The bastion of slower, less stressful days was born on the frontier of the Spiritualist Awakening of the 1800s. It has become the metaphysical Mecca of choice for many throughout the world. Yet there are people who live close by who have never heard of it. It goes to show that Spirit will always lead people to where they need to go, when they need to go there. Hines Bengtson estimates that perhaps 75,000 people a year from outside the local area visit Cassadaga.
Spiritualism is frequently misunderstood and sensationalized by the media and movies.
Often portrayed as seances done at midnight by odd, antisocial people. The Cassadaga Spiritualists are far from antisocial. Though their little town is replete with somewhat eccentric people following the beats of different drummers. They are a friendly and warm lot who seem to love nothing more than discussing the meaning of life in one of the town's five meditation parks. These parks are set along narrow streets among numerous trees.