Spook Hill - Lake Wales, FL
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Outspoken1
N 27° 54.694 W 081° 34.940
17R E 442696 N 3087542
Though designed more as a Roadside Attraction, this location provides a lesson about optical illusions.
Waymark Code: WMEEY7
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 05/19/2012
Views: 10
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The sign reads:

"Many years ago an Indian village on Lake Wales was plagued by raids of a huge gator. The Chief, a great warrior, killed the gator in a battle that created a small lake. The chief was buried on the north side. Pioneer mail riders first discovered their horses laboring down hill, thus naming it "Spook Hill". When the road was paved, cars coasted uphill. Is this gator seeking revenge, or is the chief still trying to protect his land?"

The attraction consists of this legend posted on a big sign and a white line on the road in front of it. What you do is drive up and stop on the white line, put your car in neutral and watch while it rolls back up the "hill". I have uploaded a video of our car on Spook hill at (visit link) . More 'humorous' information at (visit link) . Credible information is at (visit link) .
Scientific Principle(s) being demonstrated:
A gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill and sometimes a mystery hill, a mystery spot, or a gravity road, is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces the optical illusion that a very slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope. Thus, a car left out of gear will appear to be rolling uphill due to gravity. In bicycle racing, such roads are known as "false flats." (from Wikipedia)

Briefly explain if the experiment was effective for you. Could it have been better?:
I first videoed the car with Lord Abercrombie inside. Then we rode together as we rolled backwards; apparently going uphill. My brain was fighting with my eyes as we rolled by my eyes 'saw' that we were moving uphill! http://youtu.be/7vl8mZ-RvI0

When is the apparatus/experiment available to the public:
Dawn to Dusk
Visit Instructions:
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Recent Visits/Logs:
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hart612 visited Spook Hill - Lake Wales, FL 05/06/2022 hart612 visited it
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