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). are filled with treasures. Court only lived about 12 miles away. The Superstition Mountains (their name inspired by Pima Indian legends) have been a source of mystery and legend since early times. Registration required. It is family and pet friendly, incredibly scenic, and . Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Contest Rules And he had gold? 46 reviews of Superstition Mountain Museum "Here in the shadow of Superstition Mountain, you will find a museum of artifacts, history and folklore of the surrounding region, in central Arizona. 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. Dave was so visibly excited and filled with energy, we decided to have a sit-down interview with him in hopes to capture his thoughts and excitement on film before heading out onto the lake. KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College, and Maricopa Community Colleges 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. Like Ive mentioned before, we had spent several months on the web and reaching out to people to narrow down a small search area so we were pretty confident we were in the area we wanted to be. An easy to moderate day-hike, Treasure Loop is a must-do for all outdoor enthusiasts. That night, we sat around the campfire and planned out the next day. If youre intrigued and want to learn more about his story, visit the Superstition Mountain Museum. The elevation gain is also gradual. 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. When I told the team that we were on our own and that we had to figure out how to pack up the equipment, they all said, Lets get to Work. After a few hours, we finally had everything ready to go. Subscribe for only $12 per month. We made a few stops along the way to do a little sightseeing and to fill our stomachs. It took about 30 minutes to get to our first destination, Canyon Lake. Depending on the years rainfall, you might be treated to a carpet of desert wildflowers in the spring, but there's plenty of beautiful desert plants to see year-round! federal government theyll say 'thats nice.' It was something we needed to do on this scouting trip so we could know for sure what equipment we needed to bring on the next trip. They believed that the entrance to the underworld itself lay somewhere in among these peaks, and that powerful spirits roamed the withered landscape. He never came home. The Superstition Wilderness was declared a National Wilderness Area in 1964. 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. Pro Tip: For the best chance to see wildlife, go out in the early morning hours or right after sunset. Here, we decided to split up again. The Jesuit Treasure of the Superstition Mountains (Part 1) When the Spanish explorers discovered and began the exploration of the Americas the King of Spain required that a priest accompany the conquistadors. RODRIGUEZ: Davis Get-rich-quick schemes are as American as the Fourth of July. We spent at least 2 hours looking and we had had no luck, not a clue! A four mile mountain bike loop trail has opened at the park this is a great way to enjoy the park's beauty while experiencing the famed Superstition Mountains! ARROYO Formed 25 million years ago and involving violent steam-blast eruptions caused by magma pressure deep within the earth, the Superstition Mountains are a collapsed volcanic caldera. Phoenix: Wilson Austin Surveys and Maps, 1960. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. 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. Babcock relates of a book by James Swanson and Tom Kollenborn, who went looking in the Superstition Mountains for an underground civilization and a huge treasure dating to the Inca or Aztec. It was a fairly short hike, only 1 1/2 miles to the search area. Trail conditions vary from fair to very poor. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. Theres still a lot we need to do in the next couple of days. Your contact infoWe'll be in touch if we look into your question. It seemed to be a man-made meadow, flat like a work area for a mine perhaps. On Saturday, years after Capen's Jeep, wallet, backpack and cellphone were found by hikers, volunteers from the Superstition Search and Rescue finally located what they believe is Capen's body.. RODRIGUEZ: Its 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. 3 Baths. Several. . Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. Sit back and listen to the quiet stories and emotions that linger in his folk songs. The Prime Rib was very good and its a fun atmosphere. It now contains approximately 160,200 acres. KRISTOF: Its very It was Dave that was waking me up. Treasure Loop Trail is a 2.4-mile loop hike at the west base of the Superstition Mountains. Bring all your burning questions! The Superstition Mountain range is the biggest mountain range in the Phoenix Area and is mostly made up of true desert. Sign up to get adventurous offers and the latest news on Treasure Hunting! The trail is well defined and every trail junction is well signed. Ft. 3060 S Primrose Ct, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. There can be all kinds of clues to be found and explored under the water e.g., possible man-made structures, old trail routes. In 1848, Apaches massacred between 100 and 400 men because they wanted them off their sacred land. The group initially was made up of young men from . it. Some say the mountains are Theres a good chance its there waiting for someone to find it, but as Ive mentioned before, this was a scouting trip and we couldnt spend any more time on it. Come learn about the iconic birds of the Sonoran Desert under the shade of the Palo Verde ramada. We were anxious to get breakfast and packing up the equipment out of the way that morning because we wanted to get Dave down into the water. The area's history of ancient floods, pre-Columbian farming, boom and bust mining, stagecoach travel and 20th-century hydro power, is still evident today to the curious and informed. Print/PDF map. unique features like the Weavers Needle stand at 4,000 feet. Were in Arizona! The thing that happened next is very common for Treasures in Americas attitude towards things. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. wildflowers and plants. During that time, the rest of the team transferred all the gear from the truck to the docks. We didnt know where we were going, we had very little time to get there, and had just arrived barely 5 minutes before the store closed. I kept saying, Pretty soon guys, its coming up here. The Star Party scheduled for Saturday, February 25 has been canceled due to weather. We met up with Shaun and the rest of the group and they were set up and ready to climb. I felt something shaking my legs as my eyes slowly started toopen. Who killed him and then separated his head from his body remains unknown. TIM KRISTOF: That You see, treasure hunting and historical research take a lot of time, dedication, and research. The body of a man who was 'fueled by obsession' to find a legendary gold mine has reportedly been found in the remote Superstition Mountains of Arizona. I could hear the rest of the crew talking about how beautiful the sunrise was and I didnt want to miss out. (Tobias) has to do with Jesuit treasure, and this area is represented by the Priest stone. exist. Good job guys! Waltz would claim to have been out prospecting when he had come across an unimaginably vast vein of gold out in the mountains, curiously supposedly near Weavers Needle. Weve spent months preparing for this trip and I have spent years researching this area. Home to the legend of the Lost Dutchman's cave, the Superstition Mountains indeed have captured the interest of many prospectors. This was a Mexican family which had amassed quite a bit of wealth by way of mining sectors of the Superstition Mountains. These characteristics have earned the Superstition Mountains the designation of a Protected Societys Gregory Davis, theres some truth to that legend. After eating breakfast I called my cousin Court and talk to him we were ready to pack up. I felt proud of them! The main thing is that they supposedly accidentally found this ancient Apache treasure somewhere in the mountains, but it was to spell their doom. The Mysterious Men in Black and Their Equally Weird Cars, Lab-Grown Human Mini Brains Are Being Developed for Biocomputers, Strange Accounts of Dwarf Aliens and their Apocalyptic Messages from Mexico, Unmarked Black Helicopter Above Chicago Sparks Conspiracy Theories, Shamans, Psychedelics, and One Man's mystical Journey in the Amazon to Find a Miracle Cure. 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. Its highest point We had a 7-hour drive ahead of us and we wanted to start early. We go to get a good idea of what we are up against for the next time. The Jesuit priests were the most educated and loyal orders to the King of Spain (and to the Pope). Goldfield Ghost Town . We had a team meeting at the trucks and decided that we were here to explore and find evidence, so even if a 7-mile hike was what it was going to take then so be it. Bring a chair and join us around the campfire! The Superstition Mountains, with a name like that you might as well give away fancy proton-backs, of the Ghostbuster variety, at the visitor's center, is a series of jagger tooth mountains in Arizona just the east of Phoenix. Happy Cactus Tour to Apache Trail & Superstition Mtn 38 Recommended Art Classes from $125.00 per adult Full Day Apache Trail Adventure Tour from Scottsdale 13 Recommended Full-day Tours from $175.00 per adult Private Half-Day Apache Trail Tour with Pickup 3 Bus Tours from $450.00 per adult (price varies by group size) 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. Canyon Lake is a very pretty place and we cant wait to come back for another trip and try again. mountain draws people. We hopped in the trucks and headed out as quickly as we could. As we were driving closer, the 1,000-foot-high column of rock called Weaver's Needle, came into focus. Pretty soon., When we saw it for the first time, it was like there was already a feeling of accomplishment. He did have gold. 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. A Spanish Arrastra After docking the boat, no time was wasted in loading up the truck to head out to our next destination, a possibly lost Spanish arrastra site within the Superstition Mountains. Skip this activity if you are claustrophobic. We did it, were here boys, I said. Consider the severe elements in the Superstition Mountains, during that past 250-300+ years, and the fact that the marker in that area would not be made of granite, but of porous stone that would severely deteriorate. Places. How many parks have you been to? Outside the main building, visit a gold mill, the Apacheland Barn, and old Western storefronts. 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. Also See: Dave and I raced to Mesa city to get his tanks filled with oxygen before the store closed at 8:00 pm. Spurgin said the men have been in the Superstition Mountains -- where the . 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. 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