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. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The Hermit of the Superstition Mountains - YouTube Since Ruths death, there have been numerous other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. The Lost Dutchman Mine, Arizona - Legends of America Furthermore, Wilburn stated that geology indicates that there is no gold in the Superstition Mountains, which are igneous in origin. There are numerous hiking trails that hikers can access from multiple points, one of the more well-known ones being the Peralta Trailhead. The Copper State. 4: Volunteer Coordinator After an intensive search, Ruths skull was was found at the bottom of a remote ravine, sitting out there all alone in the unforgiving desert. Their bodies were never found, but their camera was." His skull with two holes in it identified as bullet holes was recovered about six months after he vanished, and the story made national news, thus sparking widespread interest in the Lost Dutchman's mine.[22]. 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. 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. By what name was Legend of the Superstition Mountains (2015) officially released in Canada in English? 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. X while searching for the mines. Over the years, subsequent search for the mines has only lead to heartache and death. It started out as an exciting day for us all on February 25th, 2016. 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. What is important is the informational content recorded on the stones. You came for the yellow rag gossip. People from the town below certain that only death and demons travel across Superstition Mountain at night. And, amazingly, a few of these people were also found in the same headless state as Adolph Ruth. The park offers 134 campsites, each with a picnic table, barbeque grill, and fire pit, and 68 equipped with electric hook-ups and water. At the low elevations, you will encounter tall saguaro cactusand Ponderosa pines at higher levels, and these are generally near the streams. Ruth ended his note with the phrase "Veni, vidi, vici. Finally - The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! 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. He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. A raspberry into the face of common sense. Very sweet museum with great views of the Superstition Mountains. Non one really knows, but the answers just may lie out there in the desolate reaches of those desert badlands. The University of Arizona is the oldest college in the state, existing before Arizona achieved statehood. On July 11, 2010, Utah hikers Curtis Merworth, Ardean Charles, and Malcolm Meeks went missing in the Superstition Mountains while looking for the mine. Lights, screams, and shadows of Apache armies have been reported. 4087 East Apache Trail There May Be a Long-Lost Gold Mine in the Arizona Mountains - Discovery However, Ruth ignored Barkely's advice, and set out for a two-week stint in the mountains. 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. One of these was a veterinarian and treasure hunter named Adolf Ruth, who in 1931 made his way to these wind-swept wilds, armed with what he at the time claimed to be the actual original map to it. Take a stroll along the Native Plant Trail or hike the . They didnt find it because its not in the superstitions Too bad i cant post pictures, because i know exactly where it is, Did you ever think the Dutchman might have used another mine location to through Youll find us in the rugged 160,000 acre Superstition Mountain range in the Tonto National Forest in Central Arizona. Waltz was buried in Phoenix at what is now called the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park. Everyplace had a lost mine. Yes, the deserts of Arizona carry a spooky secret. 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. This is trails end; this is the domain of the Dutch Hunters. As predicted by Waltz none are miners, they are in fact like most folks that are reading this post, just regular hard-working everyday folks with normal jobs, going to their kids ball games, playing a round of golf, and in the fall deer hunting and going to Blue Jackets NHL games. 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. Some have died on the search. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. Most recently, in 2009 there was a would-be treasure hunter by the name of Jesse Capen, a 35-year old bellhop from Denver who was in his free time by all accounts fascinated and obsessed with the legend of the Lost Dutchmans mine. The elder Ruth had fallen and badly broken several bones while seeking the lost Pegleg mine in California. Other storytellers claim that the Peralta Family escaped with gold, but another family died in the massacre. According to the story, in about 1912 Erwin C. Ruth gave some legal aid to Gonzales, saving him from almost certain imprisonment. Superstition Mountain Museum has a large collection of props, sets, posters and memorabilia connected to Western movie and television history. You need at a bare minimum, at least a three- man team. About Us - Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum In an act of kindness, Throne treats an ailing Apache chieftain. [16] A man called Jacob Walz was born in September 1810 in Wrttemberg. He's written articles for MU and Daily Grail and has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM and Binnal of America. Much of the interior is so brutal with severe weather shifts (the Apache winds) that much of the interior is off limits for search and rescue. "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). In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. That was circa 1850. 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. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. Come on. (Chris J / Flickr). The staff and volunteers at this Museum were all very friendly and helpful. Be sure to have a hat and water because it gets hot when youre walking around the grounds. The earliest Lost Dutchman's mine in Arizona was said to have been near Wickenburg, about 180km (110mi) north-west of the Superstition Mountains: a "Dutchman" was allegedly discovered dead in the desert near Wickenburg in the 1870s alongside saddlebags filled with gold. 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. Ahh, heres the chronological faux-pass. We miss it. Though the remains had been scattered by scavengers, they were undoubtedly Ruth's. 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. Walking along tyre tracks saying they are in the middle of nowhere at a treasure location. Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. 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. Wasnt it Dutch? The headline that entangles those mountains in macabre tales and sinister ghost fantasies is the legend of the Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine. In 1952 there was a man named Joseph Kelley, who went out into the mountains to find the treasure and proceeded to vanish from the face of the earth. January 1933 a Mining electrican named J.A. 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. However, the Peralta Mine eventually became unprofitable and after the money was gone Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. You'll find us in the rugged 160,000 acre Superstition Mountain range in the Tonto National Forest in Central Arizona. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. For a small fee you can see items owned by locals and learn all about the local history. This is very important! We arrived at Shaun's house at 7:30 am in St. George Utah. [32] But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. And the answer is absolutely yes! According to the story, the Apaches quickly descended upon the family to ruthlessly slaughter all of them but one, left alive solely to tell the tale not to mess with the lost mine to anyone who would listen. 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. Is someone or something trying to keep this treasure hidden? This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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 are tall, volcanic formations in the wilderness and are popular as hiking destinations. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. They believed that the entrance to the underworld itself lay somewhere in among these peaks, and that powerful spirits roamed the withered landscape. 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.