An even better introduction to the town is a ride on the narrow-track train that follows its outskirts. At the age of 13, Trevor Tuttle sat at a campfire at the base of the Superstition Mountains, listening intently to the lore of the Lost Dutchman Mine's legendary, cache of gold. The Apache Trail is a 40-mile circular route right through the Superstition Mountains. This trail is especially beautiful in spring, when you are surrounded by some of the most colorful desert wildflowers. The legend says there are millions of dollars in gold in those mountains. The crew I was with reached the area of interest and we noticed a couple of old-looking rock monuments off the trail. Initial Lost Dutchman's Mine's Deaths. After carefully scoping out the area, we headed down the road as there was so much to do and only so much daylight. coyotes and black bears roaming the mountains. Yet it is also a place of fabled mysteries, talk of dark curses, strange disappearances and deaths, high strangeness, and a secret treasure that it allegedly holds close to it, reluctant to ever give it up. Here, we decided to split up again. Once we got to Courts house we parked the two trailers and had some coffee with him. 58 acre homesite in Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club, the proud host of the LPGA Drive On Championship the week of March 20, 2023. The Superstition Wilderness was declared a National Wilderness Area in 1964. Is someone or something trying to keep this treasure hidden? It was a good challenge for them. Regardless of gold, the Superstition Wilderness offers a much better treasure: a stunning desert environment to explore. We stopped by the closest gas station to buy some coffee and drinks along with a few snacks for the journey. Customary to most mysterious stories, there are several takes on how the mountain became the housing place of the legendary Dutchmans mine. That night, we sat around the campfire and planned out the next day. Many believe the Superstition Mountains are filled with treasures. I could hear the rest of the crew talking about how beautiful the sunrise was and I didnt want to miss out. 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. rises to more than six thousand. Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. The Superstitions Mountains lie within the Tonto National wildlife refuge and consist of 242 square miles not counting other designated and preserved area's that boarder the Tonto National Forest and wildlife refuge. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015. . 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. We all thanked him for his hospitality and for everything he did. Experts say theyre not haunted theyre enormous. Mar 18, 2022. I mean, youre trying Non one really knows, but the answers just may lie out there in the desolate reaches of those desert badlands. to find a little shaft thats been covered a least 6 feet in depth thats According to AZ Central, the standard version of the treasures history begins in the 1800s with the Peralta family. His skull was discovered with a hole made by what AZ Central reports to be an "Army-style .44 caliber revolver." has it that in about the 1870s a German miner named Jacob Waltz found gold in The legend says there are millions of dollars in gold in those mountains. Stay safe out there and Find Your Adventure! Court only lived about 12 miles away. But, did you know that if you do find a gold mine youll never be able For one, the desert area bears remnants of the cliff dwellings of an ancient people whose identity is still unknown. Did Ellis Island Really Change Peoples Names? The road that led up to Canyon Lake was a winding road with many switchbacks. This would become a common theme in the Superstition Mountains, the presence of decapitated corpses, and indeed this has happened to quite a few people who have dared look for the Lost Dutchmans mine throughout the decades. ARROYO When we reached our destination area, we found an old abandoned ranch and it remains. $25.00 Yearly Superstition West Treasure Hunters meets in Apache Junction on the . While rescuers found a strange note he had written stating P.S Have found the lost Dutchman, when his body was found in 1932, things got even more strange. I felt very excited to see the town I grew up in, its been years since Ive been back to Phoenix Arizona. Opened in 1977 at the foot of Superstition Mountain, Lost Dutchman State Park offers the perfect introduction to this desert wilderness. The area is dotted with ancient cliff dwellings and caves, many showing signs of former habitation. We hopped in the trucks and headed out as quickly as we could. Superstitions, found gold or knew where the golden spots were located. All Rights Reserved. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Bring a chair to sit around a campfireand ignite your curiosity for this historical narrative of the old fire tower system and how nature recovers. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. 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. We decided to abandon our search because we were losing daylight and we still had to get to the next destination where Shaun and Antonio needed to reach a peak to do some climbing. You dont have to rush to experience all that the Superstitions have to offer in one day. Almost everyone either knows or has heard of the Lost Dutchman Mine. According to legend, somewhere hidden in the Superstition Mountains lie the richest deposits of gold in America - the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. Join us at Lost Dutchman State Park for a program that covers the basics of bird watching and includes a guided walk on the trails searching for our feathered friends. Since 1880 records show many have died or disappeared. Copyright 2023 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD. . In June 1931, Dr. Adolph Ruth set out on a two-week voyage through the legendary Superstition Mountains in search for the lost treasure. Time will tell whether any of its great mysteries are ever solved. Now let me remind you, this was late February and even in Arizona, this water was COLD! This was a challenge and disappointing for us, but now we know what to expect so we could plan for the next trip. from simple to very rugged. AZ Central then claims that throughout the course of their mining, the family mysteriously stumbled upon a treasure trove filled with copious amounts of gold ore. Then, shortly following the Mexican War, all but one member of the Peralta family is believed to have been murdered by Apache warriors, a group of Native American tribes. ~ The Lost Dutchmans Mine, The Return Home to Utah The Lost Dutchmans Mine. Some say the mountains are After you learn a thing or two about the gold rush in Arizona, the Apache tribes, and the lost Dutchman, you might want to experience a gold-mining ghost town. Registration required! The main thing is that they supposedly accidentally found this ancient Apache treasure somewhere in the mountains, but it was to spell their doom. Theres still more, Todds interview at Goldfield, Ryans film at the Superstition Museum, and more. Besides writing for online travel magazines, she publishes a travel blog, teaches Hungarian as a foreign language, and works as a freelance translator. TIM KRISTOF: That Superstition Mountain has an elevation of 5,024 feet. Featuring desert plants with interpretive signs along the way, this trail acts as an introduction to the area. How might you and your family have benefited from their interest in promoting public lands? Superstition West Treasure Hunters Elk's Lodge 2455 N. Apache Trail Apache Junction, AZ 85119 www.superstitiontreasure.com. 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 . For more than a century, people locals and visitors have ventured into this part of Arizona 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. For more than a century, people locals and visitors have ventured into this part of Arizona looking to find one of the oldest legends: a gold mine. The name came from area farmers, who heard tales from the Pima Indians. In 2012 his vehicle, wallet, cellphone, and backpack were located but there had been no sign of the missing man. We had hiked about 3 miles in and decided to take a break in a small meadow. 8. NASA's Photos From Mars: Don't Tell Me the Red Planet Wasn't Once a Thriving World! We also were able to see how diving for clues at this location would take more advanced equipment than what we had brought with us this trip. This trail will wind you through some amazing sights and scenes. ARROYO That being said, the best times to hike this wilderness area are typically November - April. Bring a chair and join us around the campfire! Enjoy a weekend of camping and experience native wildlife including mule deer, coyote, javelina and jackrabbit. Everyone else went ahead to prepare for the climb. Were in Arizona! 3 Baths. All Treasure Hunting. This was a Mexican family which had amassed quite a bit of wealth by way of mining sectors of the Superstition Mountains. We met up with Shaun and the rest of the group and they were set up and ready to climb. He'd go out there looking for the mother lode. Facilities: Restrooms Fee/Permit: No Hieroglyphic Trail on AllTrails But, in order to discover any of that, we first had to see how clear the water was. Its very name derives from the mystery surrounding it. Will We Ever Be Able to Sleep Our Way to the Stars? We wanted to be there now, and it seemed like it took forever. . I do enjoy "Mysteries of the Superstition Mountain" episodes. His body would later be found with a bullet hole to the head. All of these elements can be found in the search for the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, reportedly well hidden in Arizona's mysterious-looking (and aptly named) Superstition Mountains (pictured above). The trails in the Superstition Mountains range from short, easy strolls in the desert to strenuous climbs of some of the most dramatic volcanic peaks and everything in between. I jumped out of bed, had a good stretch to shake off the night and I quickly got dressed and headed outside. Weve spent months preparing for this trip and I have spent years researching this area. An easy to moderate day-hike, Treasure Loop is a must-do for all outdoor enthusiasts. Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. Having abandoned modern civilization to live with the tribe for several years, the Apache people wanted to thank the doctor for the medical attention that he had provided to them. Arizona > Superstition Mountains Highlights: Rough, rocky mountains east of Phoenix, covered by saguaro and other cacti, and split by many canyons. For Sale: 9321 E Superstition Mountain Dr #50, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118 $225,000 MLS# 6508119 Hurry on over and check this lot out! 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. Yet there are still all of these mysterious disappearances and death, these enigmatic decapitated corpses and their bullet-ridden heads. wildflowers and plants. KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College, and Maricopa Community Colleges Legend Lost Dutchmans Mine, here we come! This is a very popular area for hiking and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. He had this excitement in his voice like a kid on Christmas morning. Although the speculation and uncertainty surrounding the validity of these stories does contribute a great deal to the mystery of the Superstition Mountains, the slew of disappearances and even deaths of those who have gone searching for its treasures adds a great deal of eeriness to it. Este programa bella, siguiendo el famoso atardecer de Arizona, termina bajo la luz de la luna llena que sube las montaas misteriosos de las Superstition. Treasures In America spent several months researching and planning this trip. After a few hours of guy talk and singing along with many songs on the radio, I knew we were getting close to where we could see the famous Superstition Mountains from a distance. The Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountains and surrounding region. I wish I could explain more about the specifics, but remember, a good treasure hunter keeps his closest secrets close and doesnt reveal too many pieces of the puzzle. I felt proud of myself! And you couldnt do anything about When we arrived at our base camp, we were greeted by my cousin Courtney, who had set up the two trailers for us. In one of their episodes, Larry Hedrick talked about a lost shipment of Dragoon pistols. In as much as the range of mountains is recognized for its breathtaking canyons and beautiful volcanic peak, its reputation for being spooky precedes it, oftentimes overshadowing its natural beauty. I felt proud of them! . 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