Confusion Hill

Confusion Hill is a roadside attraction located in Piercy, California.^[1]

History[]

The attraction was opened in 1949 and included what was dubbed as a "gravity house", a structure built to give visitors tilt-induced optical illusions, similar to the perspective on a gravity hill. Visitors would experience the need to stand upright when they actually already are. The attraction also included a Mountain Train Ride which was a narrow gauge built into a switchback layout along the side of a steep hill.

For 60 years, Confusion Hill was on the heavily traveled US 101 highways, known as the Redwood Highway. Because of repeated mudslides obstructing the road, US 101 was finally realigned in 2009 to the Confusion Hill Bridges, bypassing the attraction. In 2010, Confusion Hill was made a historical landmark.

Gravity Falls[]

Ian Worrel Mystery Shack Concept Art — First Mystery Shack design by Ian Worrel based on Confusion Hill

Confusion Hill has a long history of association with Gravity Falls. During development of the show, Confusion Hill heavily inspired early designs of the Mystery Shack. The crew would eventually visit the roadside attraction in 2013 during Mystery Tour; a 4-day roadtrip taken in between production of season 1 and 2 that helped the crew with backgrounds and design ideas for season 2. The crew left a signed season 1 poster, signed group photo and Dipper hat there following their visit which remain up.

In August 2016, during the global Cipher Hunt, Confusion Hill was the location the tenth clue fans needed to find. A group of fans went there early in the morning, but had to wait around for it to open. After they got in, they discovered a jar containing fake eyeballs in the gift shop which was located on a shelf behind the register. However, they needed to know a certain password to buy it. The password was "FILBRICK," the word written in invisible ink on the back of Stan Bucks packaged with the 2,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Using the password, a fan retrieved the eyeball jar and found the clue written on the bottom of it.^[2] Alex Hirsch stated that fans would get a prize if they took a selfie with the picture of the Gravity Falls crew framed in the gift shop at Confusion Hill from Mystery Tour. The clue said: "WHERE HAS MY GRUNKLE GONE? / TO STANLEY ST. IN OREGON / A TELEPHONE POLE IS WHERE HE'S AT / WHY'D HE HAVE TO BOLT LIKE THAT?" The jar has since gone missing after being displayed there for a while after.

Alex Hirsch Bill Cipher Statue at Confusion Hill — Bill Cipher Statue residing at Confusion Hill

Following the completion of Cipher Hunt and discovery of the Bill Cipher Statue, Alex Hirsch donated it to Confusion Hill after it was removed from its initial home of Reedsport, Oregon, by local police (which Alex Hirsch referred to as Bill Cipher being retired to Confusion Hill after being arrested). The statue has remained there ever since and has become a pilgrimage spot for fans.^[3] Confusion Hill also is home to the treasure chest found below the statue (which is now used by fans visiting to give and take merchandise and fanmade stuff for the show) and the 2,000 piece Bill Cipher puzzle which was put on display there after being completed.

In 2020, after facing several major financial hurdles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Confusion Hill was at risk of closing down. To help save the business, Alex Hirsch and Gravity Falls fans helped set up a GoFundMe. The target goal was raised and exceeded. Confusion Hill continues to celebrate its association to Gravity Falls and regularly refers to it and the statue on their social medias.

In 2024, The Book of Bill tie in website This Is Not A Website Dot Com contained a computer where if the words "MYSTERY SHACK" were inputted in it, the website redirects to a Google search for Confusion Hill.