Arizona's Superstition Mountains are a haunted land, aptly named. Here is a nexus of many strange happenings, an essential locus of the Weird West.

Thread Pt. 1:

Some quick background before stories. Superstitions just East of the Phoenix Metro Area. Popular day recreation area, but despite proximity to a big city, retains a reputation for danger.

(Photo looking at far southeastern metro Phx - Apache Junction - from Flatiron Trail)

Indians have been active in the area for a long time. The Circlestone Ruins in the area are thought to be astronomical markers, similar to other megalithic structures. Creator unknown, but thought to predate even the ancient Puebloans/Anasazi in the area.

Real information on Circlestone very difficult to find. No excavation is allowed in the area, very little real research done. One of few who wrote on this and other things in the area is Tom Kollenborn. Kollenborn was one of the last cowboy souls, a character in his own right.

Btw, if you like this stuff, I did a similar thread for the Mothman stories here: https://twitter.com/cavemtrismegist/status/1331073371610652676?s=20

Apaches had their own legends of the Superstitions. They say a cave in these mountains is a passage to the underworld. They say the wind that blows from the mouth of Hell drives the great dust storms in the Valley.

It's a small region. And it's very close to a major metro area. But still, many people go missing here.

There is also a history of grisly, mysterious murders here.

The next few posts will explore this aspect a little bit.

Because in addition to the native legends, there's GOLD in these mountains. This is the alleged site of the LOST DUTCHMAN'S MINE - probably the greatest story from this area, really it's own cycle of tales.

The Dutchman actually a Deutsch Man, Jacob Waltz (1810–1891). Variations to the story, but gist is Waltz finds Gold in the Superstitions, but is mortally wounded by band of Apaches on way out. He lives long enough to tell one Dr. Walker about it, and maybe draw a map...

People looking for the Mine since. Many say is not a mine, but a treasure hidden there by Apaches, or by the old Spanish governor Peralta, or his descendants perhaps. These stories say that in exchange for aiding a wounded Apache, a man was given such gold as he could carry...

The legends really kick off when Adolph Ruth vanishes searching for the Mine in 1931. His skull is found six months later - with two bullet holes. Ruth was said to have a map, given him by a descendant of Peralta....

The Peralta family itself may have suffered a great massacre at the hands of the local Apaches also. Like Waltz (and Ruth?) the Peraltas were trying to remove gold from the mountains...

There were discovered a set of strange carved stones in the area, the "Peralta Stones", which are said to be a map to the treasure.

All these facts are contested by rumor, many stories, many claims. Yet it seems clear that *something* happening here. Many other strange events followed, when people sought the treasure.

In the 1940s, James Cravey looked for the treasure. Like Ruth, his skull was found separated from his body. His expedition was very public - he flew there by Helicopter! His camp was discovered undisturbed, only two days of food eaten. Made the papers.

In 1952, Joseph Kelley vanished on the search. His body was discovered some years later, like Ruth, shot in the head.

Ross Bley and Charles Harshbarger also vanished that same year, bodies never found.

This pattern is very consistent. Many, many people are found with holes in their skulls and/or decapitated. Elisha Reavis. Adolph Ruth. James Cravey. Joseph Kelley. Charles Massey. Martin Zywotho. Walter Mowry. Jay Clapp. Howard Polling. Dennis Brown. And others.

People do find gold here. But they don't make it out. Walt Gassler, found dead with gold ore on his body. Guy Frink, murdered with gold on his body. Jenkins, who found a vein but died of unknown causes before he could return. Unknown woman, dead in cave with gold nuggets.

Geologists say there isn't the right type of rock here for gold. But there are many cases of finding remains with gold nuggets or ore, dead or murdered, gold still on their person. Who murders, but doesn't take free gold?

These lurid tales of treasure seem connected to the native legends about the area by the consistent presence of the Apache.

Aside from gold and murders, there are even weirder stories from the Superstitions.

For example, as I have said, there are Portals...

The local Pima say the Superstitions were the site of an ancient advanced civilization whose hubris damned them and whose spirits are cursed to keep the wealth of the land hidden.

Richard Donnelly also has a story of tunnels, caverns beneath the mountains, discovered with some friends.

Lost Cities of North & Central America (1992) - Childress

I personally have a friend who tried to camp out there once and certain sinister presences watching him in the night, glimpses of things moving beyond the light of campfire... He is not into this kind of thing, I trust his story.

Pt. 2 of this thread to follow shortly.