Welcome back to West Virginia Wonders — a series where we explore landmarks, folklore, and locations that are rich in history, steeped in mystery, and full of natural beauty! For spooky season, we wanted to explore another iconic West Virginia cryptid, The Flatwoods Monster.
West Virginia’s hills are rich with tales of ghosts, folklore, and mysterious creatures that have captured imaginations for generations. Among the most curious of these is the story of the Braxton County Monster, also known as The Flatwoods Monster and affectionately called Braxxie.
The legend begins on the evening of September 12, 1952, in the small town of Flatwoods in Braxton County. A group of local boys saw something streak across the sky and crash into the hillside. Convinced it was a meteor, they gathered a few adults and set off to investigate. What they claimed to find was far from ordinary.
The group described seeing a towering figure that was around 10 to 12 feet tall, with glowing eyes, claw-like hands, and a spade-shaped hood around its head. Its body appeared metallic, and it emitted a hissing sound and a strong, nauseating odor that sent the witnesses running. 
News of the sighting spread quickly, capturing the attention of reporters and even the U.S. Air Force, who investigated the incident as part of Project Blue Book. While skeptics suggested the witnesses had seen a barn owl perched in a tree, magnified by shadows and fear, others insisted the encounter was something much stranger and possibly extraterrestrial.
The Flatwoods Monster has remained a staple of Appalachian folklore. It has appeared in documentaries, television shows, video games, and even inspired collectibles and local art. Today, the small town of Flatwoods celebrates its strange claim to fame with the Flatwoods Monster Museum, dedicated to preserving the story and sharing it with curious visitors from around the world.
What makes the Braxton County Monster so fascinating is not just the mystery of what really happened that night, but also how deeply the tale reflects Appalachian culture. West Virginians have long passed down stories of unexplained happenings, tales that mix fear, curiosity, and pride in the region’s uniqueness. Whether the monster was a case of mistaken identity, a mass hysteria event, or an actual encounter with something beyond our understanding, one thing is certain: The Flatwoods Monster has left its mark on West Virginia history and imagination.
The Flatwoods Monster has inspired books, souvenirs and artwork at Tamarack Marketplace. Our current gallery exhibition features artwork that explores West Virginia folktales, and The Flatwoods Monster is featured more than once. Stop by Tamarack Marketplace and take a stroll through our gallery to be immersed in all the tales that West Virginia has to offer.
And next time you’re traveling through Braxton County, keep an eye on the night sky. You never know what you might see.