Is Spook Hill free?
Yes. It's a public street with no gate, no ticket, and no staff. Visit in daylight and don't block driveways.
§ Polk County oddity
Spook Hill.
Put it in neutral at the white line and the car rolls the wrong way. Free, two minutes from downtown Lake Wales, and still the strangest ninety seconds in Polk County.
How to do it
Five steps, one white line.
- 1From downtown Lake Wales, take North Avenue west to North Wales Drive and follow the brown Spook Hill signs.
- 2Stop at the white line painted across the pavement at the bottom of the hill — there's a wooden sign board on the shoulder.
- 3Put the car in neutral, take your foot off the brake, and let go.
- 4The car appears to roll backward uphill. Physics says otherwise; your eyes will not agree.
- 5Be quick and courteous — it's a live residential street, not an attraction with a parking lot.
N Wales Dr near 5th St, Lake Wales, FL 33853 — signed from North Avenue.
Free · daylight only · residential street, so keep it to a couple of runs.
Questions
What everyone asks.
Why does the car roll uphill?
It doesn't. Spook Hill is a gravity hill: the surrounding slope and the missing horizon line trick your brain into reading a shallow downgrade as an upgrade. The car rolls downhill the entire time.
What's the legend?
The historic marker tells a story of a Seminole chief and a giant alligator that battled at the lake's edge, leaving the ground disturbed. It's folklore, printed for kids and tourists — and the reason the neighboring elementary school's mascot is Casper.
How long does a visit take?
Five minutes, ten if you run it twice. Pair it with Bok Tower Gardens six minutes away or lunch on Park Avenue.
Does it work in every car?
Most cars roll. Automatic transmissions in neutral work fine; very low-slung vehicles and heavy trucks feel it least.