Growth has changed North Idaho in many ways. One of them is the loss of places where young lovers could park and make out. So many of those secret little spots are now improved roads, businesses and housing. But there were also spots you could go just to impress your girlfriend, too. One of those was Gravity Hill.
Gravity Hill? There are examples across the country but one local spot was up a dirt road in the hills south of Post Falls. It was a place where you could stop your car, put it in neutral and have your car roll uphill.
Of course it was an optical illusion, but a darn good one. The road looked like you were going downhill but your car was rolling the wrong way. And taking a girl there for the first time left her with an amazed and (usually) delighted impression that you were a clever and in-the-know sort of guy and she sat just a little closer to you on that bench seat. Yes kids, cars used to have bench seats!
I haven't been back to Gravity Hill in well over 30 years and doubt I could even find it anymore. Even so, there's a good chance that has changed and the illusion of rolling uphill is long gone. But it's another good memory of growing up in North Idaho.
If you remember or know of any Gravity Hill's out there anywhere, let me know. There's a little guy that I'd love to take to one.
dw
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Ah, the memories! I know exactly what you mean but I'll have to ask some old friends where it is.
ReplyDelete-Brett
Its still there .. A few homes around there but its still there and work just as well. Really I was driving garbage truck a few years back and I did a route one day and it went right to it ... Put the truck in nuetral and the guy that was with me freaked out the garbage truck was rolling up hill cracked up all day long it was great.
ReplyDeleteSweet. So you have the directions to get there?
ReplyDeleteThere is another gravity hill in Grangeville. I live in Hayden now, but I took my son back to my hometown a few weeks ago and showed him. My six year old thought that was the coolest thing. If your ever down that way take the grageville salmon road towards the skii hill go straight as you pass the drive in about a half or three quarter mile up the road you will start to climb a steep hill turn around and gravity hill starts at the base of that hill headed back towards town. I will keep checking this site I would like to learn were the one is here in this area. have fun
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