It’s literally a … steep hill.

The Mystery Spot is quite interesting. They made a “destination” out of a house that is positioned, sloped on a hill. That said, the “destination” they made it into is quite impressive. Tucked in a redwood forest just outside of Sant Cruz, the Mystery Spot locale includes a large venue from which to spend time at. There’s a sizeable gift shop with all the knickknacks you’d expect, a large snack bar, a covered/spacious seating area that includes plenty of entertainment for the kids, and hiking trails for exploring the forest.The main event, is a guided tour of the “Mystery Spot”. I think the tour costs about $10 and lasts 45 minutes. The tour is fun, corny, repetitive, and highly choreographed. It was definitely enjoyable. The highlight is the slanted house itself. The oddities of it were fun and interesting. Just to be clear, my 10 year old daughter loved this place. In fact, she thought it was the highlight of out Santa Cruz weekend trip and would do it again in a heartbeat. Myself, it was cute and fun, I’m glad I went, but wouldn’t have the need to return. HOT TIP: Download a “level” or “leveling” ap onto your phone. You can use it to verify the slope and positioning of various surfaces during the tour.

The Santa Cruz Mystery Spot's strength is in its merchandising. It's made a name for itself with its simple but recognizable logo, free bumper stickers, and plenty of merch. It kind of does what Rock City in the east does. Rock City has a better attractions, however. The Mystery Spot consists of a short tour that mainly features a crooked house. It can get crowded and booking in advance is probably a good idea. The experience is a fun but light one. The Montana Vortex, for instance, has significantly more stunts and lore involved in the tour. I could see how it would disappoint some, but I'll always appreciate an attraction like this. This is worth a small detour but not a huge one.

Absolutely fascinating! Worth the trip for sure! Intriguing experience. Great tour guide (Maddie). My 15 year old son was engaged and participated in the fun of the experience. Great trip!!

Great place to tour. Worried it was going to be cheesy (it was) and a hoax (it was not). Best part of our trip. Super cool to see, amazing price to get in. When booking, I was curious why the tours were so short but once visiting, it makes sense. Definitely stop by if you're in the area and enjoy the slant!