I discovered the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp maybe ten years ago when I stayed at a friends house in Lake Helen. I spent some time in the Victorian era community again this year when I stayed with Jennifer, who owns one of the 55 homes in the community of spiritually-minded people originally from the Northeast, including a large contingent from a sister community in Lily Dale, NY. The Camp was established in 1894 when George Colby deeded 35 acres in the wilderness to its founders, making it the oldest continuously active religious community in the Southeastern United States.

In 1991 the Camp was designated a Historic District and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Now the Spiritualist Camp is 57 acres with many if its homes occupied by mediums and healers – all of whom have been certified by the SCSCMA.

Believers, skeptics, and the curious are all welcome t. I got the sense they don’t like witches.

Per its website:

   Q - Is Witchcraft or Black Magic part of Spiritualism?

   A - Absolutely not!

Spiritualists believe in Infinite Intelligence, and that nature is an expression of that Infinite Intelligence. The correct understanding of and living in accordance with it constitutes a religion - it “strives to understand and comply with the physical, mental, and spiritual laws of nature, which are the laws of God.”

Spiritualism is described as “a science because it investigates, analyzes, and. Classifies facts and manifestations of Spirit.” And it’s “a philosophy because it studies the laws of nature both on the seen and unseen side of life and bases its conclusions upon present, observed facts.”

Individual identity continues after “the change called death” and communication with the so-called dead is “scientifically proven by the phenomena of Spiritualism.” Spiritualists also affirm the precepts of prophecy and healing contained in the Bible are divine attributes proven through mediumship.

A concentration of psychic energy constitutes a vortex, which can be naturally occurring (Sedona, Stonehenge, the pyramids) or, in the case of the Camp, the psychic and spiritual activities practiced there.  Seneca Park and the Fairy Trail are examples of smaller vortexes on the property..

Over time, metaphysical stores and businesses began around the perimeter of the Camp.  While many of them are owned by like-minded individuals, they are unaffiliated with the Camp. To remain solvent, during the Great Depression, the Cassadaga Hotel was sold. It is still privately owned and separate from the Camp.

A variety of group services are offered in the Colby Memorial Temple.

Jennifer explained the surrounding neighborhood is referred to as Mayberry while the Spiritualist Camp is called the Twilight Zone.

See photos of some of the homes, landmarks, and a few surrounding businesses on Facebook.