See one of the Greatest Mysteries in the World: In Search of the Coral Castle in in Homestead, Florida

No visit to southeast Florida is complete without a trip to the Coral Castle. Coral Castle has baffled scientists, engineers and scholars since its opening in 1923. Coral Castle has been featured in many magazines and on television on 'In Search Of', 'Ripley's Believe It Or Not' and 'That's Incredible'.

Located in Homestead Florida, the Coral Castle is one of the great mysteries of the world. How could one man, working alone, cut, move and shape tons of coral stones? Seventy thousand visitors each year pay admission to tour the Coral Castle, yet today no one knows how the work was done. Ed Leedskalnin, the genius behind this wonder, claimed to have uncovered the secrets behind the construction of the Pyramids, the secret technologies of Atlantis. This self taught genius was a Latvian immigrant with a fourth grade education, yet his inventions confound modern science. Many continue to speculate that Ed discovered ancient technologies that could be applied today to give the world unlimited energy.

For example, once there was a nine-ton gate on a pivot which could be moved with a push of one finger, but this gate has fallen into disrepair. The tools and magnetic devices which Ed used in his construction have fallen into disrepair, and are only vaguely comprehended by the present staff. Many informed denizens speculate that Ed chose the site for his construction because of the strength of the Earth's natural magnetic ley lines. The tools Ed used to build the Castle where scavenged from automotive junkyards. They are rusting away.

During his wandering in Europe, Ed noticed one outstanding feature-the land was covered with castles. This gave him a romantic notion to build a castle for Agnes Scuffs, a childhood sweetheart, and to send her pictures of it in hopes that she might come to Florida and marry him. Working only from midnight to sunrise so that no one could see how he moved the great coral stones weighing more than those of the Great Pyramid, Ed built Coral Castle for Agnes. When he finished it, he gave tours, telling his visitors that he was "Waiting For Agnes." Even today, after passing decades, there is a serene beauty to this garden of stones and tropical foliage.

Ed died in 1951, and the secrets of his construction techniques died with him. Some say he died of a broken heart, but the official cause of death was listed as malnutrition.

The Coral Castle is in the National Registry of Historic Sites. The Castle can be rented for parties and weddings.

Directions:

From the West: Take I-75 or Route 4I to Route 997 (US 27). Go South to SW 288th St., turn left and go to 157th Ave., turn left.
From the Northeast: Take turnpike extension to Homestead, take exit # 5 (288th St.), go right for 2 miles to SW 157th Ave., turn right.
From the South: Go North on US Highway 1/FL-5N., turn right onto SW 288 street., turn left onto SW 157th street.