Lore 261: Attraction (ad-free)

Folklore is often confined to circles around the campfire, or whispered stories at slumber parties. But for a time in America, people turned folklore into things worth traveling to see. And their methods were rather tricky.

Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing and research by GennaRose Nethercott, and music by Chad Lawson.

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Sources:

• “A Mini History of Mega Tourist Traps.” Slate. August 11, 2015. https://slate.com/human-interest/2015/08/worlds-biggest-roadside-attractions-a-history-of-worlds-largest-tourist-traps.html

• “Giant Sitting, Talking Paul Bunyan” Roadside America. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2420

• “Gold Hill, Oregon.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Hill,_Oregon

• “Gravitational tourist draw.” Orange County Register. July 22, 2007. https://www.ocregister.com/2007/07/22/gravitational-tourist-draw/

• Litster, John. Notes and Data. ( Ernie & Irene Cooper, 1960). https://archive.org/details/orangevortex0000john/mode/2up

• Life Magazine,  November 15, 1948. Pp 22 - 25. https://www.facebook.com/MysterySpot.Calif/posts/pfbid09jvy3vfea2nKRVfK4DFPhUkPrXx1DBfeBSnAwtaUARfgaLFDQkLQsc3gvooJLnR7l

• “Lucy the Elephant.” Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lucy-elephant

• “Mystery Spot.” Mystery Spot. https://www.mysteryspot.com

• “Mystery Spots.” Roadside America. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/29062

• “Oregon Vortex (House of Mystery).” Oregon Encyclopedia. https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/oregon_vortex_house_of_mystery_/

• “Owner of the Mystery Spot, George W. Prather, Is Dead.” Santa Cruz Sentinel (Wed, Jan 30, 1946). Page 1. https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-george-prather-funer/9075787/

• “Santa Cruz Mystery Shack.” DAFE. https://www.dafe.org/articles/OtherAttractions/santaCruzMysteryShack.html

• “Santa Cruz Mystery Spot.” Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/santa-cruz-mystery-spot

• “Santa Cruz Mystery Spot.” Roadside America. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2033

• “South Of The Border.” Roadside America. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2211

•  “Spook Hill: Mystery or Mundane?” The Spirit Realm Network. June 25, 2021. https://www.spiritrealm.net/spook-hill-mystery-or-mundane/

• Tesar, Jenny E. America's top 10 curiosities (Blackbirch Press, 1998). Page 13. https://archive.org/details/americastop10cur0000tesa/page/12/mode/2up

•  “The Colossus of Rhodes: Ancient Greek Mega Statue.” Ancient Origins. June 30, 2018. https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-europe/colossus-rhodes-ancient-greek-mega-statue-003249

•  “The Tilthouse.” DAFE. https://www.dafe.org/articles/miscellaneous/tiltHouse.html

• “The History of Roadside Attractions.” For the Love of the Lost. September 3, 2020. https://fortheloveoflost.com/2020/09/02/history-of-roadside-attractions/

• “The Interstate Highway System.” History. May 27, 2010. https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/interstate-highway-system

• “The Oregon Vortex.” Roadside America. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2659. 

• “The Oregon Vortex.” The Oregon Vortex. https://www.oregonvortex.com/

• “What Is The Ponzo Illusion And How Does It Work?” Jagran Josh. August 11, 2022. https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/what-is-the-ponzo-illusion-and-how-does-it-work-1660197760-1

• Prinzmetal, William. Shimamura, Arthur P. “The Mystery Spot Illusion and Its Relation to Other Visual Illusions.” Psychological Science, Vol. 10, No. 6 (Nov., 1999), pp. 501-507.  https://www.jstor.org/stable/40063477

•  “Why do cars roll uphill at Spook Hill? Legends & science explain the thrill of Lake Wales’ gravity hill.” Fox 13. October 31, 2022. https://www.fox13news.com/news/why-do-cars-roll-uphill-at-spook-hill-legends-science-explains-the-thrill-of-lake-wales-gravity-hill

•  “World's Largest Buffalo.” Roadside America. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2711

• “World's Largest Teapot.” Roadside America. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11259