Florida has produced some of America's most committed eccentrics. Coral Castle in Homestead is 1,100 tons of limestone carved solo by a 5-foot Latvian immigrant who worked at night for 28 years and refused to explain how he moved the stones. Weeki Wachee Springs has run professional mermaid shows since 1947 in an underground theater cut directly into a spring bank. Solomon's Castle in rural Hardee County took 40 years to build alone — three stories of recycled printing plates with a galleon restaurant floating in the moat. And Cassadaga has been a community of practicing mediums since 1894.
Jump to: Florida's Strangest Attractions · Planning Notes
Florida's Strangest Attractions
Coral Castle Must-see
Miami-Dade County · Homestead
Coral Castle in Homestead is a 1.1-acre compound of sculptures, furniture, and a tower carved from 1,100 tons of oolite limestone — built by Latvian immigrant Edward Leedskalnin between 1923 and 1951 entirely alone, without any powered machinery or construction crew. No one witnessed the construction process; Leedskalnin worked exclusively at night and refused to reveal his methods until his death in 1951. The castle includes a crescent moon fountain, a 28-ton obelisk, a fully functional rocking chair carved from a single stone, a working sundial accurate to within 2 minutes, and a 9-ton swinging gate balanced so precisely that a child can open it with one finger.
Admission is $18/adult; open 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Friday–Saturday. Coral Castle is at 28655 South Dixie Hwy (US-1), Homestead — 30 miles south of Miami and 8 miles north of the Florida Keys Overseas Highway.
Solomon's Castle Must-see
Hardee County · Ona
Solomon's Castle in Ona is a three-story structure built entirely by sculptor Howard Solomon from recycled newspaper printing plates — the aluminum plates give the exterior a glittering silver appearance that changes with the light. Solomon built the castle by hand over 40 years and filled its 12,000 square feet with 90+ metal sculptures, hand-carved wooden chess sets, and stained glass windows made from bottle ends, mirrors, and colored glass. A moat surrounds the castle; a full-scale replica of a Spanish galleon floating in the moat operates as The Boat in the Moat restaurant, serving lunch.
Admission is $15; open October through June only, Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. (closed July–September). Ona is 65 miles south of Tampa on US-17, then east on Hardee County Road 665 — allow 90 minutes from Tampa.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park (Live Mermaid Shows) Must-see
Hernando County · Spring Hill
Weeki Wachee Springs has run live underwater mermaid performances since 1947 — the shows take place in an 11-foot-deep spring chamber where performers breathe through hidden air hoses and follow choreography in 72°F spring water. Newton Perry, a former Navy frogman, started the park by cutting the underground theater into the spring bank and training local women to perform. The main spring discharges 117 million gallons per day; the current production is a fully choreographed 30-minute show with costume changes performed at depth. Shows run 3 times daily year-round in the 400-seat underground theater; Buccaneer Bay water park operates in summer.
Admission is $13/adult; open daily year-round. Spring Hill is 60 miles north of Tampa at the intersection of US-19 and SR-50.
Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Worth the detour
Volusia County · Cassadaga
Cassadaga is a 35-acre community of practicing spiritualist mediums in Volusia County — established in 1894 by George Colby, a medium from New York who arrived following a spirit guide's directions, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district. The camp contains roughly 55 resident mediums who offer readings by appointment from their homes; the Cassadaga Hotel at the center of town posts a directory of available readers with their specialties and session rates ($60–80 for 30 minutes). The Harmony Hall bookstore and the Andrew Jackson Davis Building host public seminars on spiritualism, healing, and metaphysical topics. Free to walk through; Cassadaga is 40 miles northeast of Orlando near DeLand, accessible off I-4 at Exit 114.
Planning Notes
Plan your visit: These attractions are scattered across Florida with no major hub city nearby. Coral Castle in Homestead is 30 miles south of Miami — combine it with an Everglades day trip; the Miami guide covers the metro area and lodging options. Weeki Wachee Springs and Solomon's Castle both work as day trips from Tampa — Weeki Wachee is 60 miles north on US-19, Solomon's Castle is 65 miles south on US-17. Cassadaga is 40 miles northeast of Orlando near DeLand; use Orlando as a base and allow an easy half-day round trip.
