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All the United States West Virginia Sutton Flatwoods Monster Museum

Flatwoods Monster Museum

In 1952, a strange encounter in the woods of West Virginia led to the legend of a 10-foot-tall monster with glowing eyes and a distinctive style.

Sutton, West Virginia

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Bill Arrowood
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The Flatwoods Monster   Michelle Cassidy / Atlas Obscura
Flatwoods Monster Museum   Courtesy Flatwoods Monster Museum
Depictions of the Flatwoods Monster   Michelle Cassidy / Atlas Obscura
A diorama of the Flatwoods Monster encounter   Michelle Cassidy / Atlas Obscura
Kathleen May with a depiction of the Flatwoods Monster   Courtesy Flatwoods Monster Museum
Site of the 1952 encounter with the Flatwoods Monster   Courtesy Flatwoods Monster Museum
Site of the 1952 encounter with the Flatwoods Monster   Courtesy Flatwoods Monster Museum
Flatwoods Monster Museum   Courtesy Flatwoods Monster Museum
Flatwoods Monster Museum   Michelle Cassidy / Atlas Obscura
Flatwoods Monster ceramic figure   Michelle Cassidy / Atlas Obscura
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  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
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On September 12, 1952, several residents of Flatwoods, West Virginia, reported seeing a bright object soar across the sky and land on a nearby farm. Terrified but intrigued, Edward May, Freddie May, Neil Nunley, and Tommy Hyer went to discover what it could be, joined by Edward and Freddie's mother, Kathleen May, and National Guard member Eugene Lemon. As the group came down the hill onto the farm, one of them shined a light on what could only be explained as a tall, “man-like” figure with a round, red face surrounded by a spade-shaped "hood," hissing at them in anger. And that's how the legend of the Flatwoods Monster began.

The boys told their families what they had seen, and reported the strange sight to local authorities, but a search of the farm turned up no evidence of any monsters or extraterrestrial visitors. But that same year, several other locals reported encounters with a similarly strange being.

Stories of the Flatwoods Monster, which was also as the Braxton County monster, Braxie, or Phantom of the Flatwoods, started to spread around West Virginia and even more widely throughout the country, as reports made the national news. Investigations have said that the bright flash the boys saw was likely a meteor shooting across the sky, and the flashing red light from an airplane or navigation beacon. Though the creature was not seen again after 1952, its tale became cemented in local lore.

Today, you can visit the Flatwoods Monster Museum in Sutton, West Virginia, and get the whole story from the good folks at the Braxton County Visitors Center or you can head north on Highway 19 to Flatwoods and get a picture in one of their giant Monster Chairs located around the village.

Related Tags

Mythology Ao Loves Halloween Ufos Local History Museums Cryptozoology Cryptids

Know Before You Go

The Flatwoods Monster Museum is open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check the website for more information.

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BluestoneRoad

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Michelle Cassidy, SemiruralYeti, sinisterbrewcoffee

  • Michelle Cassidy
  • SemiruralYeti
  • sinisterbrewcoffee

Published

September 20, 2022

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  • https://braxtonwv.org/the-flatwoods-monster/
  • https://wvtourism.com/fallout-monsters/
Flatwoods Monster Museum
208 Main St
Sutton, West Virginia, 26601
United States
38.66451, -80.709132
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