Roadside Oddities: Oregon Vortex

The House of Mystery was originally an assay office for the Old Grey Eagle Mining Company in 1904.

In the 1920's John Lister, a mining engineer, geologist & physicist developed the area and opened it up to the public in the 1930's.

Mister Lister performed many experiments in the area surrounding the vortex until his death in 1959.

Among many of the illusions of the house of mystery, the tour guide insists that the phenomena is real and active??

Many skeptics attribute the effect to a phenomena called forced perspective, as in an Ames Room.

Many times throughout the tour you are reminded that the original proprietor of the Oregon Vortex had much correspondence with Albert Einstein.

This may be true, but you are led to believe that the conversation revolved around the vortex itself, but after further investigation you may find out differently.

The conversations that were held between "Big Al" and the proprietor probably had to do with perception of perspective and how humans perceive thier surroundings.

Without reading the correspondence, (which isn't available to the tour), my guess is much of what was exchanged between the two probably revolved around quantum mechanics & a humans perception of distorted space/time since this was a interest of Einstein.

None the less science or illusion the effect is real and it really does amaze all!

For those who get upset tummies I do not recommend entering the House of Mystery as the effect does affect balance and perception. I almost fell down twice!

This is a MUST see to believe destination!

photos courtesy of vandegraeff