Mel's Hole is, according to an urban legend, an American "bottomless pit" near Ellensburg, Washington. Claims about it were first made on the radio show Coast to Coast AM in 1997 by a guest calling himself Mel Waters. Later investigation revealed no such person was listed as residing in that area, and no credible evidence has been given that the hole ever existed. such as self-described "intertribal medicine man" Gerald Osborne, also known as Red Elk, who told reporters in 2012 he visited the hole many times since 1961 and claimed the US government maintained a top secret base there where "alien activity" occurs.

Investigation

In 2002, a group of thirty people led by Gerald Osborne undertook an expedition to find the hole, but were unable to locate it. Geologist Pat Pringle doubted Waters' story about having lowered of fishing line into a hole, saying that the heat of the Earth would have snapped it before it could reach such a depth.

See also

  • Well to Hell hoax
  • Skinwalker Ranch, a similar paranormal "complex" (combining several different kinds of Fortean accounts in one location)

References

  • Mel's Bucket - a short point-and-click adventure game based on Mel's Hole
  • Audio clips of the original two shows featuring Mel Waters
  • Mel Waters' guest page on Coast to Coast AM
  • Tri-City Herald story on Mel's Hole
  • 2002 Seattle Times article about an expedition to Mel's Hole
  • Grand Central Art Center's "Aspects of Mel's Hole: Artists Respond to a Paranormal Land Event Occurring in Radiospace" exhibit.
  • Eastern Washington hole is shrouded in mystery by Denise Whitaker, Published: Feb 7, 2012 at 11:33 PM PST, Last Updated: Feb 12, 2012 at 11:24 AM PST.
  • Getting to the bottom of Mel's Hole Ellensburg Daily Record, March 31, 2012