The Mysteries of Crater Lake

Crater Lake is one of the most mysterious and haunted places in America. It is located in south-central Oregon in the western United States. There have been countless mysteries surrounding the lake from deaths, disappearances, suicides, ghosts, UFOs, Bigfoot, to a giant lake monster.

It is one of the most beautiful sights in the world, being “So beautiful it hurts” to look at; and the Klamath Indians said, “It was too sacred for human eyes.” To gaze into its immense beauty of blue was to risk “death and lasting sorrow,” insisting that the lake has the power to lure victims to their deaths.

Crater Lake is the clearest, cleanest, and deepest body of water in the United States, and ninth in the world. Receiving an average of 43 feet of precipitation per year it is filled with rainwater and snowfall. It is the deepest volcanic lake in the world.

There are no rivers or streams that run into the crater, and its level rarely changes. The lake experiences twice as much precipitation as evaporation and the water seeps through a porous rock layer along the north shore. As a result the crater doesn’t fill up.

At 1,943 feet, although some suggest it to be bottomless, allow for wavelengths of sunlight to penetrate so deep that the colors reflecting back are shades of blues and purples.

Crater Lake is made of a collapsed volcano and rests in its shell, or caldera. The volcano stood over 12,000 feet tall. About 8,000 years ago when Mount Mazama collapsed after eruption, Crater Lake was formed.

It is said by geologists that the volcano is probably dormant instead of dead. The last eruption happened underwater about 4,800 years ago.

Native American Legends

Native Americans have long told legends of hexes being placed on the water. They believe it is a cursed place inhabited by evil spirits and the souls of the damned.

One legend explained that there were two spirits, Llao (spirit of above) and Skell (spirit of below), who fought each other in a gory battle. Llao ripped out Skell’s heart, and Skell dismembered Llao and threw the body parts into the lake.

The monsters in the lake ate everything but Llao’s head, and the spirit is still there. When stirred, terrible storms arise, and when angered a giant crayfish appears that snatches people from shore a drags them into the water.

One day when touring on a row boat, Mattie Hatcher saw something big swimming under her boat. She said “That thing must have been a block long!” she told the Fort Meyers News Star, “To me it looked like a dragon.” She went out and warned people of the monster living in the depths of the chilly lake, but no one believed her.

The “Old Man” of the Lake

The “Old Man” of the lake is a mountain hemlock, that is 35 feet tall and stands vertically in the water. It has been floating in the water for over 120 years since 1896. It is a grayish-white, bone-like stub that bobs in the water, traveling as far as four miles a day. It stands three to four feet out of the water. The cold waters of the lake protect it from decay.

The Park Rangers know better than to mess with the “Old Man.” Once a submarine of explorers tied it to the shore to avoid running into it on their exploration. A storm suddenly broke out, causing it to snow in August, and it was released. Within minutes of its release, the weather settled and calmed and all was well again. Superstitions seemed to get the best of the scientists that day.

Wizard Island

Wizard Island got its name because it resembles the shape of a wizard’s hat. In 1869 the inspiration for its name was discovered. Some people think that Wizard Island is the top of the old volcano, but that is a common misconception. In fact, it is a newer volcano that emerged from the lake around 7,300 years ago.

People have reported seeing “ghostly campfires” on the island and around the lake. After reports of seeing fires burning, rangers explored the area only to find no evidence of fire, smoke, or ashes to suggest they were ever really there. One report claimed to have seen ten people standing around a roaring fire, but no evidence was ever discovered.

Phantom Ship

Phantom Ship Island sits 160 feet above the lake’s surface. The 300 feet of rock formations resemble a sailing ship. The island can appear and disappear with changes in light or weather.

Sasquatch or Bigfoot Stories

Legends of the infamous Sasquatch or Bigfoot are quite common in the Pacific Northwest, especially in Oregon. Rangers have reported following a large, dark, and smelly creature into the woods until pine cones starting being thrown at them.

There have been two different deaths supposedly associated with a Bigfoot-type creature. One was a car accident, but the government removed the body before any questions could be generated. The other was a train accident, but wasn’t reported until later because the men were said to be drinking.

UFO Sightings

On February 4, 1997 there was a reported UFO sighting at Crater Lake. It was explained as three discs being seen speeding across the night sky. There was also a sonic boom heard that same night.

This wasn’t the only time abnormal lights were reportedly spotted in this area. Strange lights periodically appear and disappear, and UFOs are said to be seen going in and out of the water.

“Ghost and Goblin Park”

Rangers have nicknamed the area around Crater Lake as “Ghost and Goblin Park” after its surreal atmosphere and all of the strange occurrences that have taken place there. In 1853, the first white man to ever see the area was a miner named John Hillman. He got a surprise when he spotted a snow white deer with pink eyes.

“Lost Lake”

There have been countless other stories associated with Crater Lake and the strange activities, deaths, suicides, murders, and disappearances that have been reported. The lake claims several lives per year. Many skeletons don’t show up until many years later, if ever at all.

Summer of 1910, two men were lost in the forest and never found.
From 1926 to 1997, thirteen people fell from the slopes to their deaths. Most were caused from standing too close to the edge for photographs and losing their footing. It is said that the lake is “camera shy.”
In 1944, two Grumman Torpedo Planes were flying in formation when one of the planes vanished, and the other crashed and sank to the bottom of the lake, even though the weather was clear. It was as if the lake had just “snatched it from the sky.”
That same year, a flight trainer and gunner flew north of the lake and were never seen again. There was no wreckage, plane, or men ever discovered.
In 1952, two executives from the United Motor Service were victims of a murder case. It was reported that their hands were tied behind their backs and they were both shot in the heads.
March 1971, Nick Carlino was snowshoeing the rim when a mysterious dog showed up and then suddenly disappeared.
In 1974, Charles McCullar went to photograph the lake and disappeared. His pants, socks, and fragments of bone were found two years later. His jeans and belt were undone and pieces of two broken toe bones and shin bone were found in the jeans. Twelve feet away was the crown of the skull and tiny fragments of bone. There was no shirt, coat, camera, or boots discovered. It was as if the “body had melted away.”
In October 1991, Glenn Allen Mackie disappeared. His car was discovered in a parking lot with his license, keys, passport, cash, and toiletries. However, there was never any trace of Mackie ever found.
In 2009, a person was reported of renting snowshoes, walking to the rim and disappearing. The body was never found.
A man slid off of a snow shoot and broke his leg. He then proceeded to crawl to the lake and drown himself.
Two people parked their car, but after the parking break failed they were fatally smashed into the jagged bottom of the caldera.
Crater Lake Lodge is said to be haunted by a little girl who roams the halls.

With all the mysteries and stories associated with Crater Lake one can’t help but wonder if they’re true. What do you think? Comment below.