This is the true story of the Glory Hole in Lake Berryessa.
The place you’re now reading about was originally (and still by many) referred to as the “Morning Glory Spillway” next to the Monticello Dam in Napa County. The locals started referring to this awesome spectacle as the “Glory Hole” some time ago, and the name has stuck to it ever since. Read More…
The Morning Glory Spillway/ Glory Hole (active) gulps about 48,400 cubic feet per second (1370 m³/s) See Wikipedia…
It is very rare to catch and watch the “Glory Hole” working in action due to the fact that Lake Berryessa must be so full that the “Glory Hole” spillover begins to dump the excess water into the creek on the other side of the dam known as “Putah Creek.” Naturally the names Glory Hole and Putah Creek have had numerous comments made with a play on words, but the fact remains that it is what it is and it IS REAL.
Fogonazos refers to the Glory Hole as the Largest Drain hole in the World
The 13 second video on Youtube that has garnished over 27,000,000 million views was shot with a simple Flip Video camera while standing on the edge of the lake. It is an amazing thing to see, hear, and witness with your own eyes. Some will say it’s fake, possible CGI or Photoshopped, others who have been there will tell you that it is very real and in fact is one of the most incredible things you’ll ever see.
At first glance, one will begin to wonder about the fish and the ducks that might accidentally end up going down the drain that drops out a few hundred yards away on the other side of the dam. Many question whether they would live of not? Then there’s the thought of boats, people, and other living things that might end up getting caught in the currents, this has many thinking and wondering about it for hours?!? Wondering Yourself?
Many of the 17,000 comments on this video have been about how this scares the heck outta folks as they watch it. Though the largest percentage of comments will have something to do with “dividing by zero” or “throwing celebrities and others in it” or “some kind of pornographic innuendo“, it’s really the millions that don’t comment that is most impressive. Simply put, there is an extremely eery and mystic element that surrounds the Glory Hole.
It’s truly been an exciting time to watch this video get exposed to millions of people who may never get to see this place in person and even if they do, they will most likely never get to see the Glory Hole in action as seen in the video below.
It’s an honor and privilege to have captured this on film and a true blessing to share it with others like you.
Photos: Brad Andersohn
This 13 second video currently has over 29,100,000 million views, 18,160 comments, 8116 likes, 1586 dislikes, with 89 reactions and it’s been Favorited 7073 times. Some of the Youtube Honors include:
#23 – Most Discussed (All Time) – Travel & Events
#97 – Top Favorited (All Time) – Travel & Events
#7 – Most Viewed (All Time) – Travel & Events
its 36 mill views now
45 Mil now
I still remember when the video had only a couple thousand views
Alfonso, I do too. This video is now averaging 100K views per day and has been featured on multiple TV shows. What makes it so spectacular in my opinion is that it hasn’t been active since this video was shot and until this lake floods again, it won’t ever get to be seen “LIVE” as it is shown here in the video.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time!?!
Here’s some details on the Glory Hole:
Documentary Update: These are the newest “Glory Hole” stats just 6 weeks after the last update:
Over 35,024,197 million views, 20,490 comments, 10,014 likes, 1,851 dislikes, with 211 reactions and it’s been Favorited 7862 times.
I have been to this location many many times. Back around 2002/2003 I totaled my car driving around the turns leading up to this location. I was driving too fast and it was wet/rainy and I lost control, spinning the car 180 degrees and slamming the back end of the car into the rock wall across from this spot.
If I had known that there would have been so much attention to the glory hole, I would have shot a video as well. I remember the first time I saw it, I couldn’t believe that it was just an open hole for someone to accidentally swim into… Anyway, it’s been several years since I’ve visited this location and I suddenly have new inspiration to head out there. Thanks for the video.
Absolutely freaking terrifying!! I found myself holding my breath as I watched. And, how in the world is that person staying on his bike in the other picture? It looks to be totally vertical or pretty close to it. Do you know if people can repel into it when the water is low?
Water or no water, this is not a place or something you’d ever want to repel.
@ Lisa & Brad Andersohn:
I found these photos of a dude repelling down a bell mouth spillway: tastelessphoto.com/urban-eploration/bellmouth-spillway-exploration/
possibly not the same one though!
There’s something about this that is completely horrifying to me. It just evokes such a feeling of completely irrational terror. I’m not afraid of the water, I swim well, never been afraid on boats but there’s something about seeing a giant hole in the water that scares the crap out of me. It’s not something on a mental level but more like a purely gut reaction.
That said, it’s still something I’d love to see in person. It’s something truly awesome and terrifying.
Wriggle – To be perfectly honest, while shooting this video (and being right next to it), it was pretty awesome and yet terrifying at the same time. It was so loud and surreal that I only shot 13 seconds of it before I ran down the hill to get the rest of my family and show them too. It hasn’t run again since that day when we discovered it.
This is amazing. When I saw the video on youtube, I was wondering where the water was going… I’m actually glad to have seen your picture, with the details.
What would’ve happened if you fell in the water, from the place you were standing? And how loud do you think it was? Could you see where the water was going?
My parents live a short drive from there outside of Winters. I have seen the glory hole overflow many times and it is impressive. It should be noted though that it is fenced off from the rest of the lake and it would be hard to accidentally go down the hole. I used to go for runs in Stebbins Canyon which is very close to this location. I would often park near the glory hole, if it was overflowing, and run a short distance down the highway to Stebbins Canyon just so I could see it a couple of times during my outing.
Would you know about this? Prepare for that which is truly eerie. A chill to your very core.
Well i’m glad that it’s fencedoff
if not then that would be scary as ****! i had butterflies when i watched the video!