Months pass, years some say, until one day Jacob comes back battered and bloody atop a lame mule. On July 11, 2010, Utah hikers Curtis Merworth, Ardean Charles, and Malcolm Meeks went missing in the Superstition Mountains while looking for the mine. The praying hands formation at the Superstition Mountains range. Some places have long been thought to be simply no good. The glitches that periodically disrupt the footage are also particularly effective. In January 1932, human remains were discovered about three-quarters of a mile (1.21km) from where the skull had been found. Intrigue Journal. On 8 June 2019, a fire broke out in the Superstitions Wilderness area and soon spread across 26,000 acres. Cravey said he would walk out of the mountains on June 28, 1947. For instance, about six of the maps are relevant, others may be relevant, but for now do not appear to be. The story differs but heres the most common take, mind you there are over 100 different versions of the Story. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. 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. 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. 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. [17] Note that tombstone pictured shows birth year as 1808. The search, nevertheless, still continues. 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. Wasnt it Dutch? [4], Robert Blair wrote "[t]here have been at least four legendary Lost Dutchman's gold mines in the American West, including the famed Superstition mine of Jacob Waltz". He had acquired maps that he was sure would lead him straight to the gold. Then his body would finally be found wedged into a remote and inaccessible crevice, with the official cause of death a mystery. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Somewhere deep within Arizonas Superstition Mountains lies the most famous lost gold mine in the worldthe Lost Dutchman Mine. Starring Sage Howard, Andrew Simpson, and Shelby. Near Apache Junction, Arizona there is a place called the Supersition Mountains where legends and superstitions come alive to tell their ghostly tales. In a few scenes the characters are shown wearing their packs while walking one moment, and not wearing them the next. 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. The Lost Dutchmans Mine is featured in Season 1, Episode 21 of the television series Unsolved Mysteries. The episode first aired on April 12, 1989. Want to reenact that James Franco film with the rusted and dull pocket knife? 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". Reports of inexplicable sounds, sightings, and events have led to claims of supernatural beings and even aliens. The closest approximate was a German miner of the PennsylvaniaGerman community. The two Jacobs found the gold but refused to tell anyone else where it was. Others that it was the ghost of the Peraltas. [12] Thorne related his claims to three U.S. soldiers in about 1858. The Peralta Stones are a set of engraved stone tableted works that are approximately 18 inches long and weigh about 25 lbs. Take a stroll along the Native Plant Trail or hike the . The Superstition Mountains are a mountain range east of Phoenix and are known for their picturesque volcanic peaks and and jagged canyons. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable and I am looking forward to returning with my kids. Arcana Exploration. The museum itself is clean and well organized for the small space it is currently occupying and boasts loads in local history. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. The Superstition Mountain Museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountain region and the Apache Junction area. Come on down! Keep in mind for security reasons for now I have to be selective on what we divulge. Its estimated worth is around 200 million dollars. The stories differ from here onward. This is very important! This account is usually dated to about 1870. Many people took the landmark to be the Weavers Needle but had no luck finding any gold nuggets in its vicinity. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. Children 10 and under That was circa 1850. But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. Richman, Irwin. Thorne sold the ore for $6000 and became a wealthy man. This is their turf and only the highly experienced and prepared should venture forward. The short "Discovery Trail" is a clear route with several placards giving the natural history of the area. A raspberry into the face of common sense. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. STSTW Media strives to deliver accurate information through careful research. In-Season 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. Finally The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! Who killed him and then separated his head from his body remains unknown. And, where praytell do most folks believe said El Dorado is safely hidden Why, in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction. Our focus is on providing visitors with an experience of the Old West. The lost Dutchman Gold mine is generally believed to be somewhere near or in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. 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. 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. 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. 3: Gift Shop and Event Manager Dave McElligott Legend of the Superstition Mountains: With Keenan Johnston, Mark Dodson, Frank Augustine, Wayne Tuttle. 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. On our may trip in 2016 one day it reached 108 degrees, that same day up on the mountain, climbing on a surface of Granite and sandstone ours guys Trek watches read what they were breathing at an actual 119 degrees. The Apache warriors who had massacred them are then said to have reburied the entrance to this enormous trove of gold, and to this day the area where this is believed to have happened has been labeled the Massacre Grounds, and there are other places names that denote this grim history such as Massacre Falls and others. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. The park offers 134 campsites, each with a picnic table, barbeque grill, and fire pit, and 68 equipped with electric hook-ups and water. "The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine." Eric "the real deal" Deleel is original from a little town in northern New York called Massena. No sign of the filmmakers themselves has been found to date. [28], One fact against the existence of "Lost Dutchman Mine" is that Waltz was a "placer miner"; while the gold pieces he had were in quartz, the Superstition Mountains are in fact volcanic. The neighboursJulia Thomas, Rhinehart Petrasch, and Hermann Petraschspent weeks looking for the gold, but failed to find it. Gone. The men must deal with a lack of water and the fact that the map leads him into lands held sacred by the Apaches. In this case the body was found first, with the rest of the body following a full 6 months later. The story became a national sensation and suddenly everyone knew about the mines and its horror riddled backstory. 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). And then I finally paid a visit this past weekend and was pleasantly surprised. There is a $7 day use fee to enter the park, which is waived if you're camping ($15/night). Both fabled and mythical, they have helped to drive the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Even though some have said the stones story is much older (it is true the source information is likely much older) than the Dutchmans time and therefor there is no connection, they are going to be slapping themselves in the face trying to overcome their denial when they realize the stones leadto the same birds nest. We have imaging taken, with Go-pros, Sony 7000s; Osmo stabilized film cameras and Dji Phantom and Bee-bop drones. The man is barely alive. In 2003, a beautiful new museum, composed of an exhibit gallery and a gift shop and a small office, was dedicated and opened at 4087 E. Apache Trail (State Route 88). 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day and Easter. [27], Throughout the 20th century, various expeditions and individuals continued to search the Superstitions for the Lost Dutchman Mine. 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. Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. Cursed, blighted, tainted, whatever you want to call it. Some places have long been thought to be simply no good. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. 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. He was then led along a harsh, meandering route of an estimated 20 miles, after which they removed the blindfold and he was met with the sight of a pile of gold sparkling in the sun near an entrance into the presumed lost mine. For a small fee you can see items owned by locals and learn all about the local history. They never made it out of the Superstitions. Starring Sage Howard, Andrew Simpson, and Shelby Stehlin. For the price, this is well worth the visit.