filmmakers lost in superstition mountains

The curse of the treasure would continue in the 1940s, when a 62-year-old treasure hunter by the name of James A. Carvey journeyed into the Superstition Mountains and also ended up dead and with his head separated from his shoulders. While it is small, it is packed with information and visual stimulation if you enjoy history. To begin with, there was never any real Dutchman involved with the lost gold mine. 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. January 7, 2023 12:00 pm - April 29, 2023 3:00 pm, Desert Safety and Survival (March Sold Out), Weaving Class with Nanabah Aragon (March Sold Out). Up until Ruths disastrous expedition, the mines were little more than a footnote in the history of Arizona; one of a thousand so-called lost mines that peppered teh state. A found footage thriller inspired on actual events, DARK MOUNTAIN is directed by Tara Anase and written by Tamara Blaich and Tara Anase. Finally did a little digging and it sounded interesting. There was a catastrophic flood in Phoenix in 1891, and Waltz's farm was one of many that was devastated. Later, he remarked that he had noticed a towering rock formation nearby, but otherwise remained clueless about the whereabouts of the place. The museum itself is clean and well organized for the small space it is currently occupying and boasts loads in local history. 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. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. Thorne is said to be either unwilling or unable to relocate the mine. And importantly I have hard facts that the Stones are linked to other historical information. We are a non-profit corporation under Section 501 (c) 3, organized to collect and preserve the history and legends of Arizonas Superstition Mountains, and to support research, education and publications involving the region. 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. The story of the Peralta Stones is that they lead you to a small almost invisible ledge, 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. Legend of the Superstition Mountains: With Keenan Johnston, Mark Dodson, Frank Augustine, Wayne Tuttle. What is important is the informational content recorded on the stones. We had a 7-hour drive ahead of us and we wanted to start early. His skull with two bullet holes was recovered about six months after he disappeared. 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. They either mined or found enormous gold deposits in the Superstition Mountains. 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. The hellhole supposedly also sends out tremendous winds, and these cause the infamous dust storms of the region. 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. He's written articles for MU and Daily Grail and has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM and Binnal of America. [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. The story differs but heres the most common take, mind you there are over 100 different versions of the Story. [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". The Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Intrigue Journal. [9] As of 1975, ruins of the Peralta mine were standing.[9]. 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. , The Waterbury Democrat. It is believed that all were killed except for two Peralta family members who were severely wounded but managed to escape. For more macabre tales check out our Top Ten list of haunted spots in Phoenix. A must see if you are by the Superstition Mountains. After traveling to the region, Ruth stayed several days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. The Grand Canyon State. See production, box office & company info, The Investigation: A Haunting in Sherwood, The Harrisville Haunting: The Real Conjuring House. https://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/superstition-mountains/index.html, They were once known in Spanish as Sierra de la Espuma . The mysterious deaths and disappearances go on and on. January 1933 a Mining electrican named J.A. They trek into the mountains. 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. From this base he easily could have worked a gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. The Superstition Mountain Museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountain region and the Apache Junction area. Im talking Smaug levels of the shiny stuff. 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). The multi-acre museum site soon saw the addition of a historic Cossack 20-Stamp . The Museum Gallery offers a detailed exploration of the history of this region with artifacts, multi-media, testimonials and docent-led tours. 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. We arrived at Shaun's house at 7:30 am in St. George Utah. This isn't another nauseating, shaky-cam mess. 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. Lost Dutchman State Park is located near the Superstition Mountains in central Phoenix, about 40 miles from Phoenix. Ruth vanished while hunting for the mine in the summer of 1931. Front View of the Peralta Stones. October through April The man is barely alive. The Top Ten Most Haunted Places in Arizona. Tries to portray danger and incidentin fact nothing going on. Two prospectors saved his life and, in gratitude, he gave them directions to the gold mine, thus setting off a wild goose chase that continues to the present day. Superstition Mountain Museum has a large collection of props, sets, posters and memorabilia connected to Western movie and television history. James Reavis tried to assert that the Peralta family had a Spanish land grant and a barony granted by the King of Spain, which included a huge swath of Arizona and New Mexico, including the Superstition Mountains. Their bodies were never found. There have been tales ofU.S. Armysoldiers that are said to have stumbled onto a river of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. 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. [12] Thorne related his claims to three U.S. soldiers in about 1858. Many people have dismissed them as a hoax. DARK MOUNTAIN is the chilling reconstruction from their footage of their last days. This land grant was the basis of the James Reavis Arizona land swindle (Reavis became Willing's partner and continued to try to prove the authenticity of the land grant for years after Willing's death). Get-rich-quick schemes are as American as the Fourth of July. Ruth ended his note with the phrase "Veni, vidi, vici. 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. The Supers are east northeast of Phoenix. X., who seemed to be guarding the area. The Valentine State. This is considered to be the starting and gathering point for most Dutch Hunters. Then later the Mexicans including the powerful Peralta family made forays to the area from Sonora and are believed to have had 18 gold mines in the Supers. 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 . All Rights Reserved. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Superstition Mountain Museum is located in an area full of legend, history and intrigue. Arizona. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. but their camera was. Over the next few weeks we will provide some images and photos taken at or very near the site. The scenery is stunningly beautiful and never gets old. And, where praytell do most folks believe said El Dorado is safely hidden Why, in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction. "[24], Authorities in Arizona did not convene a criminal inquest regarding Ruth's death. The Superstitions Mountains lie within the Tonto National wildlife refuge and consist of 242 square miles not counting other designated and preserved areas that boarder the Tonto National Forest and wildlife refuge. Top Ten list of haunted spots in Phoenix. All rights reserved. If you need rescued, they will land two miles away and hike in to get you. There is a Superstition Mountain Museum at 4087 N. Apache Trail, Highway 88 in Apache Junction. 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. [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. Our focus is on providing visitors with an experience of the Old West. Be sure to have a hat and water because it gets hot when youre walking around the grounds. The early Spanish the Peraltas the Jesuits and many others all came to the Superstition Mountains looking for legendary gold. Today along route 88 is a pull off gravel road, that leads out behind the Lost Dutchman Museum, you follow it to a designated area, here you will find marked trail signs with trails simply marked as the Massacre Grounds.. 1: Recorded description of the museum. The mine is named after German immigrant Jacob Waltz,18101891. 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. (However, in some versions,[14] the 'mine' is actually a cache put there by the Peraltas.). 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. To this end he lived for years among their ranks, learning their ways and tending to their sick and wounded. The record high temperature is 128 degrees. But what they actually found has been a hidden secret that people have been trying to piece together for last 125 years. Ruths response? 4087 East Apache Trail 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. And is that information relevant? And, where praytell do most folks believe said El Dorado is safely hidden Why, in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction. 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. German? 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. But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. We have imaging taken, with Go-pros, Sony 7000s; Osmo stabilized film cameras and Dji Phantom and Bee-bop drones. Among the many legends to have emerged from the area, one of the most enduring ones is that of The LostDutchmansGold Mine. 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. The Copper State. 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, Over the years, subsequent search for the mines has only lead to heartache and death. Lastly, the alleged mine directions Ruth had were from an 1895 newspaper account. 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. The Peralta Stones are a set of engraved stone tableted works that are approximately 18 inches long and weigh about 25 lbs. SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS GHOST, LOST MINES, MURDER AND MAYHEM, Geronimo was oftentimes sometimes discussed in the story. Finally The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. The search, nevertheless, still continues. 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, Adolph Ruth is really the amateur explorer and treasure hunter that made the mines into a national phenomenon. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. Keep in mind for security reasons for now I have to be selective on what we divulge. There are a few walking trails that are great for beginners and still enjoyable for more experienced walkers as well. The glitches that periodically disrupt the footage are also particularly effective. 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. 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. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. He would take this secret location practically to his grave, but as he lie dying from a bout of pneumonia in 1891 he allegedly told all, laying out the secret location of the lost and cursed Apache treasure, giving detailed but cryptic instructions on how to navigate the rough terrain to the entrance, as well as scrawling out a crude map to it all as he lay on his deathbed. These are tall, volcanic formations in the wilderness and are popular as hiking destinations. The staff and volunteers at this Museum were all very friendly and helpful. Erwin gave the data to his father Adolph. Image property of Arcana Exploration, photo taken at the Lost Dutchman Museum Apache Junction, Arizona. Our focus is on providing visitors with an experience of the Old West. Richman, Irwin. 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. All funds and donations go back into preserving the area. In March of 2011, three filmmakers disappeared in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona while documenting their search for the Lost Dutchman mine. Over the next few weeks I will share some images that are safe for us to show. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. More please. 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. 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. In the version in which the Apaches killed the Peralta Family, the surviving member then went on to get embroiled in a brawl fight years later. Blair argued that this Peralta story (well known to Arizona residents) was eventually incorporated in the Lost Dutchman's story, in a severely distorted version, following the renewed interest in the Lost Dutchman's mine in the 1930s. Long before Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and grifter-socialite Anna Delvey, we had the Gold Rush and even today, plenty of Americans are still fixated on an either long-lost or fictional gold mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains.For more than a century, adventurous souls have sought the Lost Dutchman Mine, and since 1891 . [3] Former Arizona Attorney General Robert K. Corbin is among those who have looked for the mine. The Superstition Mountains Superstition Mountain has an elevation of 5,024 feet. Kinos Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson unlike other missions in California was both massive and opulent, and still stands today. Blair had little doubt that Waltz related to Thomas the location of an alleged gold mine. This is very important! 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. Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6].

Johnny Johnson Iii Draft Projection, Articles F