Discover West Virginia Wonders — a series where we explore local landmarks, folklore, and locations that are rich in history, steeped in mystery, and full of natural beauty! To kick things off, we’re diving into the fascinating folklore of the Mothman, a legend that’s been lurking in the shadows of the Mountain State for decades!

The first sighting of the winged beast goes back to 1966, when a group of gravediggers were at work in Clendenin, West Virginia. They noticed a giant creature soaring between the trees overhead, the size of a man with abnormally large wings. Just days later, in the town of Point Pleasant, two couples claimed to witness a similar sight, getting a better look at the creature that would soon be penned ”Mothman”. They noted a 10-foot-wingspan on the body of a man, accompanied with bright red eyes. The couples also stated that the creature chased their car to the end of the town, flying behind them at a rate of 100 MPH! In the days after the initial sighting, there would go on to be eight additional reports of locals seeing the creature.

The most infamous story of the Mothman came just over a year after the first sighting occurred. On December 15, 1967, many locals claimed to see the Mothman flying over the Silver Bridge – a suspension bridge that connected the towns of Point Pleasant, WV and Gallipolis, OH. That same day, the bridge would collapse. Tragically, there were forty-six deaths and only twenty-one survivors in this incident that would go on to be considered the deadliest bridge disaster in modern history.

The Silver Bridge collapse was a tragedy, and while many claim to have spotted Mothman on the bridge that very same day, the accident was caused by faulty infrastructure. For many, it may have been easier to cast blame onto the beast that had allegedly been terrorizing their home. Many people would go on to believe that the Mothman did not cause the event, but instead, was warning people of what was to come. Developing in the decades that followed were tales that highlighted a different perspective of the Mothman, claiming him as a creature that seemed to be a prophetic harbinger of doom. Since the bridge collapse, the Mothman has allegedly been spotted at other disastrous events all over the world.

While sightings of the creature have gone down significantly since the 1960s, the lore of Mothman haunts the narrative of West Virginia folklore today with the stories gaining global fame. The town of Point Pleasant is now considered the home of Mothman and has become a tourist destination for cryptid fanatics. After once being terrorized by the creature, the town is now able to celebrate and profit from the tourism that his story brings. With a museum, a statue and an annual festival in Mothman’s honor, the town has turned their fear into a thriving phenomenon.

Over the years, the legacy of Mothman has become intertwined with the culture and folklore of not only Point Pleasant, but West Virginia as a whole. Mothman has inspired artwork, books, souvenirs and even Mr. Bees Potato Chips carried at Tamarack Marketplace. Collectors and folklore enthusiasts, be sure to keep an eye out for this legend when stopping in on your way to the Mothman Museum.