And "creepy".
My understanding of Cassadaga prior to our visit was one that sounded like, "Miss Cleo lives there!" Or something. As in, it's where you would go if you ever need your fortune told. Or if you ever want to communicate with a loved one that had passed on.
Entrance to Cassadaga
After the visit, I can say that I now have a better understanding of what Spiritualism actually is. And though I am still skeptical of it, I do respect it. After all, everyone is entitled to their own belief system, as long as it doesn't harm those around them.
So, what is Spiritualism?
"Spiritualism’s main focus is to promote an individual’s personal experience with God.
Spiritualism is a religion that is not based on a relationship with a particular savior. [...] Rather, it is based upon the idea that we are all to form our own relationship with God, and to obtain guidance and accept responsibility for our actions based on our interaction with that personal guidance."
- Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp website
On the corner of Spiritualist and Mediumship
Cassadaga itself is simply a town North of Orlando, so there is no admission fee to go there and explore on your own (and at your own risk!). However, if you would like to take a historic tour of the area, or get a reading or healing, fees are involved. The Historic Tour costs $15/person and is approximately 90 minutes long. It takes place on Saturdays at 1 and 3pm.
At the beginning of the Historic Tour, the guide will go through an album filled with photographs from various Nighttime Orb tours, or his own adventures, or people that have gone on their own adventures in the area. This is perhaps to wet your appetite for curiosity so that you will sign up for the later tour.
Personally, even though I had chills running down my spine as we were going through the photo album, I also had to try my darn-est to keep my eyebrow from raising. Because, honestly, they look like dust floating around. He said that they can't be because of their perfectly round shape and the different colors, but, I'm not 100% convinced. He also said there were faces in the orbs (they provide a magnifying glass for you to further inspect), and though we said "oooh! that's cool!" we couldn't actually see anything. Oops.
Twin walkways
After all the introductory stuff, the guide will take you down the main street for a walking tour. He'll point out various landmark buildings, and the locations of other significant things that have happened. Some of the stories remind me of the ghost stories that you and your friends would tell around the campfire.
[Insert The Twilight Zone theme]
From the outside, and without any prior knowledge of Cassadaga, one would most likely think that it's just a regular ol' small town in Florida. Because the houses and other buildings don't look very different from others built around that time. It's only when you dig a little deeper that you realize how special the town actually is.
Cassadaga Church
Our Recommendation
Visit Cassadaga if, and only if, you are truly curious. Otherwise, it's not something that you will feel you missed greatly on.
Address
Cassadaga, FL
Travel Time
45 minutes to 1 hour
Exploration Time
If you include the tour, 2 to 3 hours.
What’s Nearby?
- Blue Springs State Park
- Deltona, FL
Additional Info
Official Site
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