THE NINE-TON GATE
CORAL CASTLE, OR ROCK GATE PARK
HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA . PHOTOGRAPH © 2006

"The Nine-ton Gate is truly a monument to Ed's genius. The gate, originally used as a turnstile, is perfectly mounted and balanced so that a child can open it with the touch of a finger -a remarkable achievement considering its size and weight. The gate is approximately 80 inches wide by 92 inches tall and is 21 inches thick. The gate fits within a quarter of an inch of the walls on both sides. The mystery of the Nine-ton Gate has been documented on TV's 'In Search Of', 'That's lncredible' and 'P.M. Magazine.' Publications ranging from Reader's Digest to the National Enquirer have sent reporters to the castle and numerous scientists and engineers have tried to seek the answer to this seemingly impossible feat. No one could discover how the diminuitive creator found the perfect center of gravity enabling the gate to be opened by the simple push of a finger.

"Then, in 1986, the gate stopped opening. A team of engineers was brought in for consultation. In order to remove the gate, six men and a 50 ton crane were utilized. Once the gate was removed. it was discovered that Ed had centered and balanced the nine-ton piece of rock on an old truck bearing. He had drilled an almost perfectly round hole from top to bottom of the eight-foot-tall gate with no electric tools. Today , a laser-contrqlled high speed drill would be used to do the same work.

"The Nine-ton Gate, complete with new bearings, a replaced shaft, new lubrication and a re-bonding of the stone pieces with a state- of-the-art adhesive, was lifted and set back into place on July 23rd, 1986. "... http://www.coralcastle.com