taken there by a circuitous route, and is allowed to take as much gold ore as he can carry before again being escorted blindfolded from the site by the Apaches. is, according to folktales, a magnificent, rich, Scrooge McDuck like repository of gold hidden somewhere in southwestern United States. While popular with campers, hikers, and adventure seekers, these mountains are also known for their exceedingly hot summers, freezing winters, harsh winds, unpredictable storms, treacherous terrain, and mysterious happenings. Some carved stones in the area are referred to as "Peralta Stones" and Spanish text and crude maps on them are considered by some to be clues to the location of a Peralta family gold mine in the Superstition Mountains, although others believe the stones to be modern fakes. Jacob, meanwhile, the lone survivor, is near catatonic. 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. However, things can go wrong. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. On Valentines Day Elvis was available at the church for weddings. The Supers are east northeast of Phoenix. Others, sure that more vile deadly creatures guard the mines. Also in that year was the disappearance of two young boys, Ross Bley and Charles Harshbarger, whose bodies were never found. The earliest documentation of him in the U.S. is an 1848 affidavit in which Waltz declared himself to be "about 38 years old". 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. 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. The praying hands formation at the Superstition Mountains range. The mine is named after German immigrant Jacob Waltz,18101891. When they immigrated to Pennsylvania from Deutschland (Germany), the locals mistook Deutsch for Dutch. We miss it. To this end he lived for years among their ranks, learning their ways and tending to their sick and wounded. They trek into the mountains. In any case, the event led to the naming of the Massacre Falls after it. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The St. Johns herald. Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! The Top Ten Most Haunted Places in Arizona. See production, box office & company info. Finally did a little digging and it sounded interesting. We provide an historical context that includes the region's Native American people, the life of early western settlers, local geology and industry as well as the legends promoted through film and media. Let may say this; it is not important who engraved the stones, and if itwas Tomlinson and he being the maker or someone else being the engraver of the stones while historically interesting it is not the most important thing. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchmans Mine. Animals like deer coyotes, pumas and bobcats live here, existing alongside birds, rodents, snakes, and other reptiles. 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. Many people took the landmark to be the Weavers Needle but had no luck finding any gold nuggets in its vicinity. According to some storytellers, in September 1848, a band of Apaches slaughtered the entire Peralta Family, except one (someone had to live to tell the tale). Director Tara Anase Writers Tara Anase (story) Tamara Blaich (story) Stars Ron Eagle D'Andre II Adam Haley Sage Howard 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. So, there, thats the skinny in case you want to pack a lunch and have a picnic. Image property of Arcana Exploration, photo taken at the Lost Dutchman Museum Apache Junction, Arizona. However, Ruth ignored Barkely's advice, and set out for a two-week stint in the mountains. https://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/superstition-mountains/index.html, They were once known in Spanish as Sierra de la Espuma . 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. People from the town below certain that only death and demons travel across Superstition Mountain at night. 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. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. The Apaches told him he could grab as much of the gold as he could carry on his person, which he did before being led back out, never knowing the precise location, although he did mention a sharp peak of rock, which is thought to have perhaps been Weavers Needle, a popular landmark in the area. It is here were you will reach areas that are barely penetrable, this is where most trails stop abruptly for safety reasons. Other storytellers claim that the Peralta Family escaped with gold, but another family died in the massacre. About Lost Dutchman State Park. Very sweet museum with great views of the Superstition Mountains. The story of the Peralta Stones is that they lead you to a small almost invisible ledge, like a small birds nest perched in the middle of a forest of giant oaks concealed by the natural elements, it obscures itself from all beasts of prey especially man. X while searching for the mines. In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. 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. Mysterious bodies turned up in the Superstition Mountains all through the 1960s and 70s, with at least five people found dead with bullet holes to the skulls, and with other bodies found minus the heads, which were never found. Please note that admission prices for Special Events are subject to change. Fact Analysis: Gone. An alternate view which better fits the lost mine legend is that he periodically appeared with large amounts of gold, The Sterling Legend by Estee Conatser reports that a Jacob Walzer sold $250,000 in gold to the U.S. Mint during the 1880s and had $1500 when he died in 1891. And, where praytell do most folks believe said El Dorado is safely hidden Why, in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction. Here amongst this vast maize of volcanic interior, fixed and clinging to the mountain side, flanked on one side by a very small almost invisible ledge is the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, like a small birds nest perched in the middle of a forest of giant oaks, concealed by the natural elements it obscures itself from all beasts of prey, especially man. Among the many legends to have emerged from the area, one of the most enduring ones is that of The LostDutchmansGold Mine. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. No sign of the filmmakers themselves has been found to date. [13] In most versions of the tale, Jacob Waltz locates a rich gold mine in the Superstition Mountains (in many versions of the story, they rescue or help a member of the Peralta family and are rewarded by being told the location of the mine). Tries to portray danger and incidentin fact nothing going on. Who killed him and then separated his head from his body remains unknown. Hiking and camping are popular activities. Since James Reavis, "the Baron of Arizona", was convicted of fraud when the Peralta family genealogy and other documents to support the land grant (and a barony associated with that land) were determined to be forgeries it also raises questions about the original purchase of the land grant by Dr. George M. Willing Jr. (the transaction had supposedly occurred at a primitive campsite to the southeast of Prescott without the benefit of the typical documentation; instead of a notarized deed, the conveyance was recorded on a piece of greasy camp paper bearing signature of several witnesses). This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. A doctor from Illinois, Doctor Abraham Thorne, provided his service to treat the indigenous people of the Southwest. 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." Barkely urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine: the area and the mines cursed and full of devils.. As early as September 1, 1892, The Arizona Enterprise was reporting on the efforts of Thomas and several others to locate the lost mine whose location was told to her by Waltz. All funds and donations go back into preserving the area. He had acquired maps that he was sure would lead him straight to the gold. Take a stroll along the Native Plant Trail or hike the . The stories differ from here onward. Top Ten list of haunted spots in Phoenix. The Peralta Stones are a set of engraved stone tableted works that are approximately 18 inches long and weigh about 25 lbs. The stones are named for an obscure "Peralta family", said to be an old and powerful Mexican family. In later years there is the story of the adventurous Spanish born Doctor Abraham Thorne, who was at the time living among the Natives of the region and studying their medical practices. "The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine." The record high temperature is 128 degrees. The museum with its indoor and outdoor exhibits is a pleasant surprise and definitely worth your time if youre going on the Apache Trail or to the nearby Lost Dutchman State Park. I Often Hear That: I'll Share Some With You, TikTok and Its Strange Proliferation of Mysterious Accounts of Skinwalkers, Shamans, Psychedelics, and One Man's mystical Journey in the Amazon to Find a Miracle Cure. Many of Ruth's personal effects were found at the scene, including a pistol (not missing any shells) and the metal pins used to mend his broken bones. The photographic evidence taken at the site along with a selection of maps combined with historical documentation together, links the most generally accepted and related informational evidence too present day boots on the ground reality. This is very important! You came for the yellow rag gossip. Granger wrote that "fact and fiction blend in the tales",[3] but that there are three main elements to the story: In 1977, Granger identified 62 variants of the Lost Dutchman's story some of the variations are minor, but others are substantial, casting the story in a very different light from the other versions. Ruths son Erwin C. Ruth heard of the Peralta mine from a man called Pedro Gonzales. 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). Whether a wedding, elopement,, The amphitheater and other outdoor locations on the Museum's property are available for outdoor events including small catered receptions. However, the Peralta Mine eventually became unprofitable and after the money was gone Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. Their bodies were never found, but their camera was." The glitches that periodically disrupt the footage are also particularly effective. Legend tells of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as 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. According to the account, 1912 Erwin C. Ruth gave s Gonzales legal aid, saving the riff-raff from almost certain imprisonment. Some people believe they indicate the location of the famed Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, in Arizona, United States. OH, I almost forgot there is no cell phone service absolutely none. If you get it hurt you better have your own team. 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. STSTW Media strives to deliver accurate information through careful research. 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Fun, family friendly historical site with a lot to see including replicas of old buildings, plenty of hiking, a gift shop and free lectures by locals describing how life was like. Thorne fills every pocket, flap of clothing, and fleshy orifice with the nuggets. 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. The Lost Dutchman Mine, Arizona - Legends of America The Lost Dutchman Mine, Arizona Superstition Mountain, Arizona by Kathy Weiser-Alexander One of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine.