Outside Apache Junction, Arizona, you’ll find a mountain range filled with folklore and legend. Known as the Superstition Mountains, the range itself has been known to enchant many adventurers, but the legend behind the park is what brings travelers from all around every year.
Before the years of mining, Native American tribes are said to have lived in the mountains. Proof of life in the area, such as caves and petroglyphs, are located within the park to this day. But the real legend begins when settlers first stumbled upon the range and lucked out in gold.
During the 1840’s, the Peralta family, originating from Northern Mexico, struck gold mining in the Superstitions. For years they mined in the area without any trouble, but on their last expedition to bring gold back to their homeland, the Peraltas were ambushed by the Apaches who lived amongst the mountains. After the attack, only one or two family members made it out alive and found their way back across the border.
Years pressed on and many said they were able to locate the mine itself, but time and time again evidence was never found or the gold seekers were unable to locate the mine for a second time. The mystery continued to build until 1870 when Jacob Waltz, a German man who eventually became known as “The Lost Dutchman,” and Jacob Weiser were said to have located the mine through a Peralta descendent.
After finding the mine, the men went to work and came up with a few caches of gold which they hid within the Superstitions themselves. Once the gold was hidden, Weiser was said to be killed by the Apaches shortly after, but there are rumors that Waltz was actually the one to bring him to his death to keep the treasure for himself.
“Lost Dutchman State Park is a 320-acre state park located near the Superstition Mountains in Apache Junction, Arizona.”
As Waltz found his health failing, he made the move to Phoenix where he died twenty years later. Waltz never made it back to the mine to retrieve his treasure. In 1891, before he died, Waltz was said to have told his neighbor, Julia, of the location of the mine, but neither she nor anyone else could ever find it themselves. To this day those who have continued to seek the treasure have seen hard times or even death while out searching in the Superstition Mountains.
Should one go searching for the treasure, Amy Schnoes, Park Manager, says, “Most stories place the gold in the vicinity of Weaver’s Needle, a well-known landmark.” Even though the maps have been drawn and the theories theorized, the treasure has never been found near or far from this area.
For many years after Waltz’s death, the public flocked to the Superstitions to find the riches said to be left there, but the Bureau of Land Management soon dedicated the area for day-use only in 1972. By 1975, the Arizona State Parks System made plans to acquire the land surrounding the Superstition Mountains for $2.50 per acre. Despite the effort to acquire the lands, the Federal Recreation and Public Purposes Act (R&PP Act) did not allow the state to acquire the funds needed at the time. Thankfully soon after the rejection, Congress amended the R&PP Act that allowed for land to be required for recreation. After fighting through the bureaucratic red tape, 292 acres were finally dedicated as Lost Dutchman State Park and opened as the newest addition to Arizona State Parks in December 1977.
The park is now open 365 days a year, where the public now has access to all kinds of recreation (camping, hiking, birdwatching, etc.,). Instead of day-use only, Lost Dutchman State Park now offers full-hook ups, dry camps, restrooms, and trails that bring RVers through each year. Adventurers (leashed furry ones included) are welcome inside the park and on many trails for more than just a day at a time.
The park staff is most excited to release their new cabins coming in later this year. Schnoes says, “We are in the process of adding 5 camper cabins to the park that we are looking to bring online this fall or early winter. Cabins will have a max occupancy of 6 people, have electricity, heat, A/C, and a picnic table and fire pit with grill grate outside.” These areas will be available for online reservation shortly after opening them to the public.
There are more things to do than hunt for treasure at the park. Schnoes says they offer programs throughout the year for visitors, “We are a hiking, camping and picnicking park. We offer a variety of interpretive programs throughout the year with the majority of programs through the winter months (such as medicinal plant, full moon, or dog hikes, as well as programs featuring astronomy, bats, skins & skulls, etc,).” Mountain bikers can also find solace in riding the 4-mile bike trail, while more casual treasure seekers can participate in the virtual geocache course within the park.
Lost Dutchman State Park has grown and matured since the mining days. So much so that the town of Apache Junction has dedicated many of its tourist destinations to the Lost Dutchman legend, too. Tourist attractions like ghost towns and mines are offered to the public. Many give guided tours of the mines and ghost towns; some even have zip lines to see these legendary areas from the sky.
Other areas of interest near the park include Tortilla Flat, the Superstition Mountain Museum, and Canyon Lake for the warmer months when travelers are looking for cooler activities. Schnoes gave advice to all the travelers out there to visit some of the other local fares: “Take advantage of jeep tours, horseback riding tours, shopping, hiking, Salt River tubing, OHV trails, and Boyce Thompson Arboretum, all within less than an hour from the park.”
Despite the treasure hunt going on inside the park, travelers can expect a cheap fee of $7.00 to enter the park. For those looking to stay the night, the fee varies from full hook-ups to dry camps for $20-$30 a night. Current road work on N. Apache Trail has put a temporary road detour in place from July 9 – August 15. Weather conditions also restrict certain activities, see here for more details.
All visitors to Lost Dutchman State Park will find themselves entranced with legend, lore, and mountains no matter how many times they visit the park in their lifetime. Some may even speculate the true treasure is the mountains themselves. Whether you’re looking for the next National Treasure or wanting to visit a beautiful part of the rugged Southwest, Lost Dutchman State Park has much to show the wandering RVer.