“What comes to your mind when you encounter the phrase national park? Perhaps you envision an expansive area of rugged peaks with picturesque landscapes and meandering pathways … Geysers erupting amidst wandering bison and grizzly bears. A granite valley shaped by glacial activity. … An immense wilderness filled with dense forests. Many individuals aspire to visit at least one national park in their lifetime; adventurous explorers might dream of experiencing every park eventually.”
“Seldom do individuals contemplate solving a riddle when they explore one of America’s safeguarded natural or cultural treasures. Yet some of the globe’s most enigmatic events and oddest findings have transpired in U.S. national parks. …”
Beginning with his introduction and continuing through to the final chapter, author Mike Bezemek, MFAW ’08, guides readers on an exhilarating journey filled with unforeseen adventures in Mysteries of the National Parks: 35 Stories of Baffling Disappearances, Unexplained Phenomena, and More (Sourcebooks, 2025).
In the book, Bezemek traverses the United States from west to east, categorizing national parks and other National Park Service (NPS) units into five geographic regions: the West Coast, the Mountain West, the Great Plains and Midwest, the South, and the Northeast. He further categorizes the 35 mysteries into six unique classifications: Baffling Disappearances, Hidden History, Infamous Crimes, Legendary Figures, Strange Discoveries, and Unexplained Phenomena. Each chapter begins with a query — one that Bezemek aims to clarify by dramatizing historical occurrences and scientific revelations.
In the Northeast, Bezemek delves into the inquiry, “Did Pocahontas save John Smith’s life?” in a chapter on Legendary Figures set in Colonial National Historical Park.
Bezemek initiates his investigative journey on the West Coast in Washington State with the tale of Kenneth Arnold, a seasoned search-and-rescue volunteer who observed brilliant orbs flying in synchronization in Mount Rainier National Park during the mid-1940s. In this chapter on Unexplained Phenomena, Bezemek inquires, “Did Kenneth Arnold witness the first UFO?” Among the anecdotes set in the Mountain West, Bezemek scrutinizes the query, “Why did the Cliff Dwellers forsake their stone dwellings?” in a chapter on Baffling Disappearances centered around Mesa Verde National Park. In the Great Plains and Midwest, he questions, “Was the St. Louis Arch designed to manipulate the weather?” in a chapter on Hidden History. In the South, he raises questions such as “Did soldiers’ injuries illuminate post a Civil War battle?” in an Unexplained Phenomena chapter based in Shiloh National Military Park. In the Northeast, he investigates the inquiry, “Did Pocahontas save John Smith’s life?” in a chapter on Legendary Figures set in Colonial National Historical Park.
Throughout the work, Bezemek constructs his engrossing narratives based on a wealth of primary and secondary resources. “It was challenging to keep track of everything,” Bezemek remarks. “There could be numerous sources required to compose just one chapter. During this process, I sometimes had to pause on a mystery and transition to another. Additionally, there were several drafts that I chose not to pursue due to their complexity.”
What is clear and resonates strongly is Bezemek’s admiration for the entire National Park Service system. “Growing up in the West, in El Cerrito, California, which is located north of Berkeley, I was an outdoorsy child,” Bezemek shares. “My parents took me to national park units during my childhood. The first ones I likely visited were those closest to the Bay Area: Muir Woods National Monument, Point Reyes National Seashore, Yosemite National Park. I became a Boy Scout and consumed a lot of outdoor literature as a kid, too. Thus, I’ve always held a fascination for the outdoors.”
As an undergraduate, Bezemek attended the University of California, Davis, where he earned a degree in geology while working as a raft guide, backpacking guide, and winter guide through the university’s Outdoor Adventures program. “Many of the outdoor guides studied wildlife biology and geology,” Bezemek says. “I opted for geology because I was drawn to the physical science aspect. I enjoy exploring significant questions: ‘How and why does a river form its path?’ That’s a fascinating mystery unto itself.”
After completing his degree, Bezemek worked on field teams focusing on geology, hydrology, and wildlife projects. However, a few years later, he realized that without a graduate degree in the field, he would need to contemplate a different career path. “I loved outdoor activities, pushing boundaries — for instance, taking samples from whitewater rivers,” he explains. “I enjoyed the thrill but wasn’t interested in laboratory work.”
Though initially daunted, Bezemek pivoted to writing. “I thought about becoming a science teacher, but I was producing a lot of fiction at that time,” he recalls. “Since my mother was passionate about writing fiction, I envisioned myself crafting fictional adventure narratives. Subsequently, I applied to graduate writing programs. Following a site visit and being impressed by the campus, I made the decision to attend WashU.”
Bezemek began in the fiction-writing track of the English department’s MFA program but soon received insightful advice from novelist Kyle Winkler, a classmate (and still a close friend): “You go out and engage in the activities you’re writing about, so why fictionalize them? Why not write nonfiction instead?”
“That was a transformative moment,” Bezemek states. “And I transitioned quickly to nonfiction, writing more about my travels — the outdoor excursions, the adventure trips, the locations I visit — employing the same writing approaches that we were honing.”
Bezemek is now the author of seven nonfiction books and various magazine feature articles. Among his notable works are Space Age Adventures: Over 100 Terrestrial Sites and Out of This World Stories (2023); Discovering the Outlaw Trail: Routes, Hideouts, and Stories from the Wild West (2023); Paddling the John Wesley Powell Route: Exploring the Green and Colorado Rivers (2018); andPaddling the Ozarks: A Guide to the Region’s Premier Paddling Excursions (2017).
Bezemek authored Paddling the John Wesley Powell Route and Paddling the Ozarks during his time instructing writing at WashU after receiving an MFAW. He often traveled to national parks in Utah and Colorado, spending considerable time on the Buffalo River in the Ozarks. After his wife, Ina Seethaler, received a tenure-track position in South Carolina, the couple relocated to the Southeast. Newly acquainted with the area, Bezemek planned a different form of travel. Together, they journeyed up the East Coast, visiting historic locations, museums, and battlefields, which included the museums on the National Mall, the Wright Brothers National Memorial, and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. This journey enhanced their understanding of the region’s past and the extensive resources managed by the National Park Service.
“When I found out the Lost Colony is part of an NPS unit, I thought it was incredibly interesting. And Fort Raleigh is such an impressive National Historic Site.”
Mike Bezemek
“Having grown up on the West Coast, I learned a bit about the lost English colony, but it was merely a single line in a textbook,” Bezemek explains. “When I found out the Lost Colony is part of an NPS unit, I thought it was incredibly interesting. And Fort Raleigh is such an impressive National Historic Site. It not only preserves an ancient English fortification, but it also features a nature trail, a museum, and a monument honoring the Roanoke Island Freedmen’s Colony established during the Civil War.”
“As we were leaving Fort Raleigh, I thought, ‘Wow, that’s a fascinating mystery.’ And I had another realization: ‘I know many mysteries from out West as well.’ I was aware of the sliding stones in Death Valley from college and knew about the Cliff Dwellers of Mesa Verde and others.”
Initially, Bezemek contemplated transforming his idea into a magazine series focused on “outdoor mysteries you can visit.” However, after further investigation, he uncovered numerous mysteries involving national park units, claiming he has sufficient content for two additional books.
For now, though, readers can delve into Mysteries of the National Parks to spark their curiosity. “Above all, I aimed for the book to encompass more than just the prominent mountain parks in the West, which is typical in literature about national parks,” Bezemek states. “I wanted to present a balanced perspective covering the entire country to represent the vast park system. Additionally, I aimed to guide readers towards new park sites and narratives they may not be familiar with.”
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