Favorite Places - Cassadaga


When I have a free day I love to jump in my tiny convertible, drive to Cassadaga, and just soak up the good energy, as well as scarf Italian food and load up on healing crystals.

The community of Cassadaga lies nestled away in Volusia County, somewhere between DeLand and New Smyrna Beach. In 1875 George P. Colby, a medium from New York, was led by his Indian spirit guide "Seneca" to the wilds of Central Florida. There he established the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association, a sister spiritualist camp to the one in Cassadaga, New York.

Known as the Psychic Capital of the World, the community sits on 57 acres and has approximately 55 residences, many that house mediums, spiritualists, and healers. Who knew the Psychic Capital of the World is right here in our back yard?

The Cassadaga Hotel is a charming, 1920s style hotel. Sinatra's Ristorante has decent Italian fare and a full bar. There is also a gift shop and a coffee bar. The ambiance greatly compensates for not-so-great service. You're in Cassadaga so you're not in a hurry anyway.
Cassadaga Hotel

The community has a small-town feel. The hotel, bookstore, and post office are pretty much it other than the residences. The bookstore has a ton of information on local spiritualist classes and workshops. They even have a phone you can use to make an appointment for a reading with one of the resident psychics. I always purchase a few crystals, a book, or a piece of jewelry when I visit the bookstore. Just being in Cassadaga gives me a peaceful, calm feeling. Even if you're a skeptic, the vibe is still good energy.

Over the years I've had two readings from mediums at Cassadaga. Neither were particularly memorable, except one of the mediums had a three-legged cat that stayed in my lap throughout the reading. Still, I would recommend trying it at least once. It's akin to talking to a mental health counselor for an hour, one that can see your thoughts before you voice them (maybe).

The community offers tours from the bookstore but the area is small enough to walk around on your own. My advice would be to hit the bookstore first and see if there are any classes or tours going on you might find interesting. Book an appointment with a medium, then head across the street to the hotel while you're waiting. Browse the gift shop or have a drink at the bar. After your reading, you might feel a little wobbly from the experience (or from the drink you had earlier at the bar). Take a stroll around the community and check out the almost-hidden meditation gardens. End your day with a late lunch or early dinner at Sinatra's. I've never actually stayed in the hotel so I can't comment on the accommodations, except I have it on good authority there is at least one resident ghost. Check out reviews on TripAdvisor if you're inclined to spend the night.

Cassadaga is not a spooky place. It's just a tiny town chockfull of psychics. And it's one of my favorite places.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Just keep swimming!


Comments

  1. CareyAugust 11, 2018 at 7:10 AM

    Interesting read and place regardless of whether you subscribe to the notion of readings or not. Sounds like a relaxing day trip to put on my bucket list. As long as the psychics wandering the town don't tell me where I'm going next and spoil the surprise ;-)

    ReplyDelete

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