b'THE OLD STORYTELLERApache Trail. A Gateway to AdventureBy Hank Sheffer,The Old StorytellerP eople are forever lookingfor things to see and do. cabin fever not-with-standing, people just want toget out and go again. I have been fortunate in that I have been able to travel pretty much the width and breadth of our wonderful state. Some are at great distances from my 50/50 Ranch, while others are much closer to the home headquarters. Ironically, it is those attractions close to home that often get overlooked by folks. Apache Junction is just one such place where history and other interesting things can be discovered day after day depending on your likes and level of adventure.Apache Junction has carried the title of Gateway to the Superstition Mountains, the home of Jacob Waltz and his famous Lost Dutchman gold legends, and while that is a true statement, there is so much more to be found in traveling the Apache Trail in a loop from ApacheLouis has a passion for gathering history about the area.easily spend hours enjoying the history that Louis Ruiz Junction through the mountains, by the beautiful lakes,Louis worked in all the different sections of the Bluebirdhas gathered and displayed at the Old Bluebird, and if to Tortilla Flat, past historic Roosevelt Dam, on over toenterprises but by 1970 Louis began seriously collectingyou have a question about it, ask Louie (as he prefers to Globe and numerous other mining towns as you headold photographs from many of the Arizona pioneers ofbe called). Hes always glad to talk to you about it.back down the other side of the mountain to, once again,the time. Those photos are now displayed in the gift shop return to Apache Junction. That trip in itself makes for along with maps and diagrams of the Mammoth MineAlmost directly east from the Bluebird is the shaft of the a super one-day excursion in your car or on the back and the Goldfield operation. The gold camp of Goldfieldold Mammoth Mine. The Mammoth Steak House and of a bike. was located between and along what is the Apache TrailSaloon can be seen up on the hill. Just down the road just east of what was once Youngberg. Today much of theon the right-hand side of the highway is the entrance My focus this trip, however, is on some of the attractionsGoldfield Ghost Town is located on the site of Youngberg. to Goldfield Ghost Town. This western styled location that are, as I mentioned, closer to home. Im talkingis like a step back into history all by itself. It is a living about museums along the trail. Yeah, yeahI knowImmediately south of the gift shop is an area of outdoordisplay of things the way they were back in the late what youre thinking; not interestedgoing to museumsdisplays. This area includes an old arrastra constructed1800s. Built on the original location of Youngsburg is about as much fun as a bad tooth or watching paintby Red Monigan way back when and was used to crushthere is a real-life saloon, a reptile museum as well as a dry! I promise you, such is not the case with the ones Imgold ore from the old Bluebird Mine. In this display,historical look into the life of law dawgs, gunfighters, and about to tell you about. there are all kinds of mining implements includingoutlaws still on the prowl. There is an underground mine scrapers, drill steel, shovels, picks, and ore cars. The Traveling just a short six plus miles up the Apache Trailentire outdoor display includes a variety of odds and (Route 88) from downtown Apache Junction is theends associated with the area. There is even a whiskey Bluebird Mine and Curio Shop. This old road stop hasstill that was used in the Superstition Mountains by been around for a long time. It began serving touristsbootleggers in the early 1930s. Glenn Hamaker packed back in 1946 when it was founded by Red Monigan.the still out of the mountains from its original site at The Bluebird Mine is a mining site that has existed evenWhiskey Springs near La Barge Canyon some twenty longer than that, since the 1890s. Ray and Lou Alice Ruizmiles away.later purchased the business from the Hamakers in 1967. Their son, Louis, a Bronze Star recipient, returned homeOne of the unique displays at the Bluebird is located on after Vietnam in 1968 after serving in the Iron Trianglethe south wall of the Curio Shop. Louis spent 375 hours northeast of Saigon, South Vietnam. carving the history of Goldfield and Youngberg into old lumber donated to him from the various ranches around the Superstition Mountains including Weeks, Tortilla, First Water, Reavis, Quarter Circle U, and Fraser Ranches. After carving out the words, Louis then spent many hours painting this historical mural. You cant miss this mural as it stands over ten feet high and five and a half feet wide. And the old house Louis lives in was onetour if you have a mind to do such things, as well as the of the early Goldfield shacks built for miners and laterMother Lode Mercantile where there are lots of neat gift served as the schoolhouse. ideas to pick from. If they dont have it you probly dont need it! Oh, and lest I forget, there is the Superstition Now at Louis Museum and Curio Shop you can alsoScenic Narrow Gauge Railroad ride. A mile and a half of enjoy a hamburger and a beverage out on the veranda.track circles the town as the engineer provides insights While youre there enjoying lunch you can read allinto the history of Goldfield, the Superstition Mountains, about the Bluebird in the articles that are epoxied ontoand the desert southwest in general. The train even the tabletops. Most of the history of the Superstitionmakes three stops to allow everyone the opportunity Mountains can be found on these tabletops. You cancontinued on page 118 August 2020'