Goldfield Ghost Town is a quaint little town set right in front of the majestic Superstition Mountains, just east of Apache Junction. It is filled with rich mining history and controversy. Back in the 1890s Goldfield had a myriad small shops, saloons, and a community dedicated to the mining of gold. Unfortunately, the town ran dry quickly, and after several attempts to reopen between 1910 and 1926, the town came to a full stop.
Why this mine? Why have people continued to be intrigued for over 115 years, visiting from all over the world to see the tiny town of Goldfield? It was German immigrant Jacob Waltz that gave Lost Dutchman is infamous name. In the 19th Century Waltz claimed that he had found a mine full of gold and kept it a secret from everyone. Gold hunters from as far back as 1892 have been looking for what is arguably the most well-known American lost treasure tale to date. Although the "Lost Dutchman" is the most common story, there are several other theories of who, where, and what the lost gold mine is like.
Another story is that a family from northern Mexico was mining gold in the Superstition Mountains for years. Around 1848 the Apache Tribe ambushed the family during a routine trip back to Mexico and murdered all but a few family members who escaped. This is now known as the Peralta Massacre. Some argue that the massacre never occured, while others are skeptical about the amount of human remains found in the Superstition Mountains: One skull had a gold filling, a convention that was popular with Mexican artistcrats in the 19th century.
Whether you think you will be the one to finally discover the Lost Dutchman's treasure or you'd just like an ice cream and a tour of the Goldfield Mine, Goldfield Ghost Town is an excellent day trip! For an even more spectacular trip, go just before sunset! The golden sun beams reflect off of the red-dusted buildings, creating a haunting forshadowing effect of that is truly memorable.
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