Defy gravity at America's most paradoxical mystery spots

If you're traveling along I-10 anywhere in the remote vicinity of Benson, you'll no doubt encounter tons of signs asking "WHAT IS 'THE THING'?" No spoilers, but it's a true slice of Americana (think, carnival sideshow fun) and it's super cheap to visit; it'll set you back a mere dollar to answer the burning question, plus there's tons of weird stuff on display. Plus, there's ice cream, gas, kitschy souvenirs, and bathrooms here, so you might as well stop by!

The classic American gravity anomaly, Santa Cruz’s Mystery Spot is a place of wonder at the warping of physics. Try to walk through the tilted cabin without holding on, as your understanding of the physical world threatens to slip away. You may physically – and possibly mentally – lose your grip on everything you thought you knew about gravity, science, and all things generally about the space-time continuum.

In the early 20th century, an assay office in a prime gold panning area slid from its foundation. It is now known as The Mystery House, and is in the heart of the Oregon Vortex – a spherical area of unexplained phenomena. Strangely, visitors to the vortex lean in the direction of magnetic north. Open seven days a week, experience the unnatural any time you are in the Gold Hill area between March 1st and October 1st.

Most of these mystery spots feature a slanted, creepy old cabin. Well, this one has two! After finding the original mystery house in its twisted state, a replica was built to see if it would sustain the same odd disfigurement – and it did! Come see the spot where water flows uphill, butts sit on walls, and trees bend towards an unseen force. Then argue whether it’s magic, mystery, the cosmos, or aliens.. or some mind-blowing combination of all of the above.

As the story goes, three surveyors came from California to St. Ignace to do so surveying in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the 1950s. However, they stumbled across an area where their equipment seemed to go haywire; nothing would sit evenly, and they felt lightheaded. They eventually realized that they had stumbled upon a Mystery Spot. Experience the mind-bending phenomena for yourself, and check out their mini-golf, human maze, and zip lines while you're at it!

Come see the Mystery Hole where people apparently become so “bewildered that they’ve headed in the wrong direction and became lost,” and accidentally locked their keys in their car in a wild haste to experience this natural wonder. Similar to other mystery spots, some claim Mystery Hole has an effect on the psyche: “one lady said it changed her husband from an old grouch to a nice sweet person.” Whether you come for the mystery or a personality change, this mysterious place in the hills will surely intrigue.