Oregon Tourist Trap Holds Weird Twist

G O L D  H I L L, Ore., March 11 -- Looking for a career change? Interestedin the paranormal? Always admired P.T. Barnum?

Step right up, because Maria Cooper has a deal for you.

For just $2 million, she'll sell you the Oregon Vortex, avenerable roadside attraction off the beaten track where … Broomsstand on end! Balls roll uphill! And walking from one spot toanother makes you shrink or grow!!

Despite its remote location in the wooded hills behind this oldGold Rush town and little advertising, the Oregon Vortex has becomeso well known that Mulder mentioned it on The X Files, and itis widely considered the inspiration for a dozen similarattractions around the country.

Scottish mining engineer John Lister opened the Oregon Vortex asa tourist attraction in 1930 on the site of the Old Grey Eagle GoldMine. He claimed the property was on the confluence of mysteriousforces he called terralines. The story goes that he was sofrightened by what he discovered, he burned his notes before hisdeath.

After Lister died, Cooper's family left a service station andmotel in town and bought the property in 1961, when Cooper wasstill in high school. When her father had heart trouble, she quither job as a psychiatric social worker at a prison and took overthe vortex in 1980.

Cooper, 60, now wants to retire. Her son is more interested incomputers, so she is looking for someone — a family perhaps — tocarry on.

House of Mystery

"There is so much potential here," said Cooper. "There couldbe an espresso bar here. People are always asking about food. Therecould be a hotdog stand. There is nothing to the overhead. It's allnatural setting."

She won't say how many visitors each year pay the $8 admission,beyond "thousands."