The region of the southeastern U.S. known as Appalachia has been a cultural melting pot for generations.
Indian nations, particularly the Shawnee and Cherokee people, were the original inhabitants of this mountainous area. European settlers arrived in the early 18th century, and African Americans — both free and enslaved — were not far behind.
With this unique mixture of cultural influences as the backdrop, it’s no wonder that Appalachia’s folklore and mythology are unlike any other.
Of the hundreds of legends from this region, many focus on mysterious monsters that allegedly share the land with its human residents. Here are a few of our favorites.
Bigfoot
Reports of a giant, hairy humanoid are not unique to Appalachia (you might have heard of Sasquatch sightings in the Pacific Northwest, for example).
But the number and concentration of reported Bigfoot sightings in heavily forested areas of West Virginia and North Carolina are especially high, even to this day.
There are different versions of the Bigfoot legend. In some cultures it is described as an ape-like creature that steals livestock from local farms. In others, it is a shape-shifting monster that carries children off in the night.
Whichever version you believe — if any — there’s no argument about its shoe size.
The Mothman
Compared to Bigfoot, the legend of the Mothman is quite recent.
In late 1966, a couple from the Point Pleasant area of West Virginia reported sightings of a large, gray monster with glowing red eyes.
Another local couple described it as a large flying humanoid creature with ten-foot wings that followed their car as they drove through an abandoned Army munitions site.
Just a few months later, more locals — including a contractor and two volunteer firefighters — came forward with their own reports of a large, bird-like creature, with red eyes, which they blamed for causing disasters including a bridge collapse that killed 46 people.
However, most scientists agree the descriptions of the Mothman closely resemble the sandhill crane, a large bird with a seven-foot wingspan and red-rimmed eyes.
The Wampus Cat
Early European settlers described a mysterious cat-like monster howling at night. In their tales, the Wampus Cat was an evil creature that could drive those unlucky enough to meet it to the brink of insanity. Other stories described a sort of amphibious panther lurking near local rivers.
Cherokee legends describe a similar beast as the embodiment of a woman, cursed by elders for hiding under a wildcat’s pelt while illicitly watching a secret ceremony.
Today, the Wampus Cat serves as the mascot of several high schools throughout the American South. We’re betting the crowds at their football games are insane.