![]() I even brought a carpenter's level with me (yes, I'm a geek, and my son was embarrassed). I'm a skeptic, so after I went to the Mystery Spot the first time, I went and read the scientific explanations, because the effects really are amazing to see. I won't go into detail (you can read their analyses on other websites), but it basically boils down to optical illusions created by the steep hillside and tilting shack, and the suggestible nature of human beings. Scientists have offered their explanations for the phenomena observed at the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot, as well as other mystery spots around the country like the Oregon Vortex. Spoiler Alert - Mystery Spot Explanations There are also strange tree-growth patterns that only occur in the area surrounding the shack the others in the area farther away look normal. To get advance reservations, call (831) 423-8897, or buy tickets online at the The Vortex strikes again. It's also $5 to park the car (cash or check only). Free for children 3 and under, and active duty military. Winter Hours: Monday-Thursday: 10 to 4, Friday 9 to 4, Saturday/Sunday: 9 to 5.Įntry Fee: $8 entrance fee ( cash or check only at the door, credit cards online). So now we come to the thorniest mystery of all.why do so many people put those bumper stickers on their cars? The experts are stumped. I had seen those bumper stickers for years, and thought it was probably really hokey, like some other roadside attractions (snake farms come to mind), but I was pleasantly surprised. This is truly a unique experience, and you definitely get way more than $8 worth of entertainment!īefore I went the first time, I was reluctant to go the Mystery Spot. ![]() This is a definite yes! I don't think I would make a special trip to Santa Cruz just to see it, but if you are in the area, don't miss it. Not only are their demonstrations of weirdness sufficiently amazing, their patter and explanations are tongue-in-cheek hilarious.Īnd some of the visitors did report feeling spacey and dizzy- was it the power of suggestion? See what you think when you take the tour. I have to say that the presentations by the guides really make this experience. Aliens buried a magnetic cone here to guide their spaceships.A vortex of molten rock rises close to the earth's crust here.Some Mystery Spot "theories" suggested by the guides: I've been several times and it's a kick to bring your friends and family up here a surprising number of the guests are repeat-visitors. ![]() Is it real, or is it a trick? I don't want to spoil it, so come and see the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz for yourself! It's definitely great entertainment and the redwood setting is beautiful. Since then, hundreds of thousands of visitors have been amazed by the balls rolling uphill, people visibly shrinking and growing taller just by standing in different spots, and other weird phenomena. They noticed these effects only within an area about 150 feet in diameter and just on the side of the hill.Īs time passed, other strange effects were observed and were so striking, that this area was open to the public in 1940. ![]() The compass stopped working and became unreliable, and the men felt dizzy and had to sit down. They started in the flat area of the parcel, but as they worked their way uphill, they began noticing some strange things. A portable radio will play any place over it, but with very little variation, being the nearest correct that we have found.Once upon a time, in 1939, a group of surveyors were working in the dense redwood forest just outside of Santa Cruz. About 150 feet in diameter, that so far, we have not found any instrument absolutely correct over. We began to check from that, and we found the more we checked the more we found, until we found we had this spot of ground here. There, the compass had varied enough that we needed nothing to compare it with to tell that it was not correct. While sitting there we happened to look at the compass again. We sat down for a while to try and overcome that feeling. In doing so we felt very light headed or top heavy, felt like something trying to force us right off the hill. ![]() We came down the little canyon or draw above here. Prather relented and purchased the property, and even though the odd strip included in the deal looked normal, he knew that something was off the moment he explored the space. While looking for a plot of land on which to build his summer home, he found the perfect place however, the landowners didn't want to sell unless he bought a strip of their property that had a strange variation. Another story about the origins of the Mystery Spot claims Prather came into the space through a bit of bad real-estate luck. ![]()
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