# How did Mt Shasta become the Woo Capital of the World? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [August 10, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906 "2025-08-10T14:44:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/41 "2025-08-12T20:26:14Z")
How “woo” is Taos, New Mexico these days? I remember Cecil reporting on the “hum.” There’s also Slab City, CA and Black Rock City, NV (Burning Man) but they’re not into commercial sales and the latter is becoming corporate. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/42 "2025-08-12T20:33:55Z")
I would argue that Lourdes, France, is the woo capital of the world. How many people go there every year with the hope of getting healed by magical water, prayers and buying overpriced plastic little madonnas? Is there a place like this where more people go to? Do more people visit Mt Shasta (a place I’ve never heard of before this thread)? ETA: I googled, and Lourdes seems to draw 5 million people each year: [11 interesting facts about Lourdes - Joe Walsh Tours](https://joewalshtours.ie/interesting-facts-about-lourdes/#:~:text=3%2D%20Lourdes%20has%20been%20an,Christian%20shrine%20in%20the%20world). ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/43 "2025-08-12T21:08:57Z")
I never got the feeling there was a lot of “woo” going on in Slab City. I would put it (along with nearby Bombay beach) in the “post apocalypse art installation” category. Depending on your point of view I guess Salvation Mountain (right next door to Slab City, so to speak) might qualify as a woo-adjacent. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/44 "2025-08-13T02:07:09Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I would argue that Lourdes, France, is the woo capital of the world. On that basis Mecca is also a candidate. I guess we’re starting to explore the boundaries of woo-ness now. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/45 "2025-08-13T02:48:14Z")
Religions accepted by several billions of people do not fall within the idea of “woo”. Even if you dont believe them. “woo-woo” is a rather derogatory term. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/46 "2025-08-13T04:30:21Z")
For the sake of completeness, I’ll note that while about 7500 people have claimed to be cured by Lourdes water (and 500,000 sick people visit the attraction per year), only 71 of them have been accepted by the Lourdes Medical Bureau, an organization set up by Pope Pius X (1903-1914). Last year, the Vatican overhauled its procedures for evaluating visions of the Virgin Mary, partly to keep up with the flood of reports on the internet. Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the head of the Vatican doctrine office clarifies in an AP story: > The norms also allow that an event might at some point be declared “supernatural,” and that the pope can intervene in the process. But “as a rule,” the church is no longer in the business of authenticating inexplicable events or making definitive decisions about their supernatural origin. > And at no point are the faithful ever obliged to believe in the particular events. “The church gives the faithful the freedom to pay attention” or not, he said at a news conference. > Despite the new criteria, he said the church’s past decision-making on alleged supernatural events — such as at Fatima, Guadalupe or Lourdes — remains valid. > “What was decided in the past has its value,” he said. “What was done remains.” > **[Vatican moves to adapt to hoaxes, Internet and overhauls its process for...](https://apnews.com/article/vatican-apparitions-pope-lourdes-fatima-f9b5659e2947e7eb966db2e491e17267)** > > The Vatican has radically reformed its process for evaluating alleged visions of the Virgin Mary, weeping statues and other seemingly supernatural phenomena. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/47 "2025-08-13T05:47:46Z")
If you wanna go creepy woo, hang out in some grave yards and Funeral parlors. You can convince yourself into thinking anything. If you’re clever and go with others you can creep them out, too. I happened down a hall way in a hospital one time and I swore something (not person) was following me. I never saw anything. But I asked the nurses and they all had a story. I sat on a bench in that hallway and determined it was light coming in from windows in empty rooms. There were trees in this big courtyard and the light was changed by their movement and threw shadows. That’s what I _“sensed”._ No ghosts. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/48 "2025-08-13T07:34:58Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > If you wanna go creepy woo, hang out in some grave yards and Funeral parlors. I love cemeteries. They’re so peaceful and serene, and full of monuments to people’s love for each other. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/49 "2025-08-13T08:03:26Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > ETA: I googled, and Lourdes seems to draw 5 million people each year: Fatima claims 6.2M visitors last year, so they beat out Lourdes. But Guadalupe gets 20M, so it beats out both. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/50 "2025-08-13T09:47:44Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > (And the question is applicable to other locations Glastonbury: linked to many old religious and semi-religious legends, becoming a new-agey hotspot a good while ago > **[Glastonbury](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glastonbury)** > > Glastonbury (/ˈɡlæstənbəri/ GLAST-ən-bər-ee, .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}UK also /ˈɡlɑːst-/ GLAHST-) is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low-lying Somerset Levels, 23 miles (37 km) south of Bristol. The town had a population of 8,932 in the 2011 census. The town is less than 1 Evide... ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/51 "2025-08-13T12:39:45Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Religions accepted by several billions of people do not fall within the idea of “woo”. Even if you dont believe them. “woo-woo” is a rather derogatory term. Hey pal, I’ve spent many years in Marin County, don’t try to tell me about Woo! (wink). ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/52 "2025-08-13T12:51:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Religions accepted by several billions of people do not fall within the idea of “woo”. Even if you dont believe them. “woo-woo” is a rather derogatory term. “A cult is a religion with no political power”. A major religion is just as much “woo” as believing in crystal energy and UFO abductions; it just has enough power that people pretend otherwise. But pretending is _all_ that it is. There’s exactly as much reason to believe in magical healing crystals as there is to believe in healing miracles from the Virgin Mary, _aka_ none. Really if “respect” is so important then ethically one should make the _opposite_ argument, and say that believers in “woo” should be just as respected as people who proclaim belief in major religions. If not more so, it takes more bravery to go against the majority like that, after all. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/53 "2025-08-13T13:03:23Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > A major religion is just as much “woo” as believing in crystal energy and UFO abductions; it just has enough power that people pretend otherwise. My feelings exactly. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2025, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/54 "2025-08-14T03:37:55Z")
Thirded. More people believing in your unfalsifiable nonsense actually makes it worse. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/55 "2025-08-17T02:53:44Z")
What done happened to editing? A glitch in the Matrix? ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/56 "2025-08-17T15:37:13Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > Does Buddhism count as woo? it should not, obviously, since the word is pejorative. > [@Reply](#): > > Their retreats are still open, and there is no fee for any of them: [Retreats – Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery](https://shastaabbey.org/retreats/) thank you for the link, very interesting. > [@sunacres](#): > > I guess we’re starting to explore the boundaries of woo-ness now. and equating anything spiritual as “woo”? so all churches, then? > [@Alessan](#): > > I love cemeteries. They’re so peaceful and serene, and full of monuments to people’s love for each other. yes, and green, flowers, etc. the one my parent’s took me to for visiting dead relatives had a pond and ducks. 😍 > [@Jackmannii](#): > > What done happened to editing? I don’t get a preview anymore, but assumed it was something I changed. 🤷‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/57 "2025-08-17T15:42:35Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > I don’t get a preview anymore, but assumed it was something I changed. Click on the button in the upper left corner of the reply window. I believe it has an A in it. That gives you the preview window and lets you edit like before. And they’ve changed the font so that it isn’t the monospaced one that lots of people hated. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/58 "2025-08-17T16:01:48Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Click on the button in the upper left corner of the reply window aha! thank you! 🥰 ETA: why didn’t I get that A = preview? 🪿 \ **Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/59 "2025-08-17T17:34:09Z") Oh, silly goose 🪿. Ding ding ding 💡 ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906/60 "2025-08-17T17:53:07Z")
[I haven’t read the entire thread] I have to think that – pound for pound – Crestone, Colorado has a place on this list: > **[The Surprising Spiritual Mecca of Crestone, Colorado](https://www.spiritualtravels.info/spiritual-sites-around-the-world/north-america/the-surprising-spiritual-mecca-of-crestone-colorado/)** > > Crestone may well be the most spiritual place in America, home to more than two dozen sacred sites and retreat centers. It's a surprising spiritual mecca. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mt-shasta-become-the-woo-capital-of-the-world/1021906.md?page=4)