Deep beneath the surface of Mel Waters' property in Manastash Ridge, West of Ellensburg, Washington, lies a mysterious hole that defies explanation. What appears to be an ordinary well has perplexed locals and researchers alike due to its seemingly bottomless nature. Originally used as a convenient disposal site by Mel and his neighbors, the hole accepted everything from household garbage to old appliances without ever filling up.

This curious anomaly became the subject of widespread attention in 1997 when Mel Waters shared his discoveries on Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell. His investigations revealed disturbing characteristics: the hole repelled animals, altered radio signals, and most astonishingly, swallowed over 15 miles of fishing line without revealing a bottom. Perhaps most unsettling was a neighbor's claim that his deceased dog, after being disposed of in the hole, reappeared days later—physically identical but behaviorally transformed, as if it were a different entity altogether.

Key Takeaways

A mysterious hole on Mel Waters' Washington property appears bottomless, accepting massive amounts of waste without filling up.
Strange phenomena surround the hole, including animal avoidance, altered radio signals, and fishing lines extending over 15 miles without reaching bottom.

Mel's Hole: The Phenomenon

Mel Waters discovered an unusual hole on his property in Washington's Manastash Ridge near Ellensburg. Initially used as a convenient trash dump by both Mel and his neighbors, the hole exhibited peculiar characteristics that defied explanation.

The hole measures 9 feet 9 inches in diameter with a stone retaining wall extending about 15 feet down. Beyond this point, the shaft continues into darkness. Despite years of serving as a disposal site for household waste, appliances, and tires, the hole never filled up.

This curiosity prompted Mel to investigate further. He noticed several strange phenomena: his dogs refused to approach the hole, radio signals became distorted near it, and most notably, the hole appeared bottomless. Wildlife avoided the area completely—no animals, insects, or even birds would go near it.

To determine the depth, Mel attached a one-pound weight to fishing line and lowered it 4,500 feet without finding bottom. He continued adding spools of line, eventually reaching an astonishing 80,000 feet—over 15 miles deep—still without hitting bottom. To test for water, he sent down Lifesavers candy, but they returned completely dry.

Perhaps the most disturbing account came from a neighbor who claimed to have disposed of his deceased dog in the hole. Days later, the man reported seeing what appeared to be the same dog, identifiable by its collar, running through nearby woods. Strangely, the animal didn't respond to its name and showed no recognition of its former owner.

In 1997, seeking answers beyond his understanding, Mel contacted the popular late-night radio program Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell. His story captivated the show's millions of listeners as Mel shared increasingly bizarre details about the mysterious hole during several appearances.

The hole's inexplicable properties—its bottomless nature, the absence of echoes, its repellent effect on animals, and the alleged "resurrection" of a dead pet—transformed what began as a simple disposal site into a phenomenon that continues to puzzle those who hear the story.

Mel's Hole: Investigations and Discoveries

The Mysterious Depth

Mel Waters discovered an unusual hole on his property in Manastash Ridge near Ellensburg, Washington. Unlike ordinary wells, this 9-foot diameter opening surrounded by a 15-foot stone retaining wall exhibited extraordinary characteristics. The most baffling feature was its seemingly bottomless nature. Through methodical investigation, Mel attached weighted fishing line to measure its depth.

His initial attempts with a one-pound weight revealed the hole extended beyond 4,500 feet. Determined to find the bottom, Mel continued adding fishing line spools, each measuring 5,000 feet. Even after deploying multiple spools reaching approximately 80,000 feet—equivalent to over 15 miles deep—no bottom was detected.

To determine if water existed at the bottom, Mel attached Lifesavers candy to his line, reasoning they would dissolve if submerged. When retrieved, the candies remained intact, suggesting no water was present at these extreme depths.

Unusual Wildlife Responses

One of the most intriguing aspects of Mel's hole was its effect on animals. Wildlife demonstrated unnatural avoidance behaviors around the opening:

Dogs: Consistently refused to approach the hole
Birds: Altered flight paths to avoid flying directly over it
Local wildlife: Complete absence near the opening
Insects: Notably missing from the immediate vicinity

When Mel questioned neighbors about these observations, they confirmed similar experiences with their pets. Dogs would resist approaching the hole, displaying unusual anxiety and fear when brought near the opening.

The Neighbor's Returned Pet

Perhaps the most disturbing account came from one of Mel's neighbors who had disposed of his deceased dog in the hole. According to this neighbor, a few days after discarding the pet's remains, he observed what appeared to be the same dog running through a wooded area near the property.

The neighbor identified the animal by its distinctive collar—identical to what his deceased pet had worn. However, the dog exhibited no recognition of its former owner and would not respond to calls. The animal behaved as though it had no previous connection to the man, despite physical appearances suggesting it was the same dog.

Radio Broadcast Exposure

In 1997, feeling overwhelmed by the mysterious phenomena, Mel Waters contacted Art Bell, host of the popular late-night radio program "Coast to Coast AM." The show, broadcast on hundreds of stations globally with approximately 10 million listeners, specialized in paranormal and unexplained phenomena.

On February 21, 1997, Art Bell invited Mel as a guest. This broadcast introduced Mel's hole to a worldwide audience, transforming a local curiosity into a widely discussed paranormal phenomenon. Over subsequent appearances, Mel continued sharing new discoveries and observations about the mysterious opening.

Community Input and Theories

Following the Coast to Coast AM broadcasts, listeners offered numerous theories and suggestions for further investigation. The exposure brought attention from paranormal enthusiasts, scientists, and curious individuals across the country.

Mel received advice on:

More sophisticated depth measurement techniques
Potential geological explanations
Paranormal theories including:
- Portal to another dimension
- Government experimental site
- Natural anomaly with unique properties

These community interactions helped shape further investigations and provided Mel with new perspectives on the mysterious hole that had become an object of fascination well beyond his property boundaries.

Mel Waters' Bottomless Hole: The Unexplained Mystery of Manastash Ridge