![]() ![]() “The story relates of how the old Negro parked his car at the foot of this hill. The original sign in that photograph, which contains language that is today considered outdated and offensive, relayed a legend from the local chamber of commerce: This 1950s-era postcard features an image of an earlier version of the Spook Hill sign in Lake Wales. The smiling phantom is also shown holding books on school T-shirts, which Spook Hill visitors sometimes ask to purchase as souvenirs. She attended Spook Hill Elementary, where students sing about their mascot, Casper the Friendly Ghost, in the school’s fight song. Kristina Nichols, who works with Peak as a library assistant, was also born and raised in Lake Wales. “It’s one of those quirky little early Florida tourist attractions that people still love, and one of the few that you can still go to that doesn’t cost you anything.” “I was born here, so I’m kind of underwhelmed,” Peak said with a laugh. The group felt the need to “kick up the game” and make Lake Wales a whole destination. The local chamber probably added Spook Hill after nearby landmark Bok Tower Gardens was built and dedicated in the late 1920s, said Tina Peak, library director at Lake Wales Public Library. Spook Hill emerged during the mid-20th century, D’hollander explained, when travel by car was a popular way to vacation across the country. “It’s for the visitor to decide for themselves.” “The whole idea is, are you really moving backwards? Or is it an optical illusion?” D’hollander said. But the executive director of the Lake Wales History Museum doesn’t want to give away too much of the secret. People often ask Jennifer D’hollander what Spook Hill is all about. Why was Spook Hill here anyway? And how the heck do you get it to work? A local tradition I imagined explaining to my boss that I’d made a three-hour round trip for. I already visited the attraction, so to speak. As I scaled the sharp incline, I felt suspense building, like my car was a roller coaster cart slowly inching up to the first peak. I drove up the hill, away from the attraction, feeling confused. By then, another car was approaching behind me.Ĭlearly, this was not my time to be spooked. Before I rolled back that far, I peeked in the rearview and saw my car aimed toward a tree. This time, I fixed my gaze in front of me. ![]() I returned to the white line to try again. I didn’t feel like anything was dragging me upward. I put the car in neutral and took my foot off the brake. I pulled up to the imposing hill and stopped at the white line at the bottom. “Stop car on white line, place in neutral and let it roll back.” ![]() “Is it the gator seeking revenge, or the chief protecting his land?,” the sign ponders. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |