View Full Version : Spook Hill
At Fifth Avenue, Lake Wales. Turn off your car motor at the bottom of the steep hill, put the gear into neutral and your car will appear to roll back uphill! Now that's spooky or what?
Blott
caroline
04-09-2002, 15:42
I'm probably being dense here <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> - but why? How? <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>
Caroline
Caroline
Er, because it's there perhaps and it's a weird phenomenon but don't ask me how! That's what makes it spooky...! :)
Blott
caroline
04-09-2002, 16:16
Hi Blott
Sorry - I didn't mean why .... as in why would you want to do it but why does it happen:) and from your reply it doesn't sound like you're any wiser than me <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> - however my 11 year old (and his mum) would find this amazing, so we may well try and find it... and give it a go....I say TRY because I can get lost driving round the estate!
Caroline
athurstance
04-09-2002, 16:39
Where is Lake Wales?
On 27 Angela. South of Haines. Its that big lake you pass if you are going to Bok Tower etc.
Julie Carty
athurstance
04-09-2002, 17:42
Incredibly I have discovered Spook Hill has its own website - http://historiclakewales.com/spookhill/
No explanation though - spooky!
Angela
Thanks for finding that Angela. I think everyone else thought I'd made it up (as if?)... :)
Blott
florida4sun
05-09-2002, 05:24
They had this place on the TV and it really looks like your rolling up hill. It is an optical illusion which was also used in my local pub in england. Very neat though and great when we used to get a non local in.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:
Thanks for finding that Angela. I think everyone else thought I'd made it up (as if?)... :)
Blott
[/quote]
Martin
This sounds like a "must do in October" to me <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Ruth
There's one of these hills in Scotland. Somewhere on the road to Ayr if my memory serves me right.
It's claimed to be an optical illusion, but believe me if you go there you will be arguing for the rest of your life that it's something else.
You can leave the driver in the car with the handbrake off, and push the car with one finger 'uphill' and amazingly it starts rolling away from you. Got to be seen to be believed.
I'll try and find the details of it. My vague recollection is it is called 'electric brae'.
Sandra
caroline
05-09-2002, 10:45
Does anybody know how this works ??
I've never heard of it before
Caroline
Caroline, if everyone knew the secret then it wouldn't be spooky! :)
Blott
Sandra it would be great if you could find more details of this hill in Scotland, somewhere different to take the relatives when they visit us<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Ruth
athurstance
05-09-2002, 16:13
I had a really good look on the internet for an explanation but nobody seems to have one. Spook Hill has been 'investigated' by all kinds of people to see if they can explain it but I couldn't find anyone who had any success.
As I said I'd never heard of it before but it has rather captured my interest now so I'll definitely be heading over there to take a look for myself.
Angela
Hi Ruth - found more details on 'electric brae'
http://www.mcintyre.demon.co.uk/local/electbrae.htm
As I said earlier, if you do manage a visit you will find yourself discussing the optical illusion theory for years to come!
It's only a small stretch of road but well worth a visit. Take a plastic football with you and try rolling it 'down' the hill, as well as pushing your car up the hill with only one hand!
Sandra
I know you are back from Florida, Sandra, so are you still working on Florida time ??? 2.08!! What about your beauty sleep!!!And Terry says I'm an addict!!
Julie Carty
Thanks Sandra, this looks facinating. I'll post when we have been:)
Ruth
tinkerbell
06-09-2002, 15:32
I remember going to the 'electric brae' in Scotland! I think we rolled an empty coke can 'up' the hill!!
Be interesting to go to the one in Florida too!
Tink
I know Julie - my sleep pattern is worse than ever this time!! So sleeping when I can and unfortunately waking up at all odd hours!! What else worthwhile can you do at 2am apart from look at the Forum <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Sandra
Well, you could try some Melatonin? <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Blott
Yes I know Blott!! Do you know of anything I could take for my memory, so that when I next get out there I remember to buy some <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Sandra
florida4sun
30-09-2002, 21:21
We went to Spookhill yesterday. Stopped at the sign which tells you to pull up to the white line (there is a very steep hill in front of you).
So we sit there infront of this hill thinking that there is no way will roll up it. Let the brake off and starting rolling backwards down hill. Kids we so disapointed. There is one point when I felt that the car was going slightly up hill. Its not what I thought it would be. The gradient is very slight, almost flat.
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
01-10-2002, 02:15
Maybe the spooks had the day off Martin :D:D:D
If you tried it in your wagon, I'm not surprised it went the other way! It must weigh about ten tons and spooks aren't that strong! :)
florida4sun
01-10-2002, 04:33
I just thought. If the optical illusion makes you think you are going up hill (when really you going down). Then we were indeed rolling up hill without the illusion. Now that is spooky. Im going to try this one on the kids now.
quote:Originally posted by blott
If you tried it in your wagon, I'm not surprised it went the other way! It must weigh about ten tons and spooks aren't that strong! :)