Spook Hill in Lake Wales, Florida--A Unique Road and Tourist Site

Spook Hill is located in Lake Wales, Florida. Spook Hill road supposedly has a mystery that has been confounding residents and visitors for decades. This is the place people come to test a local Florida urban legend. Spook Hill is a large road, where cars appear to roll uphill, even when in neutral. Spook Hill is located near the Spook Hill Elementary School on North Wales Drive, south of Highway 17.

The small town has been a local tourist attraction since the event was reported by the Wall Street Journal on October 25, 1990. Spook Hill was also featured in a segment on CBS Morning News on November 5, 1990.

The road appears normal, yet certain motorists find their car travels in the opposite direction at a certain point when put in neutral. People have reported that the contours of the surrounding land and approaching road create the illusion of cars drifting forward due to a small dip in the road located from the starting point, or the white line where motorists put their cars in neutral and wait for the "phenomena" to begin. The result happens when the cars seem to go backward--uphill.

Some argue it is an optical illusion, some say the road is the site of paranormal activity. Some have claimed their car actually begins to roll back in the opposite direction even before putting it in neutral, and some say its all nonsense. People think the hill is one of Florida's magnetic points where there is a natural pull to the gravitational forces. It is fun for people to try and see if the car rolls when on the hill; making sure there is no heavy traffic while doing so.

The sign located at the beginning of road tells quite the folk tale. Supposedly there was a giant gator that was raiding an old Indian town, and a great warrior chief that tried to battle the gator, which created a swampy area that is located nearby the road.

When pioneer haulers coming from the old army trail atop the ridge found their horses laboring in the opposite direction, they coined the term "Spook Hill," and the legend began. The sign says "Is it the gator seeking revenge, or is the chief protecting his land?" That's most likely the nonsense part.

Spook Hill is located at N. Wales Drive, Lake Wales, FL. Directions: The sign and the starting point of Spook Hill is on the east side of N. Wales Drive, about a quarter-mile south of Hwy 17, Burns Ave.

Resource:
http://www.eureka4you.com/magnetichillworldwide/LakeWales-FL.htm