Mystery Spot Madness

After the boardwalk, we tried our best to find the Mystery Spot. The guidebook said the Mystery Spot was 3 miles north of Santa Cruz. We're taking a road trip south on Highway 1. We didn't pass the Mystery Spot on the way into Santa Cruz. We didn't even see any signs for it. How could the Mystery Spot be three miles north of the city? This Mystery Spot is starting to seem almost too mysterious.

We tried to ask someone at the boardwalk where we could find the Mystery Spot, but he didn't seem to have any idea what we were talking about. We decided that we should head to the information center, which wasn't where the map indicated. We eventually found the information center, but it was closed! Shel could see the backside of the Mystery Spot pamphlet through the information center window, and she memorized the map. It turns out that the Mystery Spot isn't directly off of Highway 1. It's off of a road off of Highway 1.

We started heading south on Highway 1, and eventually found another information center. This center was also closed, but fortunately the pamphlets were on the outside of the office. We picked one up and checked the time. The mystery spot IS south of downtown Santa Cruz, but it's north of where we were at the information center. It was perhaps 6 or 7 miles away. Shel called the phone number on the Mystery Spot pamphlet. The last tour is at 5:05 pm; we had less than 10 minutes.

We head back up north on Highway 1, and take the exit listed on the pamphlet. We follow the instructions. Take this exit. Make a left at the third light. The clock is ticking, but we're going to make it!

And then we see the detour sign. The road we want to take is closed. The detour takes us around in circles. We call the Mystery Spot phone number again. The person who answers the phone starts bickering with his co-workers about how he's the only one who ever answers the phone. We give up: no Mystery Spot for us.

The Mystery Spot website directions state: MARKET STREET IS CLOSED, THERE IS NO ACCESS.

Why aren't any signs posted anywhere about the Mystery Spot? Why didn't the people at the Mystery Spot let us know the Mystery Spot is inaccessible? Is this all part of the mystery?