Legends in the Burg

Story by Bryce Weedman | Design by Will Yi

Bigfoot, a ghost and a hole that never ends. What do all three of these things have in common? They are all urban legends local to Kittitas County.

You probably have heard of an urban legend at one point or another in your lifetime. Maybe it was sitting around a campfire while your friends told scary stories, or just maybe you’ve witnessed one of these so-called ‘urban legends’ yourself. Either way there is no doubt that these stories captivate audiences.

Ellensburg has a few legends at its roots, some of which are native to one of the main focal points of the community — Central Washington University (CWU).

Lola in Kamola

One of these legends is ‘Lola in Kamola’, a ghost that has been said to haunt the students that live in the residence hall, Kamola. 

The Daily Record explains that Kamola Hall was built in October of 1911 and originally functioned as a women’s hall. As one of the oldest buildings still standing on CWU’s campus, you might think that there is a lot of history, and maybe a couple of stories aligned with this all-brick dorm. You would be right. 

Lola was a student in the 1940s, according to the article from the Crimson & Black, CWU’s official alumni magazine, “Ask Wellington: Is Kamola Hall Haunted?” The article states that Lola’s fiancé at the time was drafted to the war and was killed; filled with remorse, Lola put on her wedding dress and hung herself from the attic ceiling. 

Students have since told stories of odd experiences in the dorm. “Late at night while walking to the bathroom I felt like there was something behind me,” says Ambree Hollenberry, senior Psychology major and former resident of Kamola. “Sometimes I would see shadows disappearing into walls, especially into the lounge near the stairwell on the second floor.”

There have been many stories told of Lola and as the Crimson & Black also points out, someone went so far as to say that Lola is responsible for four deaths in Kamola Hall.

Some have even seen these paranormal activities with their own eyes. “The doors in Kamola were thick and heavy, and I would see them open and close on their own,” says Jadin Pearson, a CWU alumnus, former resident of Kamola and current lieutenant in the United States Army.

Bigfoot

Next up on this trip through legends in the ‘Burg is Bigfoot. Believe it or not, Bigfoot has apparently been seen around the city limits. 

You’ve likely heard of the tall, hairy beast that lurks in the forest, fields or the hills. “I’m not saying Bigfoot is real, but when I was up in the hills, I saw something that didn’t look human,” Taylor Stowell, CWU alumna and firefighter for the Department of Natural Resources, says. “It was so tall and it looked ape-like.”

You might believe in Bigfoot, but a TEDTalk in February 2006 by Michael Shermer, aimed to uncover why people believe in things that others believe they shouldn’t. 

Shermer tells the audience in his presentation, “Before we say something is out of this world, we should first make sure that it isn’t in this world.” 

He also explains how science surrounding Bigfoot uses a lot of words that sound very intelligent, but they are really fillers until people can actually figure out what something (in this case, Bigfoot) is and explain it.

Karisa Terry, senior lecturer of Anthropology, explains that people are still trying to find information about sasquatch (another name for Bigfoot), even going as far as attempting to collect hair samples. Legends such as this that have existed over many decades can still grace new followers as people discover what they believe is evidence.

Mel’s Hole

So what’s next? A hole in the middle of Ellensburg that has no end. Mel’s Hole is said to be 80 thousand feet deep with paranormal powers, according to an article from The Daily Record. 

Mel’s Hole was made famous because of an interview with an Ellensburg resident named Mel Waters claiming to have seen the hole back in 1960, according to the same article.

Many have searched for the hole and struck out. KOMO 4 News even set out to find the hole back in 2002 and was unsuccessful. Even if the hole hasn’t exactly been seen recently, it remains one of the tall-tales of the town. 

Local brewing company Iron Horse Brewery has even gone so far as to incorporate Mel’s Hole into one of their products. “We wanted to highlight different aspects of the valley into our brand,” says Dane Williams, chief risk officer at Iron Horse Brewery.

These legends have become so elusive that they are even being incorporated into local products. 

If you find yourself believing in Lola in Kamola, Bigfoot or even Mel’s Hole, chances are you are not alone. 

Additional reporting by Matt Escamilla.