Spirit Hill

From USAFA Folklore

Spirit Hill is a manmade hill located in the southeast corner of the grass square in the middle of the Terrazzo, near the F-4 static display. It is about 15 feet high.

According to the Academy's National Historic Landmark application, Spirit Hill was created in 1956 as part of the landscape plan developed by Dan Kiley. The understanding among cadets is that it was put in place to deflect the strong winds that were damaging the roof of Mitchell Hall. However, a much less mundane explanation is sometimes offered up by cadets - that Spirit Hill contains a missile silo, or that it is a mass grave for basic cadets who fail BCT.

[edit] "Taking Spirit Hill"

Occasionally, during Noon Meal Formation, cadets of one class (usually the fourth class, and once in a year the first class) would break ranks and sprint to the top of the hill, creating a general ruckus and making a scene.

[edit] Accounts

• So the 4 degrees decided to take the hill today and I guess they had gotten it pre-approved. First they went for wing staff and, I'm assuming, the gold sabre. Then the direction of the herd changed and they took off from the class wall toward spirit hill. About 1/2 of them were still running when the sprinklers came on. It was beautiful. So the one thing even remotely considered a spirit mission all year was countered with an even better one from Wing Staff. I'm thoroughly impressed. - 13 April 2004