There are places on this Earth that challenge our understanding of the world, inspire our curiosity, and ignite a sense of wonder. One such place is the enigmatic Mel's Hole, which has been the subject of numerous myths and legends. Investigations show that the story is invented.
Unraveling the Birth of the Legend
Nearly two decades ago, a peculiar tale surfaced about a seemingly endless pit located on Manastash Ridge near Ellensburg. Today, ask any local about Mel's Hole, and you are likely to hear a story filled with supernatural occurrences, government plots, and even resurrected creatures. Conversely, the skeptics may offer a dismissive sigh and a rational explanation debunking the folklore.
Those who continue to spread the myth either can't or won't disclose the precise location of this alleged supernatural pit. However, an esteemed state geologist, Jack Powell, suggests a less threatening, genuine hole near Ellensburg that may have sparked the legend. He also contends that the modern rural lore -- often shared on late-night AM radio -- defies geological possibility.
The Astonishing Claims
The enigma of Mel's Hole began on February 21, 1997, when a man calling himself Mel Waters, supposedly from the Ellensburg region, appeared on the nationally syndicated AM talk show, "Coast to Coast with Art Bell." Bell's show was known for its eccentric and conspiracy-laden narratives.
Waters narrated a fascinating tale about an inexplicable pit on his rural land approximately nine miles west of Ellensburg. He claimed that federal government agents confiscated the land without providing any reason - whether the hole posed a hazard, was crucial to national security, or both. According to Waters, the government's cover story was that the land was the old site of a crashed aircraft.
Waters asserted that despite locals using the hole as a dumping ground for years, it possessed paranormal properties. He recounted a story of a rural dweller who threw his deceased dog into the pit, only to later see it alive with a hunter.
Waters also claimed to have conducted an experiment where he lowered a weighted fishing line into the pit. After running out of several reels of heavy line at over 80,000 feet, he was still unable to reach the bottom.
These intriguing details captivated the Kittitas Valley listeners, making the show a hot topic in Ellensburg for weeks.
The Site of the Mystery
Waters, and those who have claimed to have located the hole, have never publicly disclosed its exact location. They have only stated that it lies on Manastash Ridge, approximately nine to ten miles southwest of Ellensburg.
Reintroducing Jack Powell, the state Department of Natural Resources geologist from Ellensburg, who was among the audience during one of Mel Waters' earliest "Coast-to-Coast" AM shows. His interest piqued, he thought he knew the location of the hole.
Powell, who grew up in the Kittitas Valley, played around an old gold mine shaft in his childhood that went down at an angle into a field northwest of Ellensburg. He estimated that the shaft on the valley floor was likely 90 feet deep or more, and it could have been as deep as 300 feet when it was an active mine.
Debunking the Myth
Upon hearing on the radio show that Mel's Hole was located on Manastash Ridge and was over 80,000 feet deep, Powell could not contain his disbelief. He was aware that the deepest mine shaft in the world was 12,672 feet, and the deepest known cavern was 7,188 feet. The Russians drilled the deepest borehole, reaching 40,230 feet in 1989.
Geologically and physically it's not plausible for a hole to be that deep as it would collapse under the immense pressure and heat from the surrounding strata.
He speculated that whoever Mel Waters was, he probably knew about the hole northwest of Ellensburg that's on private property, fenced with barbed wire, and is not far from state DNR lands.
"I suppose this Mel Waters used the real hole as a kind of inspiration for making up his mysterious one on Manastash Ridge," Powell inferred.
Believers in the Mel's Hole legend remain undeterred, reflecting the enduring power of myth and the human fascination with the unexplained. As the story of Mel's Hole continues to circulate, it invites us to a deep reflection on the ancestral hold of myths or conspiracies often without any logical basis on the population. We, at FreeAstroScience, will never cheat you with illogical and nonsensical beliefs, but will always propose scientifically proven facts. Follow us to expand your knowledge.
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