Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. Very sweet museum with great views of the Superstition Mountains. Waltz is attacked and wounded by marauding Apaches, but survives at least long enough to tell a man called Dr. Walker about the mine. 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. Get-rich-quick schemes are as American as the Fourth of July. 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. Over the next few weeks I will share some images that are safe for us to show. But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. Blair had little doubt that Waltz related to Thomas the location of an alleged gold mine. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. No suspects or motive were ever found. It was the fifth-largest fire in Arizonas history, it raged for over a month, despite the strenuous containment efforts of over 600 firefighters. The gift shop also has an indoor museum. T Just a few miles south of Tucson lies Colossal Cave, an often overlooked natural landmark with well over a thousand years of history. , on the northeast side, includes a favorite trail that heads up to Fremont Saddle; picturesque panoramic views of most of the locale. 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. He died on October 25, 1891, after having been nursed by an acquaintance named Julia Thomas (she was usually described as a quadroon). ZERO ZIP NADA!! The closest approximate was a German miner of the PennsylvaniaGerman community. There was indeed a Jacob Waltz who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. 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. 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. On Valentines Day Elvis was available at the church for weddings. The Village exhibit includes two brush structures, some call Wickiups (the Apache people call them Gowah --our home); a cooking area and hide drying rack. [16] A man called Jacob Walz was born in September 1810 in Wrttemberg. Finally The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! The area is filled with ghost tales, monster encounters, and, yes you cant have spooky mountains without an alien highway UFOs. This is your spot. The search, nevertheless, still continues. In any case, the event led to the naming of the Massacre Falls after it. 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. Despite his efforts, Willing was never able to recover the money he gave to Peralta. If you need rescued, they will land two miles away and hike in to get you. each. Youve come to the ideal place. Very similiar to big foot hunters. Cute fun stop for anyone visiting the area to learn more about the history of the area. He further stated, after examining the two holes [in the skull], that it appeared that a shotgun or high-powered rifle had been fired through the head at almost point-blank range, making the small hole when the bullet entered and the large hole when it exited".[23]. In certain seasons, they also have gun fighters and mule/donkey rides for the kids as well. 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. Eight months later their camera and cell phones were recovered along the western edge of LaBarge Canyon. The praying hands formation at the Superstition Mountains range. 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Producers included Tamara Blaich, Jennifer Harrington, and Megan Peterson with cinematography by Pyongson Yim and editing by Jennifer Harrington. Children 10 and under The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. Their bodies were never found, but their camera was." 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. (Chris J / Flickr). [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". Treasure hunting at Superstition Mountains Arizona - The Lost Dutchman's Mine. These are tall, volcanic formations in the wilderness and are popular as hiking destinations. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchmans Mine. Subscribe Today! 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. Hes led back to town and the tale spreads like wildfire. Arcana Exploration. You came here for the nasty bits that are constantly swept under the rug. Lost Dutchman State Park is located near the Superstition Mountains in central Phoenix, about 40 miles from Phoenix. You need at a bare minimum, at least a three- man team. Starring Sage Howard, Andrew Simpson, and Shelby. The Superstition Mountains are a mountain range east of Phoenix and are known for their picturesque volcanic peaks and and jagged canyons. Superstition Mountain Museum has a large collection of props, sets, posters and memorabilia connected to Western movie and television history. To determine if the skull was Ruth's, it was examined by Dr. Ale Hrdlika, a well-respected anthropologist who was given several photos of Ruth, along with Ruth's dental records. He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. 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. The Superstition Mountain Museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountain region and the Apache Junction area. Waltz was buried in Phoenix at what is now called the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park. As with most of the terrain encompassing the Phoenix metropolitan area, and the Superstition Mountains, have a desert environment, with scorching summer temperatures and sparse sources of water. He was remembered as having been obsessed with finding the mine for several years. Another detail which casts doubt on the story is the fact that, according to Blair, there was never any Dr. Thorne in the employ of the Army or indeed of the Federal Government in the 1860s. 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. 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. 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. [17] Note that tombstone pictured shows birth year as 1808. Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. In 2012 his vehicle, wallet, cellphone, and backpack were located but there had been no sign of the missing man. Dark Mountain is beautifully directed and filmed, it really took me by surprise. 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. The headline that entangles those mountains in macabre tales and sinister ghost fantasies is the legend of the Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine. A must see if you are by the Superstition Mountains. The park offers 134 campsites, each with a picnic table, barbeque grill, and fire pit, and 68 equipped with electric hook-ups and water. One of the most professional and serious-minded efforts was led by Oklahoma City private detective Glen Magill, who organized multiple expeditions in the late 1960s and early '70s, and claimed on at least two occasions to have identified the location of the mine, later to concede he was either mistaken or the locations were "played out," or bereft of gold. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Many people took the landmark to be the Weavers Needle but had no luck finding any gold nuggets in its vicinity. People from the town below certain that only death and demons travel across Superstition Mountain at night. I feel the information on the Peralta stones is most likely from a very old map of Jesuit origin. Everyone else? 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. Mine records show that one possibly two Peralta family members with possible links connecting them to the 1848 massacre, also worked at the Vulture mine during the same time period as Waltz. They never made it out of the Superstitions. Ruth ended his note with the phrase "Veni, vidi, vici. Saturdays bring the added fun of gun fight shows with a friendly crew that welcomes photos during the show and posing with them after the show. 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. A doctor from Illinois, Doctor Abraham Thorne, provided his service to treat the indigenous people of the Southwest. Months pass, years some say, until one day Jacob comes back battered and bloody atop a lame mule. Lost Dutchman State Park - Check out the Superstition Mountain and Museum plus the Lost Dutchman State Park.Goldfield Mine Legend tells of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine hidden somewhere. The newcomers, thus, became the Pennsylvania Dutch. Cravey said he would walk out of the mountains on June 28, 1947. Awesome place to visit. 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. Lights, screams, and shadows of Apache armies have been reported. On the east side of Phoenix in Arizona lies the spectacular range of the Superstition Mountains that straddle the Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Wilderness area. However, there were no directions to the conquest mentioned in his diary. The mine is named after German immigrant Jacob Waltz,18101891. [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. Lots to see on site from a barn, trains, petting zoo on Saturdays, little gift shop, and a labyrinth and even a chapel dedicated to Elvis. The elder Ruth had fallen and badly broken several bones while seeking the lost Pegleg mine in California. 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. 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. 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 . Here he worked at the Vulture Mine as a paid miner. I will make a statement in the near future that will surprise a lot of Dutch Hunters it surprised me. Cursed, blighted, tainted, whatever you want to call it. October through April "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. [27], Throughout the 20th century, various expeditions and individuals continued to search the Superstitions for the Lost Dutchman Mine. The hellhole supposedly also sends out tremendous winds, and these cause the infamous dust storms of the region. Jacob Waltz took to returning to the mountains only when he needed the gold. 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. The roofs of the cave are blackened from centuries of Native Ameri Go Wildcats! Lastly, the alleged mine directions Ruth had were from an 1895 newspaper account. At the time he had ventured out into the Tonto National Forest in search of the legendary treasure, having looked for it on several occasions in the past and accumulating hundreds of books and hundreds of pages of research on the matter. Read on to find out if you should start planning your trip to a Dark Mountain. 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. Without doubt the most controversial but easily the most studied, researched and written about of all the historical documentation involving the Superstition Mountains, are the famous Peralta Stones. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. The staff and volunteers at this Museum were all very friendly and helpful. In December of 1949 a man named James Kidd vanished without a trace in the area as well. 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. 2023 Copyright Phoenix Ghosts. The scenery is stunningly beautiful and never gets old. 4: Volunteer Coordinator But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 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. is, according to folktales, a magnificent, rich, Scrooge McDuck like repository of gold hidden somewhere in southwestern United States. This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. We had a 7-hour drive ahead of us and we wanted to start early. That was circa 1850. Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in likely wilderness accidents. 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. 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Summer Hours In appreciation, Gonzales told Erwin about the Peralta mine in the Superstition Mountains and an antique map of the site. In late November or early December 2009, Denver, Colorado citizen Jesse Capen disappeared in the Tonto National Forest. Ahh, heres the chronological faux-pass. 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. Im talking Smaug levels of the shiny stuff. The University of Arizona is the oldest college in the state, existing before Arizona achieved statehood. He had acquired maps that he was sure would lead him straight to the gold. It is believed that all were killed except for two Peralta family members who were severely wounded but managed to escape. Museum Members are FREE. Want to feel like youre in a horror movie and quite possibly high on Peyote? The Museum Gallery offers a detailed exploration of the history of this region with artifacts, multi-media, testimonials and docent-led tours. Gone. 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. And, amazingly, a few of these people were also found in the same headless state as Adolph Ruth. [9] As of 1975, ruins of the Peralta mine were standing.[9]. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. Near Apache Junction, Arizona there is a place called the Supersition Mountains where legends and superstitions come alive to tell their ghostly tales. Is someone or something trying to keep this treasure hidden? Dr. Thorne starts to investigate. Excellent place to learn a lot about the local history of the Superstition Mountains. For the price, this is well worth the visit. Producers included Tamara Blaich, Jennifer Harrington, and Megan Peterson with cinematography by Pyongson Yim and editing by Jennifer Harrington. The weather in the Superstition Mountains is notoriously unpredictable, with storms seeming to come out of nowhere and accompanied by abrupt drops in temperatures. The area is basically a free-for-all for wilderness lovers. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. Join MU Plus+ and get exclusive shows and extensions & much more! (2004). 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. On 8 June 2019, a fire broke out in the Superstitions Wilderness area and soon spread across 26,000 acres. The blindfold is taken off, the shine of the yellow stuff rattles Thornes mind, the chieftain speaks, Take as much gold ore as you can carry..