The Mel's Hole — A Bottomless Pit in Washington State — Paranormal History

What Is Mel’s Hole?

Mel’s Hole is an allegedly bottomless pit located in the rural countryside near Ellensburg, Washington. The story of the hole first gained widespread attention in 1997, when a man named Mel Waters called into the Coast to Coast AM radio show—a popular late-night program dedicated to paranormal and unexplained phenomena—and described a mysterious pit on his property that appeared to have no bottom. According to Waters, the hole was so deep that objects dropped into it never made a sound when they hit the bottom, and dead animals that were lowered into it were returned alive under mysterious circumstances.

The story of Mel’s Hole quickly captured the imagination of the paranormal community and the general public, and it became one of the most discussed and debated topics in the history of the Coast to Coast AM program. The claims surrounding the hole—ranging from its impossible depth to the bizarre phenomena associated with it—have been both celebrated as evidence of the unexplained and dismissed as an elaborate hoax. Regardless of its veracity, Mel’s Hole remains one of the strangest and most compelling stories in paranormal history.

History

The First Radio Broadcast: February 1997

The story of Mel’s Hole began on the night of February 21, 1997, when Mel Waters called into the Coast to Coast AM radio show, hosted by Art Bell. The program was dedicated to discussing paranormal phenomena, unexplained mysteries, and fringe science, and it attracted a large and dedicated audience of listeners who were fascinated by the strange and the unexplained.

Waters, who identified himself as a resident of the Ellensburg area, described a hole on his property that he claimed was bottomless. He said that the hole was approximately nine feet in diameter and was lined with stones, giving it the appearance of an old well. However, when he attempted to measure its depth by dropping objects into it, he found that nothing he threw in ever made a sound when it hit the bottom. He estimated that the hole was at least 80,000 feet deep—far deeper than any known natural or man-made shaft.

Waters also described several bizarre phenomena associated with the hole. He said that when he lowered a dead animal into the pit using a rope, the animal was returned to the surface alive, apparently unharmed and wearing a different collar than the one it had been buried with. He also claimed that a black beam of energy occasionally shot out of the hole, reaching a height of approximately 900 feet before dissipating. These claims, combined with the hole’s impossible depth, made for a sensational radio broadcast that captured the attention of listeners across the country.

The Second Broadcast: March 1997

Waters called into Coast to Coast AM a second time in March 1997, providing additional details about the hole and the phenomena associated with it. He described the hole as being located in a remote, forested area near Ellensburg, and he said that it had been used by the local Native American community as a burial site. He also claimed that the hole had a supernatural quality—healing properties that could cure diseases and injuries.

During this broadcast, Waters also described his interactions with the military, which he said had become interested in the hole after his radio appearances. He claimed that men in military uniform had visited his property, questioned him about the hole, and ultimately seized his land under the pretext of eminent domain. He said that he had been threatened with arrest if he spoke publicly about the hole, and he expressed fear for his safety.

The second broadcast generated even more interest and speculation than the first, and it cemented the story of Mel’s Hole in the annals of paranormal history. The combination of the hole’s impossible depth, the bizarre phenomena associated with it, and the alleged military cover-up made for a compelling narrative that resonated with listeners and researchers alike.

The Spread of the Story

Following the Coast to Coast AM broadcasts, the story of Mel’s Hole spread rapidly through the paranormal community and the mainstream media. The story was picked up by newspapers, magazines, and television programs, and it became a topic of discussion on internet forums and websites dedicated to the unexplained.

The story also attracted the attention of researchers and investigators, who attempted to locate the hole and verify Waters’ claims. Some researchers traveled to the Ellensburg area and conducted searches of the surrounding countryside, but they were unable to find the hole. Others attempted to contact Waters directly, but he became increasingly reclusive and difficult to reach after his radio appearances.

The Mystery

The Bottomless Pit: How Deep Is It?

The most astonishing claim about Mel’s Hole is its alleged depth. Waters estimated that the hole was at least 80,000 feet deep—far deeper than any known natural or man-made shaft. The deepest known mine in the world, the Mponeng gold mine in South Africa, is approximately 13,000 feet deep, and the deepest borehole ever drilled, the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia, reached a depth of approximately 40,000 feet. If Mel’s Hole is truly as deep as Waters claimed, it would be an anomaly that defies geological explanation.

The claim that objects dropped into the hole never make a sound when they hit the bottom has been interpreted in various ways. Some have suggested that the hole may be connected to an underground water system, and that objects falling into it are cushioned by water. Others have proposed that the hole may be a geological anomaly—a natural formation that extends deep into the Earth’s crust—or that it may be something more exotic, such as a portal to another dimension or a black hole.

The Resurrection of Dead Animals

One of the most disturbing and fascinating claims about Mel’s Hole is that dead animals lowered into it were returned to the surface alive. Waters described several instances in which he or others had placed dead animals—including a cat and a dog—into the hole, only to have them returned days later, alive and apparently unharmed.

The most dramatic of these claims involved a dead dog that Waters said he had lowered into the hole. According to Waters, the dog was returned to the surface two days later, alive and wearing a different collar than the one it had been buried with. The dog reportedly behaved normally and showed no signs of injury or distress, as though it had never been dead at all.

These claims have been met with skepticism by scientists and researchers, who point out that the resurrection of dead animals would violate the fundamental laws of biology and physics. However, the consistency of Waters’ accounts, combined with the unusual circumstances of the case, has led some researchers to take the claims seriously and to investigate the possibility that the hole may have properties that are not understood by modern science.

The Black Beam

Another bizarre phenomenon associated with Mel’s Hole is the black beam of energy that Waters claimed occasionally shot out of the hole. According to Waters, the beam reached a height of approximately 900 feet before dissipating, and it was visible as a dark, column-like structure that appeared to be made of some kind of energy or matter.

The black beam has been interpreted in various ways. Some have suggested that it may be a natural phenomenon—possibly a geyser or a column of gas venting from the Earth’s crust. Others have proposed that it may be a sign of some kind of energy or force emanating from the hole, possibly related to the paranormal properties that Waters described. The black beam remains one of the most mysterious and unexplained aspects of the Mel’s Hole story.

The Military Cover-Up

Waters’ claims about the military’s involvement in the Mel’s Hole story have added another layer of mystery to the case. According to Waters, men in military uniform visited his property after his radio appearances, questioned him about the hole, and ultimately seized his land under the pretext of eminent domain. He said that he had been threatened with arrest if he spoke publicly about the hole, and he expressed fear for his safety.

The military’s alleged interest in the hole has led some researchers to speculate that the government may have been aware of the hole’s properties and may have sought to control or study it. This theory is consistent with other alleged government cover-ups of paranormal phenomena, and it has fueled speculation that the hole may have been the site of secret experiments or research.

However, the military’s involvement has not been independently verified, and it remains unclear whether Waters’ claims about the government’s actions are accurate. The lack of corroborating evidence, combined with Waters’ increasing reclusiveness, has made it difficult to assess the veracity of his claims.

Evidence and Investigations

Attempts to Locate the Hole

Following the Coast to Coast AM broadcasts, numerous researchers and investigators attempted to locate Mel’s Hole and verify Waters’ claims. The searches were concentrated in the rural countryside near Ellensburg, Washington, where Waters said the hole was located. However, despite extensive searches of the area, no one was able to find the hole.

Some researchers have suggested that the hole may have been deliberately concealed or destroyed by the military after Waters’ radio appearances. Others have proposed that Waters may have been mistaken about the location of the hole, or that the hole may have been a natural formation that has since been filled in or covered by vegetation.

“We searched the area around Ellensburg for weeks, but we were unable to find anything that resembled the hole that Waters described. Either the hole has been deliberately concealed, or it never existed in the first place.” — Investigator, Coast to Coast AM, 1997

Analysis of Waters’ Claims

The claims made by Mel Waters have been the subject of extensive analysis and debate. Some researchers have argued that the story is entirely fictional—a hoax created by Waters to gain attention or to perpetuate a urban legend. They point out that the claims are inconsistent with known scientific principles, that no physical evidence has been produced to support them, and that Waters has been unable or unwilling to provide specific details about the hole’s location.

Others have argued that the story may have a basis in fact, even if some of the more sensational details have been exaggerated or embellished. They note that Waters’ accounts were consistent across multiple radio broadcasts, and that his descriptions of the hole and its properties were detailed and specific. The fact that Waters became reclusive and difficult to contact after his radio appearances has been interpreted by some as evidence that he was telling the truth and was silenced by the authorities.

The Legacy of Mel’s Hole

Regardless of its veracity, the story of Mel’s Hole has had a lasting impact on the paranormal community and the broader culture. The story has been the subject of numerous articles, books, and documentaries, and it has become a touchstone for discussions about the unexplained and the limits of human knowledge.

The story has also inspired others to search for similar phenomena, and it has contributed to a broader interest in the possibility of natural anomalies that defy scientific explanation. Whether Mel’s Hole is real or fictional, it remains one of the most fascinating and thought-provoking stories in the history of paranormal research.

What Do You Think?

Mel’s Hole is one of the most bizarre and unexplained stories in paranormal history. The claims surrounding the hole—a bottomless pit, dead animals coming back to life, a black beam of energy, and a military cover-up—are so extraordinary that they challenge the boundaries of what we consider possible.

Some believe that the story is a hoax, created by a creative individual to gain attention and perpetuate an urban legend. Others argue that the story may have a basis in fact, and that the hole’s properties—however extraordinary—may be real but simply not understood by modern science.

The truth about Mel’s Hole may never be known. The hole has never been found, and Mel Waters has largely disappeared from public view. But the story endures, a tantalizing glimpse into the possibility that the world contains mysteries that are far stranger than we can imagine.

Summary

Mel’s Hole is an allegedly bottomless pit near Ellensburg, Washington, first described on Coast to Coast AM in 1997
The hole was claimed to be over 80,000 feet deep, with dead animals allegedly returning to life
A black beam of energy allegedly shot out of the hole, reaching 900 feet
The military allegedly seized the property and silenced Waters
Bottom line: Mel’s Hole is one of the strangest and most unexplained stories in paranormal history, a tale of impossible depth and mysterious phenomena that continues to fascinate and mystify