Creature file 60 · Cryptid · West Virginia
Mothman
Regional visitor anchor: Point Pleasant, West Virginia · Ohio River Valley
Record
Legend file
Two couples reported a large, red-eyed winged figure near Point Pleasant's former TNT area on November 15, 1966, launching the Mothman legend.
What the sources say
West Virginia Tourism preserves the contemporary newspaper headline and notes later explanations including sandhill cranes or a large owl. The downtown museum and annual festival are the public-facing ways to follow the story.
Evidence line
This creature file is marked Folklore + reported sightings. It documents a legend and reported experiences. It does not establish the creature as fact, and its map point is a public regional visitor anchor, not a sighting. Source details were checked in July 2026.
Lore
The legend, the record, and the afterlife, kept apart.
- Earliest record in this file
- On November 15, 1966, two couples reported a winged, red-eyed figure near Point Pleasant. The Point Pleasant Register carried the story the next day.
- What was reported
- The witnesses said a man-sized creature followed their car away from the former TNT area.
- What the record supports
- A contemporary newspaper headline and a clearly identified group of witnesses anchor the account. No animal was recovered or identified.
- Ordinary explanations
- West Virginia Tourism notes migrating sandhill cranes and a large owl among the proposed explanations.
- Cultural afterlife
- Point Pleasant now has a museum, a public statue, and an annual downtown festival built around the story.
Public visitor anchor
Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Mothman Museum and statue on Main Street.
The museum, statue, and downtown festival keep visitors in public space while preserving newspaper clippings and the town's cultural response.
Regional visitor anchor. Not a sighting.
Mason County Tourismmasoncountytourism.org , opens official tourism source in a new tabAccess
Field rule
The former TNT area includes wildlife habitat and hazardous or restricted ground. Use public tours and marked routes only.
- Access status
- Public. Open to the public during posted hours without a ticket. Recorded as: Downtown museum and public festival.
- Reservation
- No reservation requirement recorded. Confirm with the official source.
- Seasonality
- No seasonal limit recorded. Hours still change; check before traveling.
Practical details last checked July 2026. Conditions change. Check the primary source before leaving home.
Plan the stop
Read the territory
- Time
- 1 to 3 hours
- Cost
- Museum admission may apply (Fee or pass)
- Terrain
- Not recorded in this file. Check the official source.
- Mobility
- Not recorded in this file. Check the official source.
- Parking
- Not recorded in this file. Check the official source.
- Weather
- Not recorded in this file. Check the official source.
Directions are offered from the road file, to the public anchor above only.
Record
Sources
- Primary sourceWest Virginia Tourism , opens in a new tab
- Supporting sourceMason County Tourism , opens in a new tab
- Anchor sourceMason County Tourism , opens in a new tab
Sources are summarized in the Atlas's own words and checked on the dates shown. See the methodology, or send a correction.
Road file
Carry it forward
Saved stops stay in this browser. No account. Export from the road file page when you want a copy.
On the curated route Ohio River Wing.
Book the tour, not the trouble.
No partner link on this file. Use the official source for tickets and tours. How partner links work.