Spook Hill

Historical landmark · Lake Wales

Spook Hill

Historical landmark · Lake Wales

2

321 Dr JA Wiltshire Ave, Lake Wales, FL 33853

Photos

Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by Riversend (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by ginarose (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by mfdillonjr (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by Ebyabe (Creative Commons)
Spook Hill by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spook_Hill
Spook Hill by courtneymay (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by courtneymay (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by Riversend (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by Ebyabe (Creative Commons)
Spook Hill by RussellHanusik (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by Ebyabe (Creative Commons)
Spook Hill by Ebyabe (Creative Commons)
Spook Hill by RussellHanusik (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by Riversend (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spook_Hill
Spook Hill by mfdillonjr (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by Riversend (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by ginarose (Atlas Obscura User)
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null
Spook Hill by null

Highlights

Local attraction with an optical illusion in the landscape that makes cars appear to roll uphill.  

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

spookhill.info

Information

Static Map

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

spookhill.info

Features

wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance

Last updated

Jul 12, 2025

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@atlasobscura

"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

The Best of Weird Florida
View Postcard for Spook Hill
@atlasobscura

"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

12 Bewildering Hills Where Gravity Seems to Work in Reverse
View Postcard for Spook Hill

Lee Seligman

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 Parent

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.

Roads Traveled Photography

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.

Mitch Pritchard

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

Mauriett Chayeb

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 Dolfin

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

Rick Foxx

Google
Ahh ok, so you read the sign and it tells you about some Gator and an Indian chief. And then you are told to put your car in neutral and let it roll backwards. So you parked on a hill and you did indeed roll backwards. How is that spooky? Go to Bok Tower while you’re here, Spook Hill is pretty lame. 3 stars is the best I can say.

gerald jakubosky

Google
Spook Hill is a fun, quick optical illusion in Lake Wales. Put your car in neutral and watch it "roll uphill"! While it's a simple trick of perspective, it's a unique and free roadside attraction that's great for a brief, amusing stop, especially if you're in the area visiting Bok Tower Gardens.