{"id":2891,"date":"2014-11-04T12:54:29","date_gmt":"2014-11-04T16:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~travelwriting\/?page_id=2891"},"modified":"2014-11-04T12:54:29","modified_gmt":"2014-11-04T16:54:29","slug":"strange-mysteries-of-coral-castle-draw-visitors-who-seek-elusive-explanations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=2891","title":{"rendered":"Strange mysteries of Coral Castle draw visitors who seek elusive explanations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted on November 4, 2014<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By DONATELA VACCA<\/p>\n

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — As if the story of a tiny 5-foot Latvian man who somehow single-handedly lifted huge stone blocks to create a coral fort isn\u2019t weird enough already, his castle also reveals an uncanny collection of strange inexplicable sculptures that give life to one of Florida\u2019s strangest mysteries.<\/p>\n

Coral Castle, located just north of Homestead, offers a twisted glimpse into the bizarre and lonesome life of Edward Leedskalnin, a solitary and strange man who emigrated to America after his 16-year-old fianc\u00e9 refused his love.<\/p>\n

Surrounded by bushes, flowers and a terracotta floor, this castle looks like a painting taken from Salvador Dali\u2019s world. Full of psychedelic figures like crescent moons, obelisks, telescopes, sundials, bathtubs, tables and even a well, this marvel fits what seems to be normal floor plans of a regular house.<\/p>\n

However, it is far from ordinary since the only comprehensible objects are the entrance gates, the bathtubs and the dining tables. The rest is surreal.<\/p>\n

From the outside, it looks like a typical Floridian coral rock garden, but once the three-ton main gate is crossed the scene is unreal. His mind-blowing creations and figures feed the human imagination and question all rationality in the blink of an eye.<\/p>\n

Leedskalnin and his castle are great enigmas, since nobody really knows how this fragile man was able to build this monolithic shrine all on his own, or even how his deadly tuberculosis disappeared a few months after he moved to Florida. According to him, his illness was partly cured due to the effects of the magnetic energy the Coral Castle area had.<\/p>\n

Some believe it was magic, some say it was the force of magnetic fields and some say it is plain physics. Still, it is precisely this eerie and bizarre factor that draws most visitors into this dreamlike fortress.<\/p>\n

Juliana Moncada, a 30-year-old tourist who considers herself a queer traveler, said she didn\u2019t just stumble upon the castle. Instead, before venturing into Miami\u2019s best, she decided to look up the strangest things to do when this came up.<\/p>\n

\"Juliana<\/a>

Juliana Moncada’s partner stands under the “main gate” that serves as the entrance into Coral Castle (Photo by Donatela Vacca).<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t really know this existed, but I came looking for it. The fact that this spindly man was able to put all this together with his bare hands is definitely see-to-believe material. It\u2019s very alluring to wonder how on earth he was able to transport these rocks from his other property miles away,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m attracted to all things eerie and it is obvious the place itself already carries a certain unearthly hunch, so it\u2019s a must see,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Moncada explained that she thinks bizarre things are always attractive to the human brain. She said we are always looking for answers and explanations and, whenever we can\u2019t get them, we become fascinated. This is the reason why she likes visiting places as weird and unfathomable as this one.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a certain charm and uniqueness to the whole bizarre thing, not to mention how intriguing it is that this man recreated the solar system out of coral rocks inside the grounds of his own house,\u201d Moncada said.<\/p>\n

Matthew Potts, a junior majoring in marketing at the University of Miami, visited the castle in search of spontaneous, fun and new things to experience. He explained that weird is sometimes cool.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first impression of Coral Castle was that it was extremely weird but in a cool way. I was mostly surprised that it was located in the middle of a residential neighborhood,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Mathew<\/a>

Mathew Potts points in the direction of Saturn as he proudly sits among the planets of the solar system created by Leedskalnin (Photo courtesy of Matt Potts).<\/p><\/div>\n

Just like Moncada, Potts was drawn in by the enigma that Coral Castle has become.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really enjoyed learning about the history of the castle and about the mystery behind how he moved such big pieces of rock all by himself. It was definitely a unique experience because it\u2019s a one of a kind structure,\u201d Potts said.<\/p>\n

Some people wonder how Leedskalnin accomplished this or for what purpose he did it, but most just wonder what is the meaning behind all the strange sculptures inside the castle grounds. Some visitors are even taken aback by the fact that such a strange and peculiar place is located in the middle of a dull suburban neighborhood.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really enjoyed the story behind Coral Castle as well as the structures and plants that make it up.\u00a0I think the castle is a mildly psychedelic place. The nature and the textures of the castle itself are probably its most psychedelic qualities. Also, the mere fact that such a strange place exists is pretty trippy,\u201d said Potts.<\/p>\n

Originally called the Rock Gate Park, this place has been luring people in since the 1940s for what used to be just 10 cents. Up to this day Leedskalnin\u2019s creation has succeeded in maintaining its popularity thanks to its odd architecture and characteristics, but some visitors explain that this place is certainly not for everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not sure if other people would enjoy Coral Castle as much as I did. I feel like most people don’t enjoy bizarre stories about lonely heartbroken old people and weird sculptures,\u201d said Potts.<\/p>\n

Moncada explained that although this place is amazingly interesting, not everyone enjoys such bizarreness and thus the essence of the castle is lost.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know this place has become super popular, so I am sure most guests enjoy it. However, like every other place I have visited, not everyone seems to understand it. Some people are just in plain awe and confusion, and you can see it in their faces,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The castle grounds are not very large, however they have indeed become a striking figure in the middle of the plain neighborhood of Leisure City near Homestead.<\/p>\n

Coral Castle has become really popular and it is open for visitors, guided tours and even weddings, receptions and parties. It is open Sunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

The entrance fees range from $7 to $15 depending on the age of each visitor, but for less than $20 curious tourists can immerse themselves in a world of wonder, awe and fascination a few hours away from modern civilization.<\/p>\n

There is a rumor that some travelers have felt the presence of a certain magnetic field inside the castle grounds, especially around the big gates. However, there is no other way of proving this rather than venturing out and visiting this shrine.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t really explain what you feel. It\u2019s like a ghostly presence or a cold rush of air even though no one\u2019s there. It is a visually dynamic place that will most certainly spark imagination and amusement during the perfect getaway day trip for any South Floridian,\u201d Moncada concluded.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>

An almost panoramic view shows how psychedelic the castle looks from the distance, including the solar system and the top of the thirty-ton stone arch (Photo by: Donatela Vacca).<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0If You Go<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coral Castle Museum<\/strong><\/p>\n