Tips for Visiting the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot

Santa Cruz, California is known for many things-world-class surfing, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and the Big Trees Railroad Beach Train. There is another tourist attraction in Santa Cruz that offers travelers the chance to experience one of nature's great mysteries. The place is appropriately named the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot.

The Santa Cruz mystery Spot is "a gravitational anomaly located in the redwood forests just outside of Santa Cruz, California. It is a circular area of around 150 feet or 46 meters in diameter. Within the Mystery Spot you will be stunned as your perceptions of the laws of physics and gravity are questioned," according to Santa Cruz Mystery Spot officials. This strange phenomenon was discovered back in 1939, when some surveyors noticed strange happenings in the area. Here perspective, height, and gravity are all skewed from our normal experiences. People come from all over the world to a place where gravity is very different from our normal experience. " At Santa Cruz's "Mystery Spot," balls roll uphill, chairs sit on walls and people lean over so far they can't see their shoes, yet they don't fall down," according to Berkeleyan.

In 1947, when the Roswell report was published, many believed that the mystery Spot had to do with Alien activity. Scientists have been going to the Mystery Spot for 65 Years, and to date no one can absolutely prove the theory of the cause of the gravitational anomaly according to Santa Cruz Mystery Spot tour guides. One theory that seems possible came in 1998 from the nearby University of Berkley. "All the visual illusions in the Mystery House derive from the fact that the house is tilted," said William Prinzmetal, adjunct associate professor of psychology. He conducted the studies with colleague Arthur Shimamura, also a psychology professor."

Whatever the reason, the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot remains a popular tourist attraction for visitors to Santa Cruz. The only way to truly understand this mystery is to experience it for yourself.

Santa Cruz Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
831-423-8897

Tips for Vising the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot
Tickets can be purchased using Visa, Master Card, or Discover--by phone
Walk up ticket sales--ONLY cash, check, or debit with a $2 transaction fee (ticket cost $5 each)
Online purchases are available
Picnics are allowed
Strollers are not allowed on the tour
Advance ticket purchase is $6.00 per person
Parking -- $5.00 per vehicle at the gate
Arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled tour time.
"Sold Out" signs means you will be turned away unless you have advance purchase tickets
County regulations do not permit offsite parking with walk-ins. All guests must ark in the official parking lot
The road is often closed on weekends and holidays at noon
If the road is closed, you may still be able to purchase tickets and take the tour. Call ahead at 831-423-8897 for tickets.
Cell reception is very limited in the area
RV drivers need to call ahead in order to have help parking in small lot
Winter hours--Mon-Fri 10:00am to 4:00pm (last tour leaves at 4:05pm) Weekend hours 10:00am-5:00pm (last tour leaves at 5:05pm)

Source:

http://www.history.com/videos/visit-californias-mystery-spot#mothman

http://berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/1998/0909/spot.html

http://www.mysteryspot.com/history.shtml