The vigilante town of Vulture Mine located in Maricopa County, Arizona is home to the famous legend that 18 miners made Vulture Mine home in stealing gold back in the gold rush days during the 1860s to the 1900s. Shane and Ryan from BuzzFeed Unsolved did an episode on it and found some mysterious hauntings.
The mine was found by Henry Wickenburg in 1863 and the mine helped established the town- Vulture City. The town had a population of several thousands of people where it was (of course) surrounded by the desert. But in 1942 the mine was closed by a regulatory agency for the processing of gold since all resources were focused on the war.
The owners of the mine appealed the shutdown and it once again reopened but with less interest and soon closed again. Vulture Mine is still in operation but on separate property that is not open to the public.
The old mining town has a reputation for being the final resting place for many individuals. It is rumored that about 18 miners were hung from the famous "hanging tree." Supposedly, if you were caught stealing gold, silver and any other valuables from the mine, you would be hung from the tree. WIth 18 men hung from the same tree, is it possible the area surrounding the tree is home to the restless spirits that once inhabited the mine?
One man who haunts the area is known as James Davis, or Jimmy. In May 1916, Davis discovered a malfunction in the mining system and went to replace the belt. Without warning from the other workers, Davis swung the belt to close to the center-shaft and ended up getting one arm stuck in the loop and was swung around in the air hitting pieces of heavy equipment before falling and breaking about every bone in his body.
Davis managed to live another five hours before passing away without any help from his colleagues. Davis ghost is sometimes recognized by the sound of pulley belts whipping around and a man bellowing in the distance.
There are also other hauntings inside the mine due to the mine being a final resting place without the proper burial. Supposedly, some thieves can be heard lurking around, protecting their gold. Others visitors have had rock being thrown at them through the mine windows and hearing the shuffling of footprints. Voices can also be heard in the distance and sometimes they call your name.
Vulture mine is said to have also had cold spots throughout the vacant and abandoned homes and buildings of the town. In Ryan and Shane's investigation, the boys visited an old generator room where one worker had died. The boys happened to get a click sound, could it be the worker who met his fate?
Another location that is said to be haunted is actually an area inside the mine called the Glory Hole. (And yes, you read that right). About seven workers who planned to steal some gold ore in the columns and make an escape died due to removing so much more that the entire chamber collapse killing the workers and destroying 12 burros the would have held the gold.
Could the hauntings of the area be from the seven workers still trying to make their escape with the gold?
Whether the area of Vulture Mine is haunted or not, the place is full of rich history that offers visitors a look back into the hay-days of the gold rush and the minds of vigilantes.
