Have you ever wanted to try your hand at monster hunting? If the answer is "yes," you're in luck because the United States is bursting at the seams with cryptids, animals that are rumored to exist but have yet to be proven to exist. From bigfoot to the Jersey Devil and every odd creature in between, these unexplainably strange domestic beasts are waiting to be added to your real-life monster rolodex.
The Flatwoods Monster, West Virginia
Hailing from Flatwoods, West Virginia, the Flatwoods Monster is a bizarre, red-colored humanoid with glowing yellow eyes and a stylish green metal dress. The strange creature was first sighted in 1952 when four young locals watched a bright light streak across the sky. Curious, they tracked the object to a crash site where they were met by a pulsing red light before coming upon a towering, ten-foot-tall entity that appeared to levitate off the ground. Stunned, the witnesses claimed the creature hissed and darted toward them causing them to retreat in terror. While no evidence of the "monster" was unearthed upon contacting the police, members of the group reportedly suffered unpleasant physical symptoms like throat irritation, nausea and vomiting for weeks after the encounter.
Today, those hoping to learn more about the Flatwoods Monster and its lore can visit the Flatwoods Monster Museum in downtown Sutton, West Virginia.
The Hodag, Wisconsin
Described by Explore Rhinelander as a beast with “the head of a frog, the grinning face of a giant elephant, thick, short legs set off by huge claws, the back of a dinosaur, and a long tail with spears at the end,” the Hodag is the pride and joy of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, a tiny town situated in the heart of the Frozen Tundra. Discovered by Eugene Shepard in 1893, this fearsome critter is said to have green eyes, massive fangs and two horns growing from its temples, all of which is expertly captured in the gargantuan Hodag statue proudly displayed outside the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce. And, as if all that wasn't enough to set the creepy cryptid apart, the emerald-colored entity is also said to breathe fire and boast a sensational smell that combines notes of rotten meat and “skunk perfume.” Yummy.
Cryptid enthusiasts who find themselves in northern Wisconsin will want to make a stop at The Hodag Store to load up on clothing, merch and snacks. As for photo ops, there are Hodags scattered throughout town ready to strike a pose.
Mothman, West Virginia
Everyone’s favorite winged humanoid, the Mothman, a large, bat-like creature with glowing red eyes and a penchant for tragedy, entered the collective consciousness in 1966 when 26 total sightings were reported throughout the year. According to witnesses, Mothman stands between six and seven feet tall, has a 10-foot-wingspan and can fly at dizzyingly fast speeds upwards of 100 miles per hour. Sightings of the fearsome fiend were often accompanied by unusual phenomena in the form of disruption of electronic devices and UFO sightings, leading some, including famous paranormal investigator John Keel, to link the case to the infamous Men in Black. However, Mothman officially sealed its fate as “The Harbinger of Doom” on December 15, 1967, when disaster struck and the Silver Bridge collapsed, killing 46 people. While some credited the incident to corrosion, many theorized the high strangeness plaguing the town was responsible for the disaster.
Today, visitors to Point Pleasant can embrace the region’s creepy history with a visit to the Mothman Museum where they can browse memorabilia, read newspaper clippings and first-hand reports and snap pictures with the winged humanoid.
Fresno Nightcrawler, California
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a … walking pair of pants? You read that right, small in stature and strangely cute, Fresno Nightcrawlers are rail-thin, bipedal humanoids with no arms, leading witnesses to describe them simply as “two long legs.” First reported in 2007, a local Fresno man made headlines when he shared a video depicting two of the cryptids walking through his yard. While the footage earned the beings their namesake, it was met with speculation with many claiming it to be a hoax.
However, the plot thickens as, over the years, similar sightings have been reported across the U.S. in places like Yosemite National Park and Montana as well as overseas in Poland. Interestingly, tales of a similar creature have made waves in Ohio where people see “the Carmel Area Creature,” a comparable thin, armless humanoid.
Hopkinsville Goblins, Kentucky
In 1955, five adults and seven children claimed to have watched a flying saucer land footsteps from a farmhouse where they planned to stay the night. According to the witnesses, they looked on in awe as short, monkey-like entities with webbed hands, talons, brightly colored eyes and pointy ears filed out of the spaceship and made a beeline for the property, peeping into windows as they attempted to gain entry. In fact, the attack was so persistent, two adults took up arms against the “little men,” firing a shotgun and pistol for several hours before fleeing to notify police.
Upon investigation, the Hopkinsville Police found no evidence of the otherworldly intruders; however, news of the “Hopkinsville Goblins” spread like wildfire, quickly popularizing the term “little green men,” which is still used to describe alien-like entities to this day.
About the Author
comments