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Burkittsville, Maryland: Spook Hill

Defying the laws of gravity and common sense, vehicles appear to roll backwards up a hill.

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Gravity Hill aka Spook Hill

I lived in Harpers Ferry WV for many years and took all my visitors for the thrill of Spook Hill (which you call Gravity Hill). Go through town to a hill which starts at a big barn. Go down the hill until you count off 6 telephone poles. You are at the bottom. Put your car in neutral, even remove the keys if you wish. The car will go backwards up the hill, and there is no question about it going from the bottom of the hill to the top. It is not imagination. Cars come over the hill from town, so I always had one person standing at the top of the hill to warn cars of vehicles coming backwards up the hill. We would pick up our traffic guide at the top, put another guide out there and go back down to the bottom again. You DO NOT APPEAR to be moving uphill. You are actually moving uphill. How else could we pick up a guide and go back down the hill? I loved taking guests at midnight on Halloween. Scared the wits out of them!

[Ms J., 06/14/2005]
Gravity Hill

I grew up in Burkittsville, MD, yes the alleged site of "The Blair Witch Project" (it could have taken place in any small town, why mine? -- kinda spoiled the movie for me). Anyway there is a road (Gapland Rd I believe) that leads out of town to a small hill where, if you put your car in neutral, you will appear to move uphill. I'm sure any surveyor could explain why it looks like you are moving uphill. The story behind it as I was told is that the ghosts of dead Union soldiers from the civil war still pushing cannons up the mountain.

[Leaf Joker, 08/03/1999]

Spook Hill

Address:
Gapland Rd, Burkittsville, MD
Directions:
From the downtown square in Burkittsville, drive northwest on W. Main St./Gapland Rd. You'll head uphill and see a large red barn on the left. Drive past the barn, over the crest of the hill, and almost to the bottom of the hill on the other side. Stop, put your car in neutral, and coast backward uphill. Watch out for cars coming over the hill behind you!
Hours:
Public road. Hazard flashers recommended. Use at your own risk. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Save to My Sights

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In the region:
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