Thrill Hill
St. Petersburg, Fla.

Tell your kids you're taking them to Florida, and they'll look forward to Disney World, Universal, Busch Gardens and the beach.  Take them over St. Petersburg's Thrill Hill, and that's probably what they'll be talking about on the ride home.

Since 1931 (or is it 1926?), automobiles have been zipping up and over a steep but short bridge along 3rd Street in St. Petersburg.  Back in the earliest days, trolley cars did, too.  In fact, that's how the bridge gained its name.  The incline was such a challenge for the railcars that they didn't always make it over, and when they did, the passengers were thrilled.

As you approach the bridge, you don't receive much warning.  A road sign advises 25 miles per hour is the safe speed (10 miles below the speed limit). 

On the other side (headed north), the only warning is the word SLOW painted in bold letters on the pavement, just as you begin to climb uphill.  It seems like I can recall, at one time, there was a flashing yellow light above the road, on a wire.  I guess that drew too much attention.

So why does Thrill Hill exist in the first place? The bridge serves a purpose: it crosses Salt Creek, and was built to be high enough to allow small boats to pass underneath.  Nowadays though, that seems almost pointless, since just one block away, 4th street crosses the creek with a flat overpass, leaving no room for nautical traffic.

It's really quite amazing that Thrill Hill is still around.  The city could have easily declared it a safety hazard, knocked it down, and built a level bridge.  St. Petersburg deserves a lot of credit for keeping, and even improving, the old bridge.  In 2002, it widened the structure, to allow plenty of room for pedestrians (or even a police car) on either side or the road.  And in early 2006, there was talk of beautifying the bridge with panels of artwork and several lampposts.

How fast should you travel over Thrill Hill?  Well, 25, of course, since that's what the sign says.  At that speed you should receive a small thrill.  Increase to 35 and your stomach will briefly be separated from your body.  At 40 or higher, you'd better hope your car's suspension is in good shape.

One time (and I will only admit to this since the statute of limitations is far past) I took a 16-passenger van, full of kids, over the hill.  They loved it, of course.  Then I went back for a second pass.  Again, thrilling.  The third time, I decided to really punch it.  I may have hit the hump at 45, maybe even faster.  As the van crested the hill, everyone experienced a brief moment of zero gravity.  A couple of the kids even bumped their heads on the roof of the van.  And, when the front wheels finally re-gained contact with the pavement (that's right, I caught some airtime!) the suspension made the most awful scrunching sound I've ever heard.  It was great.  From then on, I could always convince the kids to behave--just promise them a trip over Thrill Hill as their reward.