What’s So Spooky About Spook Hill?

When visiting Lake Wales, Florida, tourists almost always make a stop at Bok Tower Gardens, the beautiful sanctuary founded by the late Ladies Home Journal publisher Edward Bok. However, they often overlook a lesser known attraction that is of smaller consequence but a heck of a lot more fun–Spook Hill.

This optical illusion got its name back in the pioneer days when postal delivery men noticed their horses were struggling to pull their wagons down hill…and for quite a distance. When they related this story a myth began to emerge.

  Accordingto folklore, a giant alligator had been harrassing the Indian village, then located on the site, and the chief challenged the reptile to a wrestling match. The fight was ferocious. The chief won but the melee created a lake which still exists there. (Locals call it a lake but pond would be a better description.) The chief is said to have been buried on the north side and still haunts the area from time to time.

In any event, motorists are now invited to drive to the”bottom” of the hill, put their vehicle in neutral and allow it to back up hill for nearly 100 feet, gaining speed all the way till the road levels out. As you can see from the photo below, the steepness of the hill going down in the foreground is nearly equal that of the one going up in the background. The effect will give you goosebups the first time you experience it.

Some say the phenomenom is caused by a huge magnetic rock deep beneath the Earth’s surface…perhaps a fallen meteorite from eons ago. Whatever you do, please don’t as a geologist for an explanation. Hell take all the fun out of it.

There’s a school right next to the location. Yep. Spook Hill Elementary and you guessed it. The school mascot is Casper, the friendly ghost.

I personally know the Indian chief still haunts the area around the pond–the gator, too. I’ve seen them–twice. Once after a wine tasting at a friend’s house and again following a New Year’s Eve party.

(snapshots by the author)