Confusion Hill
Encyclopedia
Confusion Hill is a roadside attraction
in Piercy, California
. The attraction includes what is dubbed as a "gravity house," a structure built to give the interior visitors tilt-induced optical illusions, similar to the perspective on a gravity hill
. Occupants experience the need to stand upright when they actually already are.
Also included in the attraction is a 1½ mile narrow gauge railway built in a switchback
layout along the side of a steep hill.
Since its opening in 1949 to 2009, Confusion Hill was directly along the heavily traveled US 101 highway, also known as the Redwood Highway. Due to constant mudslides obstructing the road in this area, US 101 was realigned to the Confusion Hill Bridges
in 2009, thereby bypassing the attraction and requiring motorists to exit the new roadway to visit it. In 2010 Confusion Hill was granted California Points of Historical Interest status by the California Historical Resources Commission.
Roadside attraction
A roadside attraction is a feature along the side of a road, that is frequently advertised with billboards to attract tourists. In general, these are places one might stop on the way to somewhere else, rather than being a final or primary destination in and of themselves. The modern...
in Piercy, California
Piercy, California
Piercy is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California. It is located on the South Fork of the Eel River north-northwest of Leggett, at an elevation of 794 feet ....
. The attraction includes what is dubbed as a "gravity house," a structure built to give the interior visitors tilt-induced optical illusions, similar to the perspective on a gravity hill
Gravity hill
A gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill , is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces the optical illusion that a very slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope...
. Occupants experience the need to stand upright when they actually already are.
Also included in the attraction is a 1½ mile narrow gauge railway built in a switchback
Zig Zag (railway)
A railway zig zag, also called a switchback, is a way of climbing hills in difficult country with a minimal need for tunnels and heavy earthworks. For a short distance , the direction of travel is reversed, before the original direction is resumed.A location on railways constructed e.g...
layout along the side of a steep hill.
Since its opening in 1949 to 2009, Confusion Hill was directly along the heavily traveled US 101 highway, also known as the Redwood Highway. Due to constant mudslides obstructing the road in this area, US 101 was realigned to the Confusion Hill Bridges
Confusion Hill Bridges
The Confusion Hill Bridges are a pair of high bridges carrying two lanes of U.S. Highway 101 over the South Fork Eel River in Mendocino County in the U.S. state of California...
in 2009, thereby bypassing the attraction and requiring motorists to exit the new roadway to visit it. In 2010 Confusion Hill was granted California Points of Historical Interest status by the California Historical Resources Commission.