Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida, is a National Historic Landmark sitting atop Iron Mountain, nearly 300 feet in the air.  Florida being relatively flat, this is one of the highest points in the state.

Among the wonderful flowering grounds, which were given to the state in 1929 by author Edward W. Bok, is the Bok bell tower punching 205 feet into the air.  It's constructed of Georgian marble and Florida coquina with a 57 bell carillon that clearly rings out melodies every day of the year.   

Should you find yourself at nearby Spook Hill, and it's hard not to, what with all the signs pointing in that direction, you will be able to hear the chiming bells and be unnerved all at the same time.  Many of those Spook Hill signs are twisted and turned.  Have they been handled in some fashion by friends of the Wicked Witch of the Southeast or merely tampered with by young hooligans to lend credence to the simple, yet haunting, occurrence that make Spook Hill worth a visit. 

click on the photo of the sign at nearby Spook Hill Elementary School to enlarge it

Called a geological curiosity, Spook Hill literally disregards gravity.  No, you don’t float in the air, but the unexpected happens to each and every car that tries this thing.   

One informational sign reads:

… Pioneer haulers coming from the old Army trail atop the ridge above found their horses laboring here at the foot of the ridge … and called it Spook Hill … STOP CAR ON WHITE LINE, PLACE IN NEUTRAL AND …

click on the photo to enlarge it

At the foot of Spook Hill, we lined up our car with the white line painted halfway across the road as per instructions.  Next, we shifted the car into neutral and without stepping on the gas or someone pushing, voilà, we began to drift backwards, uphill!  We couldn't believe it.  Since no one else was waiting in line, we did it again, and then againl.  And it's not just cars that coast uphill.  Anything round or with wheels will also! 

Scientists aren't sure why this happens.  Some claim the whole thing is an optical illusion.  What is known is that the road definitely slopes up and round things, though no energy of their own, roll up the hill.

For more information, go to http://historiclakewales.com/