Oviedo Lights
Posted: 11.21.2024 | Updated: 11.21.2024
On the outskirts of Central Florida, just northeast of Orlando, brews the unusual tale of the Oviedo Lights, an as-of-yet unexplained phenomenon that first garnered attention during the 1960s.
Along a stretch of country road running from Chuluota to Geneva, weary travelers have spoken of the Oviedo Lights, though what they are and where they originate from has remained a mystery for more than 40 years. The more locals speculate, and the more practical minds seek a corporeal source for the floating lights, the further into the unknown they venture.
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What is the legend of the Oviedo Lights?
Driving north along Snow Hill Road, near the overpass that crosses the Econlockhatchee River, hapless drivers and curious teens have claimed to see a light speeding in their direction. What first appears to be the headlights of another car zooming toward Chuluota morphs into a brighter blue orb. Just as quickly as it appears, the Oviedo Lights vanish into the surrounding darkness. Many speculate as to the origins of the light, citing everything from unverified disappearances to questionable scientific theories.
Speculating the Origins of the Oviedo Lights
Are the lights the product of something otherworldly? Or is there a grounded reason why a mysterious glow may manifest out of seemingly nowhere? The answer to that will vary, depending on who you’re talking to. But, there is no shortage of speculative ideas as to what may have first caused the Oviedo Lights to appear over Snow Hill Road.
Water is known to act as a conduit for the dead, and it would certainly explain some of the more common stories associated with the Oviedo Lights. Ask any Oviedo local about the strange light, though, and it’s likely they’ll attribute it to one of four tall tales. Could it be that the river cutting beneath Snow Hill Road allows a spirit to form and travel down the quiet road?
The Legends of the Oviedo Lights
One of the oldest stories attributed to the spectral lights is that of a poor Cub Scout who had wandered too far from his troop, eventually getting lost in the nearby wilderness. It’s said the light is his lantern, the only illumination he had in his final moments lost in the Florida wilds. It’s one of the more distressing tales thought to be a reason for the Oviedo Lights. But it is far from the only tragic explanation.
Other stories involve fatal car accidents, like one teen who tried to make a game of dashing across Snow Hill Road. Sadly, she misjudged the distance of an oncoming vehicle. There is also the pair of teens whose car careened off the bridge over the Econlockhatchee River, trapping them in the waters below.
The most ominous of the legends follows two young lovers whose car died somewhere on Snow Hill Road. Playing hero in the dead of the Floridian night, the boyfriend left his girlfriend in the car and sought help, figuring he could snag a little gas, refuel, and they’d be on their way. Come daybreak, though, he had yet to return, and upon searching the nearby area, the girlfriend found him brutally slain, his body covered in claw marks.
What if the lights aren’t tied to some local event, after all, but rather a natural phenomenon often used to explain away UFO sightings?
Science Fails to Determine a Source
Marshlands and swampy air aren’t uncommon in Florida. In fact, the presence of water around Snow Hill Road, especially the many bodies in Chuluota, lends to the humid air in the region. So, who’s to say the appearance of odd lights outside of Oviedo isn’t due to the combustion of phosphines as they interact with oxygen?
It’s a natural occurrence common around swampier climates, often found to be the cause for ghost lights like will-o’-the-wisps. The gas forms through the breakdown of organic material, creating a mix of methane and phosphine. Eventually, the phosphine undergoes a quick and visible combustion. While a perfectly reasonable and grounded explanation for the Oviedo Lights, there is one issue — no one has been able to recreate the phenomenon.
In 1969, Florida Technical College, known today as the University of Central Florida, permitted students to dig deeper into the science behind the Oviedo Lights. They were part of the physics department and would have offered a unique perspective beyond the otherworldly origins.
After a series of tests and studying the potential origins of the lights, the students were unable to link them to anything scientific. In fact, the university issued a statement stating there was “insufficient information on which to base a concrete scientific opinion.”
While more practical minds may have failed to define a verifiable cause, the timing of a local tragedy and the first sightings suggest a grizzly source.
The Tragedy of Norbert Hyman
For a true haunting, there must be a catalyst event. The untimely death of Norbert Georg Hyman on July 6, 1963 may tie the Oviedo lights with spirit world.
An Oviedo local, Hyman was only 17 years old when he passed. According to old newspaper clippings, he lost his life when his friend, Richard Eric Pearson, struck him with his vehicle. That July evening, Hyman, Pearson, and three others were out on the quiet road to shoot off fireworks. When their escapade ended, Pearson went to retrieve his car and, for some reason, drove it down Snow Hill Road without the headlights on.
After turning onto the road from a dirt path, Pearson continued down Snow Hill with his lights off. When he came to his three friends on the road, two jumped out of the way, leaving Hyman to be struck.
Hyman passed away from injuries sustained in the accident. His blood seeped into the grounds near the Econlockhatchee River overpass. Of all the legends tied to the Oviedo Lights, Hyman’s is the only verified account, and the nature of the lights fit with how he died. Passersby states that the lights initially look like headlights before merging into one bright blue light as if Hyman is warning others of the dangers he faced that day.
Haunted Orlando
Just outside of Orlando, an illuminated phenomenon has left people stumped for decades. Though sometimes believed to be nothing more than a gag that brings teenagers to the spot just for a laugh, many still stand by their unexplainable encounter on Snow Hill Road. The Oviedo Lights remain today one of Orlando’s most infamous hauntings.
Want to hear more about encounters with the speeding lights of Oviedo or any of Orlando’s cross-dimensional visitors? Book your Orlando ghost tour today. Also, keep up with our journey into the other side of our blog and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more Florida haunts.
Sources:
https://www.ripleys.com/stories/the-oviedo-lights
https://www.newspapers.com/article/orlando-evening-star-norbert-hyman-17/136973692
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