Spook Hill

Historical landmark · Lake Wales ·

Spook Hill

Historical landmark · Lake Wales ·

Optical illusion where cars appear to roll uphill; fun experience

Information

321 Dr JA Wiltshire Ave, Lake Wales, FL 33853 Get directions

@atlasobscura

4,908 Postcards · 2,019 Cities

The Best of Weird Florida

"Located in Lake Wales, FL (about 50 miles south of Disney World) is Spook Hill. Legends abound regarding this landmark. Known as a magnetic hill, anti-gravity location or simply a “gravity hill” (there are hundreds around the world) a car, placed in neutral, will appear to roll uphill. Before the age of automobiles, horses would supposedly struggle to go downhill. The town embraces and officially recognizes the hill’s curious properties. Legends say that an Indian chief battled an alligator that had been terrorizing the local village. The fight was apparently so intense that both combatants died, on top of the hill. The legends are split as to whether it is the chief or the alligator’s spirit that haunts the hill. In reality neither chief nor alligator are responsible for the hill’s anti-gravity properties, but like all other anti-gravity spots is the result of a peculiar optical illusion." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/the-best-of-weird-florida

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spook_Hill

Spook Hill

@atlasobscura

4,908 Postcards · 2,019 Cities

12 Bewildering Hills Where Gravity Seems to Work in Reverse

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/gravity-hills

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spook_Hill

Spook Hill

Mia D.

Google

Kitschy, retro fun for the family! Spook Hill has been around for ages. My parents used to go as teens back in the 50's!! It's good clean fun with a creepy(ish) vibe. Also, it's really close to Bok Tower Gardens, so you can make a day of it. There are lots of little "greasy spoon diners" and restaurants too. And the nearby towns are quaint, with an "old downtown" feel. For Spook Hill, set your GPS to Spook Hill Elementary and it will take you right to it. Drive past the elementary school to the end of the road and turn left and it's right there. You cannot miss the signs (see below). You drive to the white line and stop your car, put it in neutral, then take your foot off the brake and let the magic happen! It's for realz! We were there on a somewhat rainy Sunday and were able to do it over and over again because there was no one else there and it worked every time.

Lee S.

Google

Really cool experience. It is an optical illusion, but nonetheless, it is still a lot of fun. It was not busy, so we were able to do it several times for pictures. Stay away during school pickup and drop-off hours, though.

Vickie P.

Google

This place is awesome!! Located in Lake Wales, Florida. The car goes backward up the hill( not the one in front of the car). You pull up to the white line, put the car in neutral & it will go backward up the hill you just came down. No ticket needed.

Mauriett C.

Google

Spook Hill is world renowned spot in Florida! Check it out if you are in the area, but not during school release time it’s small street. I wanna go back at night!

BLU D.

Google

Spook Hill is a wonderfully unique experience ! A fun spooky adventure! Definitely worth the time!

Roads Traveled P.

Google

Spook Hill SPOOK HILL THE LEGEND Ages ago an Indian Town on Lake Wales lake was plagued with raids by a huge gator. The town's great warrior Chief and the gator were killed in a final battle that created the huge swampy depression nearby. The chief was buried on its north side. Later pioneer HAULERS coming from the old ARMY TRAIL atop the ridge above found their horses LABORING HERE...at the foot of the ridge..and called it Spook hill. IS IT THE GATOR SEEKING REVENGE, OR THE CHIEF PROTECTING HIS LAND??? Stop car on white line, place in neutral and let it roll back.

LIZETTE P.

Google

Neat little spooky hill. May not be worth the detour. I didn’t get the illusion. Neither did my kids.

Mitch P.

Google

By the looks of the picture of “Spook Hill” and the mythical story that your car will “roll uphill” I was given the impression that you would somehow roll up the very steep hill in a great defiance of physics…. However, after driving all the way here to experience it myself, I realize that you’re supposed to park at the bottom of the hill, put it in neutral & let your car roll back from there… which was completely underwhelming and did not provide any illusion of going “up hill”.. you’re clearly & knowingly going down a slight hill.. I can see how a child may enjoy this

@atlasobscura

4,908 Postcards · 2,019 Cities

The Best of Weird Florida

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/the-best-of-weird-florida

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spook_Hill

Spook Hill

@atlasobscura

4,908 Postcards · 2,019 Cities

12 Bewildering Hills Where Gravity Seems to Work in Reverse

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/gravity-hills

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spook_Hill

Spook Hill

Mia D.

Google

Lee S.

Google

Vickie P.

Google

Mauriett C.

Google

Spook Hill is world renowned spot in Florida! Check it out if you are in the area, but not during school release time it’s small street. I wanna go back at night!

BLU D.

Google

Spook Hill is a wonderfully unique experience ! A fun spooky adventure! Definitely worth the time!

Roads Traveled P.

Google

LIZETTE P.

Google

Neat little spooky hill. May not be worth the detour. I didn’t get the illusion. Neither did my kids.

Mitch P.

Google

Spook Hill

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The Best of Weird Florida

12 Bewildering Hills Where Gravity Seems to Work in Reverse

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The Best of Weird Florida

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