West Virginia folklore includes many alien and monster-like characters, such as Mothman, Big Foot and the Yeti. One such monster has made a big resurgence in the past few years, becoming a part of the state’s pop culture.
This story is part of a Halloween episode of Inside Appalachia, which features ghost tales and legends from across Appalachia.
The story of the Flatwoods Monster began September 12, 1952, in the small town of Flatwoods, West Virginia. It was 7 o’clock at night, and some schoolboys were playing football. They saw an object falling from the sky that looked to be on fire, said Andrew Smith, executive director of the Braxton County Visitors Center and founder of Flatwoods Monster Museum.
“Something, something bright, maybe a fireball, appeared to fly overhead and land on a nearby hilltop,” he said.
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