# part urban legend, part reality... how does this place work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 2000, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476 "2000-08-15T18:28:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/21 "2000-08-18T06:40:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bear\_Nenno \* > \*\*This sure looks UPHILL to me: > \*\* I think that is why it is called an optical **illusion**. If the observer could easily determine the true slope of the hill, it would just be an optical. (or something) They’d have to change that big ass sign to read, "Park on the white line, take your car out of gear, and exactly what you think will happen will, in fact, happen. There are lots of hills like this without signs. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/22 "2000-08-18T07:00:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MagicalSilverKey \* > \*\*Your vehicle commences to roll UPHILL while gaining speed, from a complete stop. How did you determine which direction is uphill? Isn’t the direction that a car rolls **by definition** downhill? > [@](#): > > This works going backwards as well. What does that mean? You mean you can get your car to go in the same direction, but pointed the other way? Or that you can get your car to go the other direction? ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/23 "2000-08-18T17:08:37Z")
By the way, golfers all know this phenomenon. If you’re on a green that’s near a mountain or near a lake or stream, then you have to compensate your putt to account for the fact that the ball always breaks away from the mountain and towards water. Same thing. I’d wager that the tree in question is towards the mountain, since the car rolls away from it. ---
**Author:** ![DennisKy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@DennisKy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DennisKy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/24 "2000-08-18T17:27:37Z")
Check this url for more information, including links to other similar stories… [http://www.snopes.com/horrors/ghosts/hndprint.htm](http://www.snopes.com/horrors/ghosts/hndprint.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/25 "2000-08-18T19:28:57Z")
MSK, if I remember correctly you live in the Michiana area. Where is this at? I haven’t heard of it. Got directions? ---
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2000, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/26 "2000-08-20T03:27:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Connor \* > \*\*MSK, if I remember correctly you live in the Michiana area. Where is this at? I haven’t heard of it. > > Got directions? \*\* “Michiana” is an indistinct nickname regarding an area of most of the counties that rest along the MI/IN borderline. Michiana has never been officially “defined,” however, local news sources usually classify “Michiana” as what seems to be within 50 to 75 miles radius, from the state line. If you live in, or near, South Bend, IN…you can find “Gravity Hill” near the northeast intersection of Ironwood Dr. and Adams Rd. Gravity Hill, is on Adams Rd, approximately 1/10 - 3/10 of a mile east of Ironwood Dr. Ironwood Dr. is at the crest of the hill. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/27 "2000-08-22T02:27:50Z")
> [@](#): > > RJKUgly > Member > > Registered: Mar 1999 > Posts: 107 Ugly! Good to see a familiar name for a change. ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/28 "2000-08-22T02:51:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Ugly! Good to see a familiar name for a change. Hey Jeff! Yeah, I’m around. Just mostly lurking, though. But there are some other of the old regs around, too. Good to see you around! Ugly ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/29 "2000-08-22T03:31:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by geekgurl \* > \*\* > > Come to think of it, that whole area gives me the willies!! Just around the corner is Hanging Rock - an eerie outcrop of hills renowned for the disappearance of innocent 19th century Victorian school girls! :eek: \*\* Umm no. Hanging Rock is renowned for being the place that Joan Lindsay used in her novel about the disappearance of schoolgirls. In fact no such disappearance ever happened but many people think _Picnic at Hanging Rock_ is based on fact. ---
**Author:** ![matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@matt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/30 "2000-08-22T11:56:35Z")
Just to stir the pot a little… has anyone seen the toy where a “roller” rolls up a ramp made from two bars? The roller is made from two cones stuck base to base, and the ramp is made from two bars which are close together at the “down” end and further apart at the “up” end. The roller rolls “up” the bars because of its shape and the widening bars. The centre of gravity of the roller does in fact move down. Would it be possible given the cross-section of tires and a road whose camber changes locally for this effect to make a car roll “uphill”? ---
**Author:** ![G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.B.H.Hornswoggler)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/31 "2000-08-22T16:59:51Z")
[Skeptical Inquirer Magazine](http://www.csicop.org/si/) had an investigation of one of these (I believe the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot since that’s the most famous), but it doesn’t seem to be in their on-line archives. As some other posters have already mentioned, this is a fairly common optical illusion, caused by cues in the surrounding countryside. ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/32 "2000-08-22T17:08:39Z")
I was at a place like this in Jerusalem once, called Kvish Hepeleh (wonderous hill). In this case the optical illusion is caused by the hill snaking its way down, going back on itself. The middle bend is on less of a slope than the top and bottom ones, thus it seems to rise, while actually it too grades down slightly. ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/33 "2000-08-22T17:30:27Z")
I retract that. Actually it was the other way around. It doubled back and went slightly uphill, but the zigzag pattern of the hills made it seem like it was continuing to go downhill. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/34 "2000-08-22T17:40:46Z")
I drive through the mountains of West Virginia at least twice a month these days. I can’t count the times where I seem to be going down hill but find my speed decreasing or having it seem like I am going up a hill but suddenly find myself going 5-10 MPH faster than the pace I usually maintain. Of course, now that I have cruise control, none of this matters… * * * Yer pal, Satan [sub]I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR: Four months, one week, six days, 15 hours, 39 minutes and 50 seconds. 5426 cigarettes not smoked, saving $678.26. Life saved: 2 weeks, 4 days, 20 hours, 10 minutes.[/sub] **_"Satan is not an unattractive person."_-Drain Bead** [sub]Thanks for the ringing endorsement, honey![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Powers106](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Powers106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers106)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/35 "2000-08-22T20:11:53Z")
Isn´t this optical illusion similar to the fact that when you stand on the beach looking out at the ocean, it appears to rise up to the horizon? I mean, if the Earth is indeed a sphere, shouldn´t it look like it is fading downwards? From my third floor window, it looks like the ocean is a “hill”, so I have to vote for the optical illusion unless somebody can explain otherwise… ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2000, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476/36 "2000-09-28T19:25:18Z")
Mena Arkansas has this same thing - in fact it is called Gravity Hill - its an optical illusion. In a car its hard to see but if you get out its pretty clear that you are going DOWNhill. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-urban-legend-part-reality-how-does-this-place-work/29476.md?page=1)