Tourist attraction near Santa Cruz, where visitors experience demonstrations that appear to defy gravity

General Information

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 10am to 5pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am to 9pm
Open year-round including holidays

Fees:

General admission: $10 per person
Children 3 and under: Free
Parking: $5 per vehicle (cash or check only)

Pet Policy:

Pets are not allowed on the tour; leashed dogs permitted in the parking area and hiking trail only

Closest cities with hotels:

Santa Cruz (4 mi), Capitola (7 mi), Scotts Valley (8 mi)

Seasons:

All year; spring and fall offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds

Location:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2kz5Zz7XzZzq5z9A6

Website:

mysteryspot.com

How to Get There

From Santa Cruz, CA (4 mi): Take Ocean Street to Water Street, turn left onto Market Street, and follow for 2.9 miles; the Mystery Spot entrance will be on your left.

Overview

The Mystery Spot is a tourist attraction near Santa Cruz, California, opened in 1939 by George Prather. Visitors experience demonstrations that appear to defy gravity, on the short but steep uphill walk and inside a wooden building on the site. It is a popular tourist attraction, and gained recognition as a roadside "gravity box" or "tilted house". The site is what is known as a gravity hill and was the first of its kind to be built in California.

History

The Mystery Spot was opened by George Prather in 1939. Prather was an electrician, mechanic, and inventor who was born near Fresno and moved to Santa Cruz in 1920. He owned a welding shop and repair garage in the area before he opened the Mystery Spot. One of several roadside attractions that opened after World War II for new automobile owners, the Mystery Spot was featured on Art Baker's television show You Asked for It.

Prather was inspired to open the site by the popularity of the Oregon Vortex, which opened to the public in 1930. According to a newspaper report, Prather bought three acres on the hill in 1940 after he felt slightly dizzy while walking and was interested in his dizziness. The newspaper also reported that during further exploration of his property he found his compass jittering. He built a "crazy house" and opened the site to the public in June 1941. Tour guides lead visitors through the attraction and perform various demonstrations to showcase the site's unusual effects.

In July 2004, the Mystery Spot was nominated to be designated a California Historical Landmark, and received its designation (#1055) in August 2014.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mystery Spot", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0