Legends in the ‘Burg

S t o r y b y B r y c e W e e d m a n | D e s i g n b y W i l l Y i

Bigfoot, a ghost and a hole that never ends. What do these three 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 Students have since told stories of odd that has been said to haunt the students that live experiences in the dorm. “Late at night while in the residence hall, Kamola. walking to the bathroom I felt like there

The Daily Record explains that Kamola Hall was something behind me,” says Ambree was built in October of 1911 and originally Hollenberry, senior Psychology major and functioned as a women’s hall. As one of the former resident of Kamola. “Sometimes I would oldest buildings still standing on CWU’s see shadows disappearing into walls, especially campus, you might think that there is a lot of into the lounge near the stairwell on the second history, and maybe a couple of stories aligned floor.” with this all-brick dorm. You would be right. There have been many stories told of Lola

Lola was a student in the 1940s, according to and as the Crimson & Black also points out, the article from the Crimson & Black, CWU’s someone went so far as to say that Lola is official alumni magazine, “Ask Wellington: Is responsible for four deaths in Kamola Hall. Kamola Hall Haunted?” The article states that Some have even seen these paranormal Lola’s fiancé at the time was drafted to the war activities with their own eyes. “The doors in and was killed; filled with remorse, Lola put on Kamola were thick and heavy, and I would see her wedding dress and hung herself from the them open and close on their own,” says Jadin attic ceiling. Pearson, a CWU alumnus, former Kamola resident and current lieutenant in the United State Army.

Bigfoot Next up on this trip through legends in the ‘Burg Shermer tells the audience in his presentation, is Bigfoot. Believe it or not, Bigfoot has apparently “Before we say something is out of this world, we been seen around the city limits. should first make sure that it isn’t in this world.”

You’ve likely heard of the tall, hairy beast that He also explains how science surrounding lurks in the forest, fields or hills. “I’m not saying Bigfoot uses a lot of words that sound very Bigfoot is real, but when I was up in the hills, I saw intelligent, but they are really fillers until people something that didn’t look human,” Taylor Stowell, can actually figure out what something (in this CWU alumna and firefighter for the Department case, Bigfoot) is and explain it. of Natural Resources, says. “It was so tall and it Karisa Terry, senior lecturer of Anthropology, looked ape-like.” explains that people are still trying to find

You might believe in Bigfoot, but a TEDTalk information about sasquatch (another name for in February 2006 by Michael Shermer, aimed to bigfoot), even going as far as attempting to collect uncover why people believe in things that others hair samples. Legends such as this that have believe they shouldn’t. 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 Local brewing company Iron Horse Brewery Ellensburg that has no end. Mel’s Hole is said to be has even gone so far as to incorporate Mel’s 80 thousand feet deep with paranormal powers, Hole into one of their products. “We wanted to according to an article from The Daily Record. highlight different aspects of the valley into our

Mel’s Hole was made famous because of an brand,” says Dane Williams, chief risk officer at interview with an Ellensburg resident named Mel Iron Horse Brewery. Waters claiming to have seen the hole back in These legends have become so elusive that they 1960, according to the same article. are even being incorporated into local products.

Many have searched for the hole and struck out. If you find yourself believing in Lola in KOMO 4 News even set out to find the hole back Kamola, Bigfoot or even Mel’s Hole, chances are in 2002 and was unsuccessful. Even if the hole you are not alone. hasn’t exactly been seen recently, it remains one of the tall-tales of the town. Additional reporting by Matt Escamilla.