Getaways, Lake Wales, and Rolling Up, Really

Greetings from the deep freeze of Minnesota.  

Of course I know this photo isn't from my world.  It seems Mexico and Florida are the major escapes this February, for many fleeing from our frozen tundra of an existence.

Don't worry, I'm still here.

But a girl can dream right?  

The photo below is my sister-in-law and nephew on his short leave, and it happens to be the last time I flew to Florida. 

It was in November!  Look Ma no coats, gloves, boots or socks!

You probably guessed by my title that this next photo is also from Florida.  It's my, just visiting Florida via the Web.

Welcome to Lake Wales, Florida.

Historic Bok Tower
The 205-foot-neo-Gothic and art deco Singing Tower carillon described here.


Why post about Lake Wales?

My belief, When you need a vacation, but can't take one,
 the next best thing to being there is
visiting by way of YouTube and other Web sources.


You should remember by now, I'm a fan of any and all abandoned things, and Lake Wales has a stately old grand hotel in refurbishing stages and one very unusual phenomenon.

First, did someone mention hotel?
The Dixie Walesbilt Hotel, is a historic hotel in Lake Wales, Florida.  See photo below.

The Dixie Walesbilt Hotel aka Hotel Grand

Checking out that site shows all the dirty little secrets involved in this major process.

Now for the unusual.

Does gravity or an old feud with alligators have anything to do with this mysterious phenomenon?


Don't laugh, watch this video for yourself, and see that vehicles do roll backwards up hill while in neutral. 

Welcome to Spook Hill, nestled within Lake Wales, Florida.
You can take a 7 minute tour of Lake Wales here.
and another "It's the simple things in life" so worth doing.

I've had castles, greenery and abandoned places worthy of rebirth on my mind lately.  Of course once you have castles and abandoned buildings in your thoughts, the next logical thing is, unusual, or off the beaten path kind of places.

I know we'd have much more to discuss if we were in England, or Wales, when castles come to mind, but most of us aren't that lucky.

So, I hope you enjoyed this place, not too many miles from my front door, okay 1,550 miles to be exact.  Maybe you've been to Lake Wales, but if not you just may want to see it for yourself.


The next video is especially for skeptics.
The truth about this unusual phenomenon may be solved in this video at Spook Hill in Maryland.