From our list of mysteries disappearances to strange blobs falling out of the sky, Washington has definitely experienced the unexplainable. But what many Washingtonians aren’t aware of is that there’s a mystery hole sitting in the Ellensburg area that’s said to be endless. And while that most likely isn’t true, we’ve never been able to prove that it isn’t.

Ellensburg is a charming college town located in the heart of Central Washington.
Joe Wolf / Flickr
It's a beautiful place and a perfect stop for those driving across the state on I-90, but it rarely makes headlines.
The legend of the "mystery hole" (called "Mel's Hole") began on February 21, 1997, when a man named Mel Waters called into a radio show called Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell.
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr
Waters claimed that he used to own a rural property nine miles west of Ellensburg in Kittitas County that contained a mysterious hole. The hole, he said, had infinite depth and some pretty amazing capabilities.
Art Bell and Mel Waters had several conversations about the hole over the years.
Erin Smith / Flickr
Waters claimed that he measured the hole's depth by using fishing line and a weight, and it was more than 15 miles.

Related Stories

With Endless Board Games, This Incredible Restaurant In Washington Is Perfect For Families

With Endless Board Games, This Incredible Restaurant In Washington Is Perfect For Families

 Escape To The Countryside When You Stay At This Rural Airbnb In Washington

Escape To The Countryside When You Stay At This Rural Airbnb In Washington

 The Largest Pizza In Washington Requires Backup To Finish At Talarico's Restaurant

The Largest Pizza In Washington Requires Backup To Finish At Talarico's Restaurant
Perhaps the strangest claim Waters made was that the hole had the ability to bring dead animals back to life.
Bob Bawell / Flickr
He said a rural resident had tossed his dead dog into the hole only to see it alive later with a hunter. The dog wouldn’t come to him.
According to Waters, the hole's magical properties prompted US "federal agents" to seize the land and pay for his move to Australia.
Marc Smith / Flickr
Waters never told anyone the exact location of the hole. But several people claim to have seen it, including Gerald R. Osborne, a medicine man. But in 2002, Osborne tried and failed to lead a group of people to it.
ocal news reporters who investigated the claims found no public records of anyone named Mel Waters ever owning property in Kittitas County.
madpoet_one / Flickr
And, of course, the hole's depth would be geologically impossible. But according to Waters, there was nothing normal about the hole. Waters told Bell others had seen a black beam coming from the hole and still others claimed portable radios held close the hole’s entrance would play programs and music from the past. Metal held close to the hole’s 9-foot diameter opening would change into other metals or substances. And here's the strangest part: Ellensburg Public Library Historian Milton Wagy admitted that the file on Mel's Hole disappeared from the local library.

So is this mystery hole real, or is it a prank? We may never know. Mel’s Hole remains one of Washington’s unsolved mysteries.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles