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46. House of Mystery A tour of the House of Mystery at the Oregon Vortex outside Gold Hill may alter your perceptions. [Mail Tribune / file photo] Friday May 26, 2017 at 12:01 AM If you marvel at the unexplained, consider a trip to the Oregon Vortex. Located outside Gold Hill, the House of Mystery — aka Oregon Vortex — provides a peek into a strange world where the improbable is possible and physical facts seem to be turned upside down. Open to the public since 1930, it’s an area of visual and perceptual phenomena that will challenge your theories and beliefs. The Oregon Vortex is billed as a spherical field of force located half above the ground, and half below. Visitors will experience phenomena that defy physics — such as balls that appear to roll uphill — and can catch it all on film. According to the Oregon Vortex website, the structure was built in 1904 by the Old Grey Eagle Mining Company as an assay office and tool-shed. The company stopped mining gold in 1911. A few years later the assay office slid off its foundation on an angle and has been that way ever since. In 1930, it became known as The House of Mystery. Tours of the vortex last 45 to 60 minutes and are fully guided. A discount is available for prearranged groups of 15 or more, but they must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance to take advantage of the group discount. For more information about the Oregon Vortex and the House of Mystery, call 541-855-1543 or see www.oregonvortex.com. It's located at 4303 Sardine Creek Left Fork Road outside of Gold Hill. Summer hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week. Admission costs $12.75, $9 for kids 6 to 11, $10.75 for seniors, and free for children 5 and younger.