Spook Hill
Posted by: 
sfwife
N 27° 54.681 W 081° 34.946
17R E 442686 N 3087518
Gravity Hill in Lake Wales, FL
Waymark Code: WM2HY7
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 11/08/2007
Views: 95
There are a couple of stories behind this gravity hill in a small city in central Florida. The large sign at the hill describes it this way:
"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 up hill. Is this the gator seeking revenge, or the chief still trying to protect his land?"
Here is the story with a little more informatino added:
"After the Seminoles left the Cherokee nation, they settled in Central Florida away from the white man's lodges to the North. One legendary chief settled on the lake which is now known as Lake Wailes. Here he had all the advantages of a high campsite on a lake which offered fresh water and good fishing. It was also close to Iron Mountain which, as the highest point in Florida, was sacred to the Indians' Sun God.
The chief, Cufcowellax, and his people were happy for several years, but then one day a huge bull alligator moved into the lake and began to harass the tribe. Soon it began nightly raids on the village, and the tribe lived in terror of this evil spirit that inhabited their lake.
The legend says that Cufcowellax was a chief of great physical prowess and courage. He had great stature among his people both as a warrior and as a ruler. When he saw his people in constant fear, the chief, fearing for their safety, set out to conquer the evil spirit. His tribal shaman and elders placed him under the protection of the Great Spirit and he began his search.
Though many suns came and went, he could not catch the 'gator. Finally one morning he came upon the 'gator on the northwest shore as it dragged another night's victim into the lake.
The legend says the chief battled the 'gator on land and water for a moon, and then suddenly the great thrashing stopped, and the water of the lake turned red.
The tribe watched the surface of the lake in fearful anticipation. With great joy they saw their chief rise from the water. In the midst of their celebration they saw something else. The great battle had made a smaller lake near the big one. When the chief died, he was buried on the shore of the little lake, Ticowa, and the place became sacred to the Indians.
The Indians lost their camping grounds to the encroaching white settlers. Circuit riders carrying mail between the coasts used the old trail around Lake Ticowa until they discovered that their horses were laboring downhill. It was they who first called the place Spook Hill.
Some forty years later as the area developed, the citrus industry grew. Soon the hills around Lake Ticowa were covered with citrus groves. Workers driving their wagons around the lake were startled to find their mule teams struggling downhill with a load."
I've been to Spook Hill a couple of times. There is a white line in fornt of the sign that you drive up to and stop on. Then you put your car in neutral and let your car roll "uphill". Make sure you you watch for any cars waiting behind you for their turn, though.
Type: Local Legend or Lore
Referenced in (list books, websites and other media):
http://historiclakewales.com/spookhill/
http://www.intalek.com/Index/Projects/SpookHill/SpookHill.htm
http://www.vortexmaps.com/vortices.php
Additional Coordinates: N 27° 54.689 W 081° 34.942
Website Reference: [Web Link]
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