filmmakers lost in superstition mountains

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. 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. There are numerous hiking trails that hikers can access from multiple points, one of the more well-known ones being the Peralta Trailhead. 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. 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. 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 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. 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Summer Hours They removed his blindfold and let him take away as much as he could carry. Want to reenact that James Franco film with the rusted and dull pocket knife? The area is basically a free-for-all for wilderness lovers. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Barkely urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine: the area and the mines cursed and full of devils.. While it is small, it is packed with information and visual stimulation if you enjoy history. Admission 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. In any case, the event led to the naming of the Massacre Falls after it. Many people have dismissed them as a hoax. 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. It is believed that all were killed except for two Peralta family members who were severely wounded but managed to escape. Adolph Ruth is really the amateur explorer and treasure hunter that made the mines into a national phenomenon. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. The stones are named for an obscure "Peralta family", said to be an old and powerful Mexican family. [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. From this base he easily could have worked a gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. Kinos Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson unlike other missions in California was both massive and opulent, and still stands today. 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. The mysterious deaths and disappearances go on and on. Everyone else? Blair had little doubt that Waltz related to Thomas the location of an alleged gold mine. 4: Volunteer Coordinator To underline his great find, he had also written Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, and I conquered) in his diary. They never made it out of the Superstitions. 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. There were also strange stories among the Apache of a magnificent, hidden cavern full of gold, said to be a vast treasure long buried within the mountains and protected by spirits, troll-like beasts called Tuar-Tums, and even their Thunder God himself. 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. Skeptoid Media, 29 Jan 2013. My husband has been enthralled with all the wonderful tales of the mountains since his college days a long time ago. Ive driven by this place countless times without ever checking it out. Others that it was Waltz. The family is later attacked and butchered in the so-called, Jacob, meanwhile, the lone survivor, is near catatonic. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Over the decades, this tale was gradually absorbed into the Lost Dutchman's story. (Latin Heart Reader / Wikimedia Commons). 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]. Is someone or something trying to keep this treasure hidden? In December, 1931, The Arizona Republic reported on the recent discovery of a human skull in the Superstition Mountains. Blair insisted that the Peralta portion of the story is unreliable, writing: "The operation of a gold mine in the Superstitions by a Peralta family is a contrivance of 20th century writers". 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. He died on October 25, 1891, after having been nursed by an acquaintance named Julia Thomas (she was usually described as a quadroon). About this campaign You may also be interested in Gogopicks Funding The MOST PROFESSIONAL Smart Toothpaste Dispenser 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 His skull with two bullet holes was recovered about six months after he disappeared. A corpse is later found and IDed as Weiser; coroners unable to state whether the wounds were caused by Apache weapons or American-made knives. In January 2011, three sets of remains assumed to be those of the lost men were retrieved. [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. Yep, more footage has been found, kids. However, things can go wrong. Thorne is said to be either unwilling or unable to relocate the mine. Students 11-17 $4.00 Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. 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. The museum does not disappoint! Starring Sage Howard, Andrew Simpson, and Shelby Stehlin. We miss it. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The mountain is also frequented with mysterious sounds that many people have claimed to have heard. Waltzs caregiver, a Julia Thomas, apparently listened to all of this but had no idea what to think of any of it. 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. "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. Intrigue Journal. 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. [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. 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. Many other mysterious deaths in the Superstition Mountains followed that of Ruths in the subsequent years, including two soldiers from the U.S. Army. There are a lot of terrific shots and brilliantly edited moments -- especially, the opening montage as the characters drive to the Superstition Mountains. Famed Apache warrior Geronimo was oftentimes sometimes discussed in the story; because its always good to shoehorn a celebrity into an urban legend. Superstition Mountain Museum is located in an area full of legend, history and intrigue. [26], Blair wrote that "the national wire services picked up the story [of Ruth's death] and ran it for more than it was worth", possibly seeing the mysterious story as a welcome reprieve from the bleak news that was otherwise typical of the Great Depression. 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. They trek into the mountains. In an act of kindness, Throne treats an ailing Apache chieftain. Im talking Smaug levels of the shiny stuff. A beautiful site just below the western edge of the Superstition Mountains was found and obtained. 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. Three documentary filmmakers set out on a journey into Arizona's Superstition Mountains to uncover the truth about the most famous lost gold mine in the world - the Lost Dutchman Mine, purportedly the home to a treasure worth 200 million dollars. 9 May 2022. Starring Sage Howard, Andrew Simpson, and Shelby. The Valentine State. 1: Recorded description of the museum. This account is usually dated to about 1870. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Finally The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! 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. 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). If you loved watching old westerns you will love this place. In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. Please note that admission prices for Special Events are subject to change. 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. January 1933 a Mining electrican named J.A. As to why his head had been carried off no one knows. According to their folklore, the mountain guards an ancient storehouse of precious metals and treasures, and anyone who ventures forth to get the treasure is likely to die. Lights, screams, and shadows of Apache armies have been reported. A raspberry into the face of common sense. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The St. Johns herald. Trust at your own peril if you dare to tread into HISTORYs Legend of the Superstition Mountains. ZERO ZIP NADA!! Tries to portray danger and incidentin fact nothing going on. 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. 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. In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. This isn't another nauseating, shaky-cam mess. The Native Apache people of the area had already long held this as a rather sinister scared place even before outsiders came in to settle the land. 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. His body would later be found with a bullet hole to the head. 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. Next week I will list some clues that are absolutely relevant to what we have physically on site. 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. A TwinTygr Film. [7] A man named Miguel Peralta and his family did operate a successful mine in the 1860s but near Valencia, California, not in Arizona. Im talking Smaug levels of the shiny stuff. The Grand Canyon State. 27.07 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Flames of Prophecy, 29.07 - MU Podcast - Contract with the Goddess, 27.06 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Secret Vaults of Time, 29.06 - MU Podcast - Italian Disco Abductions, The Mystery of New York's Renegade Subway Psychic, Forget About What We Know About Roswell: It's What's Missing About the Case That We Need to Look For, Archeologists Discover Another Secret Corridor Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, A Boat-Swallowing Sea Monster of Norse Legends Still Lives Today, Ghosts, Fairies, and a Spectral Hag on Canada's Most Haunted Island, More on the Matter of the Most Dangerous Creature of the Mind: The Slenderman, Unmarked Black Helicopter Above Chicago Sparks Conspiracy Theories, "What's the Creepiest Thing You've Ever Seen or Heard?" The newcomers, thus, became the Pennsylvania Dutch. Skeptoid Podcast. Dr. Around 1860 a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz moved into the Wickenburg Arizona area about 80 miles from Phoenix. "Dutchman's Gold" was the season 4, episode 19 of, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 00:14. Check it out! There are still those who obsessively search for it and try to decode its secrets, but no one has ever really quite managed to find it, to the point that many skeptics question whether it ever really existed at all. In this story (actually two interconnected stories), members of the Apache tribe are said to have a very rich gold mine located in the Superstition Mountains. 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. When and where we can get a direct line of sight, we use high tech Walkie talkies, to communicate with each other. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. The area is filled with ghost tales, monster encounters, and, yes you cant have spooky mountains without an alien highway UFOs. Cursed, blighted, tainted, whatever you want to call it. It is here were you will reach areas that are barely penetrable, this is where most trails stop abruptly for safety reasons. TheSuperstition Mountains, furthermore, are the abode of the Thunder God, and he causes the frequent regional thunderstorms. A must see if you are by the Superstition Mountains. 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. They were supposedly dug up in the desert, in area east of Gold canyon and Tucson in the late 1940s byTravis E Tomlinson. That was circa 1850. Barkely urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine: The headless remains of prospector James A. Cravey were discovered in the mid-1940s. 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. Cravey said he would walk out of the mountains on June 28, 1947. Youll find us in the rugged 160,000 acre Superstition Mountain range in the Tonto National Forest in Central Arizona. Legend tells of the Lost Dutchmans gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as the Superstition Mountains. The promise of a $200 million mother lode has lured thousands of treasure hunters and continues to claim the lives of those eager to decipher the legends clues and riddles. Like all great legends and Indiana Jones-like ventures, the search for the Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine is littered with betrayal, spirits, backstabbing desperados, unexplained disappearances, and death. 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. [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". But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. 4087 East Apache Trail The chieftain, overtaken by the act, blindfolds the doctor and takes him on a trip to the mines. I really enjoyed it here. If you get it hurt you better have your own team. , The Waterbury Democrat. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. We especially liked the large selection of locally mined semi-precious gemstones. Cursed, blighted, tainted, whatever you want to call it. Padre Kino founded many missions including Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson. Months pass, years some say, until one day Jacob comes back battered and bloody atop a lame mule. [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 Superstition Mountains Superstition Mountain has an elevation of 5,024 feet. Dr. Thorne starts to investigate. And then I finally paid a visit this past weekend and was pleasantly surprised. Because of what we have discovered at the site, Arcana Exploration believes we have proof for the first time that there is a common link between Waltz and the Peraltas. 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. When is the documentary goimg to start back up? The 66-year-old Ruth, who was by all accounts absolutely and hopelessly obsessed with the location of the Lost Dutchmans Mine, ventured out into those badlands despite warnings against it, and shortly after vanished without a trace. Interestingly it was found that he had amassed a small fortune in a short amount of time after starting his forays into the mountains, urging suspicions that he had found the lost mine. This is considered to be the starting and gathering point for most Dutch Hunters. Cravey said he would walk out of the mountains on June 28, 1947. Find a wide array of distinctive and unique items including books, apparel, local Native American arts and crafts and seasonal gift selections. Near Apache Junction, Arizona there is a place called the Supersition Mountains where legends and superstitions come alive to tell their ghostly tales. Get the latest on your favorite shows, plus updates on HISTORY events and more. 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. That was circa 1850. Over the next few weeks we will provide some images and photos taken at or very near the site. Subscribe Today! 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. [1], The Lost Dutchman's is perhaps the most famous lost mine in American history. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. Who killed him and then separated his head from his body remains unknown. In 1847-1848 during the time of the Hidalgo Treaty when Mexico sold the territory to the United Sates the Peraltas, knowing they would lose access to their mines made one last trip bringing hundreds of miners from Sonora to mine as much as they could, but were attacked by Apaches. The Superstition Mountain Museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountain region and the Apache Junction area. I feel the information on the Peralta stones is most likely from a very old map of Jesuit origin. (However, in some versions,[14] the 'mine' is actually a cache put there by the Peraltas.). Take a cinematic tour to the Superstition Mountains, home of the Lost Dutchman Mine. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 18851903, September 8, 1892, Image 2", Dunning, B. There were other weird clues found about the body, such as the presence of two bullet holes to the skull from shots fired at point blank range, and it was speculated that he had perhaps been killed for his secret knowledge or committed suicide, but there was no weapon found. 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 . "[24], Authorities in Arizona did not convene a criminal inquest regarding Ruth's death. (2004). These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. For a small fee you can see items owned by locals and learn all about the local history. X., who seemed to be guarding the area. German? However, Ruth ignored Barkely's advice, and set out for a two-week stint in the mountains. 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. For the first time ever, Arcana Exploration has undeniable physical proof that the mine exists, proof that is to say, photographic physical documentation that many of the generally excepted clues, are in fact real and do exist and are physically present in one location. Combine these with the legends of the indigenous Pima Indians and the mountains live up to their name. Our focus is on providing visitors with an experience of the Old West. We arrived at Shaun's house at 7:30 am in St. George Utah. 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. 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. From the Press Release And, where praytell do most folks believe said El Dorado is safely hidden Why, in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction. In certain seasons, they also have gun fighters and mule/donkey rides for the kids as well. Adults $7.00 Thorne claimed that he was taken captive by Navajos in 1854, and that during his captivity he had discovered a rich gold vein. In this case the body was found first, with the rest of the body following a full 6 months later. Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. Since Ruth's death, there have been several other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. Keep in mind for security reasons for now I have to be selective on what we divulge. In January 2011, three sets of remains assumed to be those of the lost men were retrieved. The Peralta Massacre is a legend that Apaches supposedly ambushed a mining expedition the Peralta family sent into the mountains. 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. The Superstition Mountain Historical Society was formed on December 27, 1979. In fact, after five years including thousands of hours of research and then four expeditions starting in 2015, The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine has been found by Arcana Exploration and Discovery. [8] The mine was quite profitable, earning about $35,000 in less than one year; Blair described this as "an unusually good return" for such a small gold mine to earn in such a relatively brief period. 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. Web. 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. Going on a year now. [9] As of 1975, ruins of the Peralta mine were standing.[9]. Gone. Back in those days, the American term for German was , Members of the Apache tribe were said to have a truly valuable gold mine located in the Superstition Mountains. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. 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. After traveling to the region, Ruth stayed several days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. Front View of the Peralta Stones. The Copper State. The hellhole supposedly also sends out tremendous winds, and these cause the infamous dust storms of the region. 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. Here he worked at the Vulture Mine as a paid miner. The Peralta family would go on to be suspected of having left some evidence behind of their discovery in the form of a series of odd stones mysteriously etched with codes, pictograms, and cryptic messages written out in imperfect Latin, which are said to hold the key to finding the treasure and which have been dubbed the Peralta Stones. These stones were allegedly written up by the family shortly before their massacre and left behind by Apaches who did not know their true meaning and so left them to rot away in the sun. You need at a bare minimum, at least a three- man team. Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! 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."