Danville is the site of major historical significance. From Civil War sites to museums, learning about the town's historical role in Virginia is not hard to do. But fewer people know about the weirdness that is the Oak Hill and Berry Hill intersection. This is the site of Gravity Hill in Virginia, an intersection where the rules of gravity seem to bend a bit. Here's more on this baffling place that has evolved into an urban legend in Virginia.
Turn off U.S. 58 and you'll find Oak Hill road off Berry Hill. What may appear to be an ordinary intersection is really quite bizarre. If a stopped car is put in neutral — no foot on brakes or accelerator — it will be slowly pulled uphill. This is the inspiration behind the name Gravity Hill in Virginia.
Some years back, a Pittsylvania sheriff by the name of Vic Ingram decided to investigate for himself. Having lived in the neighborhood, he had known about the "magical aspect" of Gravity Hill in Virginia for awhile.
Ingram was accompanied by a skeptical police agent, who verified the phenomenon with testing equipment. According to Ingram, the strangest part is that the vehicle will begin to gain speed as it continues to be pulled forward.
Folklore tells the tale of a witch who used to live in the area. She caused trouble for the residents, who decided to have her hanged at the current site of Gravity Hill. The upward pull, legend says, is actually the witch trying to lure locals to their doom.
Ryan Doan, contributing author to "Weird Virginia," recounts his unusual experience at Gravity Hill. He writes, "I followed their directions to the nearby stop sign that marked the end of the road and the spot where the effectors of Gravity Hill would work. And it did. It did all too well. My rental car, in neutral, rolled back up the hill. That wasn't as frightening as the random mileage I noticed on my speedometer as I sped away. The digital indicator showed the number 666.1. I noticed this as I was photographing what I suspected to be the 'witch's' house that is part of the legend, exactly 0.1 miles from Gravity Hill."
So is Gravity Hill just an optical illusion or is there some science-defying force at play? You may just have to visit this site and see for yourself...just be sure to double check for traffic before experimenting!
Have you visited Gravity Hill in Danville, Virginia? Be sure to share your experience in the comments below!
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