Description

The Beast of Busco is a cryptid from Churubusco Lake in Churubusco, Indiana. It was first sighted in the 1940s, though there are rumors of reports dating back to 1898. It is described as a large snapping turtle, about 6 feet by 4 feet across and being covered in moss.

Behavior

The Beast of Busco appears elusive rather than aggressive. Sightings often occurred during calm summer mornings or evenings. It’s reported that the turtle surfaced briefly, sometimes long enough for a clear look, then vanished.

Aliases

Oscar

First Sighting

Legend has it that in 1898 a farmer named Oscar Fulk saw a giant turtle living in the seven-acre lake on his farm near Churubusco. He told others about it, but eventually he decided to leave it alone.

A half century later, in July 1948, two Churubusco citizens, Ora Blue and Charley Wilson, also reported seeing a huge alligator snapping turtle weighing an estimated 500 pounds. The landowner, Gale Harris, became fixated on capturing it organizing large-scale efforts that drew national media attention and crowds. Despite using divers, nets, traps, even draining the lake, no evidence of the creature was ever found.

Events Featuring The Beast Of Busco

• Turtle Days Festival (IN)

Description

The Hodag is a famous creature from American folklore, especially associated with Rhinelander, Wisconsin. It’s often described as a strange, fierce monster with the head of a frog, thick horns, sharp fangs, the body of a reptile, green eyes, spikes along its back and a long tail with spines. This mythical creature was first discovered in Rhinelander in the late 19th century but may have been roaming the Northwoods before that. The Hodag reportedly breathed fire and smoke and had a pungent smell. He was about 7 feet long, 30 inches tall and weighed in at about 200 pounds.

Behavior

The Hodag is usually described as a dangerous, aggressive forest creature with strange habits.

First Sighting

The Hodag legend started in 1893 when a local lumberjack named Eugene Shepard claimed he captured the beast in the forests around Rhinelander. He and a group of local men used hunting dogs, rifles and squirt guns loaded with “poison water” to attack the Hodag without success. They finally used dynamite to successfully kill the fearsome creature. He even displayed what he said was the creature’s remains.

A few years later Shepard said had captured a live Hodag. He took the captured beast on tour throughout the state including a stop at the Oneida County Fair where attendees paid to see the captured Hodag. This most likely had more visitors than the bearded lady.

Later, Shepard revealed the whole thing was a hoax, and the “creature” was a cleverly built model used to entertain crowds and attract attention. But the legend lived on. For decades, golfers around Rhinelander have blamed the Hodag for disappearing golf balls, and anglers have claimed the beast steals fish off their lines.

Attractions Featuring Hodag

• The Pioneer Park Historical Complex (WI)
• The Hodag Store (WI)

Events Featuring The Hodag

• Hodag Heritage Festival (WI)

Description

The Jersey Devil is a famous American cryptid said to live in the Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey. Descriptions vary, but most sightings describe a strange creature that of a bipedal kangaroo-like or wyvern-like creature with a horse or goat-like head, leathery bat-like wings, horns, small arms with clawed hands, legs with cloven hooves, and a forked or barbed tail.

Behavior

The Jersey Devil has been reported to move quickly and is often described as emitting a high-pitched “blood-curdling scream”.

First Sighting

The most common story dates to 1735 in the Pine Barrens. A woman known as Mother Leeds supposedly cursed her 13th child, saying “Let it be the devil!”. According to the legend, the baby transformed into a creature with hooves, a goat’s head, bat wings, and a forked tail. He then proceeded to kill the midwife and flew up the chimney into the forest. Historians think the legend may also connect to the real Daniel Leeds family, who were unpopular with local Quakers. Political rivalries and pamphlet attacks may have turned the Leeds family name into a monster story.

One of the biggest waves of sightings occurred during January 1909, when hundreds of people across New Jersey and nearby states reported seeing the creature. Schools closed and police investigated strange tracks. Witnesses included police officers, factory workers, and business owners. No physical evidence was ever confirmed.

Events Featuring The Jersey Devil

• Jersey Devil Fable Festival (NJ)

Description

The Nain Rouge is a small red goblin-like spirit from the folklore of Detroit, Michigan that appears before disasters affecting the city. He is described as being small and red-skinned with sharp teeth, glowing eyes, bat-like ears, and clawed hands.

Behavior

The Nain Rouge is said to be a malevolent, mischievous, and often maleficent creature who is believed to bring extreme bad luck and misfortune to the city of Detroit and its residents.

First Sighting

According to legend, the Nain Rouge was first spotted in Detroit in 1701 by Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, who founded the city. Cadillac was told by a fortune teller that one day he would cross paths with a tiny red troublemaker. The fortune teller warned him not to mess with the Nain Rouge, however Cadillac unfortunately ignored this advice. Soon after, Cadillac encountered the Nain Rouge near the banks of the Detroit River while out for an evening stroll. He proceeded to hit the Nain Rouge with his cane and told him to get out of his way.

Sure enough bad times followed for Cadillac. He was charged by the high officials of New France with abuse of power and was reassigned to a backwoods outpost in Louisiana. He later returned to France where he was briefly imprisoned and eventually lost his fortune.

Since that encounter with Cadillac, Nain Rouge’s appearance would always mean terrible events for the city. The creature is said to have appeared on July 30, 1763, right before the Battle of Bloody Run where 58 British soldiers stationed at Fort Detroit were slaughtered by Native Americans from Chief Pontiac’s Ottawa tribe. Governor William Hull’s misfortunes leading to the surrender of Detroit to the British in the War of 1812 are blamed on the Nain Rouge. The Great Fire of 1805, the race riots in 1967, Detroit’s economic crash in the 1970’s, the decline of the auto industry, poverty and continuing social issues, crime waves, and even the losing seasons of the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers have also been attributed to the Nain Rouge’s curse.

Events Featuring Nain Rouge

• March Du Nain Rouge (MI)

Description

The Fouke Monster (also called the Boggy Creek Monster) is a Sasquatch-like creature reportedly seen near the town of Fouke, close to the swampy Boggy Creek in southern Arkansas. He is said to haunt the network of creeks extending from the Sulphur River Bottoms in southern Arkansas to the town of Fouke.

Witnesses have described the creature as being about 7–8 feet tall and covered in long dark hair with glowing red or yellow eyes. He is also described as having extremely long arms and a very strong, foul odor.

Over the years, The Fouke Monster has been seen by countless people including experienced hunters, famous musicians, as well as police officer. He was the inspiration for several movies most notably ‘The Legend of Boggy Creek’, a drive-in hit netting nearly $25 million during its run.

Aliases

Fouke Monster goes by other names such as Boggy Creek Monster and Swamp Stalker of Boggy Creek.

Behavior

The Fouke Monster is reported as having similar behaviors to that of Bigfoot. It mostly appears at night (roaming swampy forests instead of wooded areas), makes screaming or howling sounds, “knocks” on trees and occasionaly leaves large footprints. Some witnesses also said the creature could run very fast despite its size.

First Sighting

The legend became widely known after a series of sightings in the early 1970s. In 1971, a man near Fouke reported that a large hairy creature who breathed heavily and had red eyes, scratched at the house windows, looked inside the home and left large three-toed footprints. The man broke free from the creature and ran reporting that he ran so fast that he did not stop to open the front door but rammed right through it. He was treated at a local hospital for minor scratches and shock.

Attractions Featuring Fouke Monster

• Monster Mart (AR)

Events Featuring Fouke Monster

• Boggy Creek Monster Festival (AR)
• Fouke Monster Festival (AR)