THE SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS

“THE SUPERS”

When we decided to move to the Phoenix area, we weren’t sure which part of the valley we’d hang our hat. We knew we wanted to be close to family, but with a little leg room for our horses. We landed near “The Supers”.

Located approximately 40 miles east of Sky Harbor airport, the Superstition Mountains rise out of the desert, and living right under them means they’re always there on the horizon—rugged, mysterious, and downright beautiful.

Since moving here, I’ve been fascinated by the stories tied to them, especially the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. According to the tale, a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz discovered a rich vein of gold somewhere deep in the mountains in the late 1800’s and took the secret with him to his grave in 1891, leaving behind only vague clues to its location.

Ever since, treasure hunters have searched the canyons and cliffs hoping to find it. The mystery has become such a part of Arizona lore that it’s inspired books, movies, and even a TV show dedicated to the legend. As many as 30 people have died looking for the treasure, perhaps many more.

Whether the mine is real or not almost doesn’t matter—the stories and the sense of mystery surrounding the “Supers” are part of what makes living near them so interesting. And as you can imagine, our move from Seattle to the desert heaped on more inspiration for what ultimately became Westersen.