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San Antonio, Texas: Ghostly Gravity Hill

If you park your car in neutral, "child ghosts" may push it about 30 feet up a slight hill, onto railroad tracks!

Address:
Shane Rd, San Antonio, TX
Directions:
Southeastern edge of the city, at the junction of Shane and Villamain Rds. I-410 exit 42. Turn south onto Southton Rd, then take the second right onto Shane Rd. Drive about three-quarters of a mile to the railroad tracks. Be careful!
Hours:
Public road. Hazard flashers recommended. Use at your own risk. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Admission:
Free
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Visitor Tips and News About Ghostly Gravity Hill

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Ghostly Gravity Hill

The road was redone in 2018 and changed the physics of the road so the effect no longer occurs.

[Cecily, 09/25/2021]
Ghost Tracks

According to a recent San Antonio news story, the bus load of, I believe, 31 children did get hit by a train and many were killed, but it actually happened in California! I think it was in the 1930s. Somehow that incident was transferred to the ghost tracks.

[Michael, 02/04/2021]

Gravity Hills near railroad crossings are often explained with tales of long-ago school bus tragedies -- the antigravity force being the pushing hands of the safety-conscious ghostly schoolchildren. As if antigravity wasn't weird enough.

Ghostly Gravity Hill

This place is known by locals as "The Tracks." The local legend/ghost story goes that a school bus was hit by train in that spot. It is the ghosts of the kids that push you off the tracks. They say if you sprinkle talcum powder on the back of your car, you'll see their small hand prints.

[Joanne, 10/24/2017]
Ghostly Gravity Hill

There have been several complaints from surrounding neighbors about the cars and lights in this area at all hours of the night. The train tracks have since been removed (I am fortunate to own a spike from the track). If you do go, please be careful. This is a two-way road, and the way it curves once attempting the "inclined/declining roll" can cause an accident with incoming traffic. This is a neat place to visit, though.

[Victor, 08/05/2016]

No need to visit after dark to experience the ghostly effects. And we'd urge everyone to bring an out-of-car spotter to watch for approaching traffic.

Ghostly Gravity Hill

Anyone who claims to have seen anything "paranormal" at this location either subconsciously convinced themselves that they had an experience because of things heard from other people... or they simply wanted to lie for dramatic flare!

Regardless, don't fall for this one. SyFy has a show called FACT OT FAKED -- their teams investigate claims sent from fans all over the United States. The show traveled to San Antonio and actually replicated the supposed "original story" by putting one of the team members in a school bus before testing the claims/theory. It worked!

The trees were causing an optical illusion in regards to the "angle" or direction you are looking as you are sitting behind the wheel. At first glance it appears that you are going up hill. After the tests came back, it was concluded and agreed upon that the train track story could be debunked! The vehicle always travels down hill...never up hill. Sorry guys! I was bummed to hear it too.

[ker, 03/12/2011]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Frank's Hog Stand, Inside a PigFrank's Hog Stand, Inside a Pig, San Antonio, TX - 7 mi.
Ahinga Bird and Blue PantherAhinga Bird and Blue Panther, San Antonio, TX - 8 mi.
Junk Yard DogJunk Yard Dog, San Antonio, TX - 7 mi.
In the region:
Natural Bridge Caverns, San Antonio, TX - 27 mi.

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