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Reportedly, in the late 1800s a man in New York named George Colby was told in a seance that he should found a Spiritualist community in the south. He took off for Florida, guided by his Native American spirit guide, and founded Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp in 1894. He also apparently had Tuberculosis upon arrival, but drank from a local spring and was healed.
What its a Spiritualist Camp? A religious group practicing Spiritualism, a movement popularized in the mid to late part of the 19th century emphasizing communication with the spirit world. While the movement holds its ground in places like Cassadaga, it’s largely fallen out of public favor, probably in large part caused by phony mediums and parlor tricks widely used in the Victorian era.
Fast forward a hundred some odd years, and Cassadaga is still going strong. A community full of certified psychic mediums that regularly holds seances, psychic development classes, and historical tours. They welcome guests with open arms to learn more about their religion and history. You can find out more about their current offerings as well as any questions you may have about their religious beliefs on their website www.cassadaga.org.
In addition to their other classes and offerings, every Sunday they offer a Lyceum or “Sunday school” from 9:30-10:15am, followed by a church service from 10:30-11:45, and then a message service from 12:30-1:30pm. This past Sunday I went to visit for the message service.
I arrived a bit early and had a few minutes to look around the bookstore in front of the room where the message service was held. The bookstore was full of books (obviously), crystals, and various metaphysical items, as well as t-shirts that prove that the town has a sense of humor.
I recommend coming a little bit early to the message service in order to find a seat and enjoy the pot luck lunch they provide (for a suggested donation). The room actually filled up pretty fast, and the good foods went quickly.
(Yes, you can literally drink the kool-aid)
The message service consisted of several mediums and student mediums coming to people in the room and delivering “messages” from the spirit world. Most of the messages involved people working hard towards their goals, but remembering to make time to have fun and enjoy life. I guess that’s probably the ghost advice I would give, too.
I had an older dead lady that was very proud of me and wanted me to keep working at my goals now to see great advancements in the future. She also said things that have been confusing me would clear up in August, so we’ll see.
It was definitely a fun experience and a very warm and welcoming group of people. Also, as you can probably imagine, some pretty great people watching.
After the message service I wandered the grounds a bit. It’s a really charming small town full of adorable old houses, owned and decorated by eccentrics, as well as a main area with a church and several gardens and meditation spots.
Many of the houses also feature a door out of the second floor known as a “spirit door”, intended to release spirits after seances.
While this is a religion and the people here are serious in their beliefs, they’re not afraid to laugh at themselves either.
Another stop that’s definitely worth making while in Cassadaga is the Cassadaga Hotel which is home to Sinatra’s Laldila Ristorane, which is an adorable Italian restaurant/ old timey wine bar that’s reminiscent of the Tower of Terror (in the best possible way). Very Hollywood Regency.
Located just about 30-40 minutes North of Orlando, Cassadaga is an enlightening day trip and welcome reprise from the tourist crowds.
