My husband has been enthralled with all the wonderful tales of the mountains since his college days a long time ago. TheLost Dutchmans Gold Mineis, according to folktales, a magnificent, rich, Scrooge McDuck like repository of gold hidden somewhere in southwestern United States. 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. Many believe there is a connection and that they sold their families mine to Waltz and his partner. 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. It started out as an exciting day for us all on February 25th, 2016. 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]. Arcana Exploration is made up of a group of five friends and supporters, from central Ohio, who until five years ago knew very little if anything about the LDM. Hes led back to town and the tale spreads like wildfire. 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. A found footage thriller inspired on actual events, DARK MOUNTAIN is directed by Tara Anase and written by Tamara Blaich and Tara Anase. Cravey said he would walk out of the mountains on June 28, 1947. [17] Note that tombstone pictured shows birth year as 1808. Fake AF. 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. 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. The newcomers, thus, became the Pennsylvania Dutch. 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". Supposedly one of their 18 mines was very rich and they considered it their alfa mine. The mysterious deaths and disappearances go on and on. Back in those days, the American term for German was Deutsh one misspelling here, an illiterate vagrant telling tall tales over there, a shoddy reporter, and Deutsh suddenly transformed into Dutch. Wasnt it Dutch? 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. Despite his efforts, Willing was never able to recover the money he gave to Peralta. 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. Finally The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! That was circa 1850. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. Instead, he went missing and his skull was found 6 months later with two large circular holes. A TwinTygr Film. Erwin passed the information to his father Adolph, who had a long-standing interest in lost mines and amateur exploration. By what name was Dark Mountain (2013) officially released in Canada in English? 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. Over the years, subsequent search for the mines has only lead to heartache and death. The Peralta Massacre is a legend that Apaches supposedly ambushed a mining expedition the Peralta family sent into the mountains. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. 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. This is trails end; this is the domain of the Dutch Hunters. 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. 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. 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. Cursed, blighted, tainted, whatever you want to call it. A month later the rest of the body was found about three-quarters of a mile away, with severely broken legs, and it was supposed that he had fallen and then after his grievous injuries died of starvation and the elements. In 1870, Waltz had a homestead of about 160 acres (0.65km2) near Phoenix where he operated a farm.[18]. 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. No sign of the filmmakers themselves has been found to date. The Grand Canyon State. Are you ready to relive the last few moments of the lives of a group of people who were poking around where they shouldnt have been? 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. 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. Arcana Exploration. There are a lot of terrific shots and brilliantly edited moments -- especially, the opening montage as the characters drive to the Superstition Mountains. In January 2011, three sets of remains assumed to be those of the lost men were retrieved. Its estimated worth is around 200 million dollars. Dr. Over the decades, this tale was gradually absorbed into the Lost Dutchman's story. In March of 2011 three filmmakers set out to find the mine and document their entire process. The staff and volunteers at this Museum were all very friendly and helpful. However, Ruth ignored Barkely's advice, and set out for a two-week stint in the mountains. 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 2: Cashiers for questions about whats happening at the museum and local area "Dutchman's Gold" was a chart hit in 1960 for, "When the Man Comes, Follow Him" episode of the, "The Peralta Map" episode of the CBS Radio series, The Lost Dutchman Mine ride was a popular attraction at, The Lost Dutchman's Mine features prominently in the, The Lost Dutchmans Mine is the subject of Season 6, Episode 10 of podcast Unexplained. In certain seasons, they also have gun fighters and mule/donkey rides for the kids as well. Other storytellers claim that the Peralta Family escaped with gold, but another family died in the massacre. Arizona. He had acquired maps that he was sure would lead him straight to the gold. The praying hands formation at the Superstition Mountains range. They believed that the entrance to the underworld itself lay somewhere in among these peaks, and that powerful spirits roamed the withered landscape. Skeptoid Podcast. A note in a bottle found floating down the Salt River said that he needed help on account of his leg and that he had found the Lost Dutchmans gold mine. Ruth vanished while hunting for the mine in the summer of 1931. Our focus is on providing visitors with an experience of the Old West. 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. 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. After moving to the area, Ruth lingered numerous days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. More please. 2023 Copyright Phoenix Ghosts. 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. 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. His skull with two bullet holes was recovered about six months after he disappeared. 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. Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. The closest approximate was a German miner of the PennsylvaniaGerman community. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. Dark Mountain is beautifully directed and filmed, it really took me by surprise. How he knew all of this no one knows, but one rumor has it that he learned the secret location of this massive stash of gold from the sole surviving Peralta family member. You came here for the nasty bits that are constantly swept under the rug. According to Blair, the story may have its roots in the efforts of three U.S. soldiers to locate gold in an area of New Mexico, based on an allegedly true story related to them by Dr. Thorne of New Mexico; see above. Somewhere deep within Arizonas Superstition Mountains lies the most famous lost gold mine in the worldthe Lost Dutchman Mine. 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. The Superstition Mountains Superstition Mountain has an elevation of 5,024 feet. 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. This account is usually dated to about 1870. [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. 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. Subscribe Today! 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 story became a national sensation and suddenly everyone knew about the mines and its horror riddled backstory. Everyone else? October through April Thorne sold the ore for $6000 and became a wealthy man. Want to feel like youre in a horror movie and quite possibly high on Peyote? You'll find us in the rugged 160,000 acre Superstition Mountain range in the Tonto National Forest in Central Arizona. 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. Waltz was buried in Phoenix at what is now called the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park. Padre Kino founded many missions including Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson. Museum Members are FREE. The elder Ruth had fallen and badly broken several bones while seeking the lost Pegleg mine in California. There was a catastrophic flood in Phoenix in 1891, and Waltz's farm was one of many that was devastated. X while searching for the mines. 5: Museum Administration and Membership matters, E-MAILVolunteering questions: [emailprotected]Site rentals: [emailprotected]Membership questions: [emailprotected]Retail and event issues: [emailprotected]Accounting issues: [emailprotected]Administrative and other issues: [emailprotected]FAX(480) 288-6524. In late November or early December 2009, Denver, Colorado citizen Jesse Capen disappeared in the Tonto National Forest. 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. Some places have long been thought to be simply no good. We will share as much as we can for now, but as I stated earlier we are preparing for a return trip, and the location has to remain secret. 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We have imaging taken, with Go-pros, Sony 7000s; Osmo stabilized film cameras and Dji Phantom and Bee-bop drones. Arizona place-name expert Byrd Granger wrote, as of 1977, the Lost Dutchman's story had been printed or cited at least six times more often than two other fairly well-known tales, the story of Captain Kidd's lost treasure, and the story of the Lost Pegleg mine in California. Come on. Going on a year now. Director Tara Anase Writers Tara Anase (story) Tamara Blaich (story) Stars Ron Eagle D'Andre II Adam Haley Sage Howard The promise of a $200 million mother . This isn't another nauseating, shaky-cam mess. What is important is the informational content recorded on the stones. 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. To begin with, there was never any real Dutchman involved with the lost gold mine. Hanna-Barbara, Jean Giraud, and Don Rosa have incorporated the story in their cartoons. 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. Intrigue Journal. Superstition Mountain hasan elevation of 5,024 feet. Lights, screams, and shadows of Apache armies have been reported. Kinos Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson unlike other missions in California was both massive and opulent, and still stands today. That was circa 1850. [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. Yep, more footage has been found, kids. 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. These trails traverse from the desert floor up into the edges of the mountains. These are tall, volcanic formations in the wilderness and are popular as hiking destinations. "Dutchman's Gold" was the season 4, episode 19 of, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 00:14. They are encircled by U.S Route 60 on the south Arizona State 88 on the northwest, and Arizona 188 on the northeast. Waltz forms an expedition party; two Peralta descendants, an archaeologist, and Jacob Weiser. 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. 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. Superstition Mountain Museum has a large collection of props, sets, posters and memorabilia connected to Western movie and television history. 4: Volunteer Coordinator For instance, about six of the maps are relevant, others may be relevant, but for now do not appear to be. He's written articles for MU and Daily Grail and has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM and Binnal of America.