Oregon Vortex: Anyone seen in?

[jefemeister]

I remember seeing an interesting special on a place called the "Oregon Vortex" where supposedly up is down and right is left. Coke cans roll uphill and people get taller depending on where they stand. Supposedly it's due to some mysterious concentration of magnetic force. Obviously I'm a little (lot) skeptical but would love to check it out. Has anyone been there?

http://www.oregonvortex.com/

 

[RickG]

LOL, those places are all over the place. There's one here in Santa Cruz called "the Mystery Spot":

http://www.resort.com/~banshee/Santa...sterySpot.html

Here's another in Michigan:

http://www.stignace.com/attractions/mysteryspot/

The big mystery is the gravitational effect on the wallets of the tourist who visit these traps...

 

[bLue_oNioN]

A skeptic's description of the Oregon Vortex

 

[bLue_oNioN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickG The big mystery is the gravitational effect on the wallets of the tourist who visit these traps...

LOL
Perfect turn of phrase

 

[jefemeister]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bLue_oNioN A skeptic's description of the Oregon Vortex

Sweet site, thanks. Rick, next time I'm up in northern michigan I'll have to check out the "mystery spot." I am of course 100% skeptical of these spots, but still find them interesting to explore and see for myself. Kind of like organized religion. [brace for movement to the Outside]

 

[elnero]

My wife and I live at the base of a mildly magnetic hill, I can't say I've ever noticed the effect but it doesn't stop people from trying. Every time I'm outside for any length of time I notice at least one car going up and then trying to roll back.

 

[RickG]

LOL, man. I remember when I was a kid, they had one of these things as a permanent exhibit at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington (don't know if it's still there or not).

It was totally man made and a miracle of engineering plus "smoke/mirrors/optical illusions". It was very cool, but it was also apparent that it was just a gimmick.

These things are cookie cutter designs now and with a decent piece of property and some good construction skills, can be thrown up anywhere. You can make some big bucks too on the tourist trails. I'd love to open one on old Route 66 if there weren't a couple there already! Heck, I might even throw in a two headed alligator woman just to put the cherry on top...

 

[elrod-tom]

I've been to Mystery Spot, although it's been years. It works because of the phenomenon known as vertigo. When one has less sensory input than is needed, say in a dark room, or when your reference points are obscured (or part of an optical illusion), the brain can play tricks. That's why Mystery Spot "works", if you will.

Oh, and I think all these places have those touristy-trap souveneir stores that you have to walk through to get to your car. You know...the one's with "old fart pills", rubber tomohawks and what not. They're fun...so long as you don't have young kids in tow. You'll spend a fortune if you do.

 

[KYTGuy]

I was flying my Cessna 182 into Sedona, AZ, and was looking off in the distance where it should appear, while about 12 miles out. My wife tapped me on the hand, and pointed to the airport, which was over 20 degrees displaced from where the magnetic compass indicated I should look. That was the only time that I felt that the "extra-normal" was real...