Unveiling West Virginia’s Mysteries
Find clear and concise answers to your questions about West Virginia’s most curious and eerie tales.
What kinds of strange stories does StrangeWV showcase?
We highlight unusual legends, paranormal encounters, and historic oddities unique to West Virginia.
How often is new content added to StrangeWV?
Our team updates the site regularly to bring fresh mysteries and discoveries to light.
Can I contribute my own strange story to StrangeWV?
Yes, we welcome submissions from locals who want to share their unusual experiences.
Is StrangeWV connected to any paranormal investigation groups?
While not officially affiliated, we often collaborate with local experts and enthusiasts.
West Virginia is one of the most celebrated states for paranormal activity and cryptid sightings in the United States, fueled by its deep Appalachian folklore, isolated mountainous terrain, and somber industrial and Civil War history.1
The paranormal landscape in West Virginia is broadly divided into three main categories: Famous Cryptids, Legendary Ghosts & Hauntings, and UFO/Alien Encounters.
1. Famous Cryptids and Monster Legends2
West Virginia is often called the “Cryptid Capital of the World” due to its concentration of legendary creatures, many of which have achieved international fame.
Mothman
Point Pleasant (1966-1967)
The state’s most famous creature. Described as a man-sized, winged figure with large, glowing red eyes. Its sightings were concentrated around the collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967, leading to the popular belief that the creature is a harbinger of doom or a supernatural warning. The town of Point Pleasant embraces the legend with a museum and annual festival.
Flatwoods Monster
Flatwoods (1952)
Also known as the Braxton County Monster. Following a UFO sighting, a group of locals encountered a 10-foot-tall, non-humanoid figure with a spade-shaped head, glowing eyes, and a metallic, skirt-like covering. The area reportedly smelled of a noxious mist. It is often linked to Cold War-era UFO and alien encounters.
Sheepsquatch
Southwestern WV (1990s)
A bizarre, large creature described as being covered in fluffy white wool, with ram-like horns, sharp teeth and claws, and sometimes walking upright. It is frequently sighted in the remote areas near the former TNT plant.
Grafton Monster
Grafton (1960s)
A tall, hulking, headless creature with smooth, pale, seal-like skin. Sightings began along the Tygart Valley River.
Ogua
Monongahela River
A legendary river monster, often described as a massive serpent or turtle, which dates back to Native American and early settler folklore.
2. Legendary Ghosts and Hauntings
The state’s history of war, poverty, mining disasters, and institutional abuse has left behind numerous intensely haunted locations.
Institutional Horror: The most famous sites are the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (Weston) and the West Virginia Penitentiary (Moundsville). Both are National Historic Landmarks that offer paranormal tours, with reports of aggressive spirit encounters, shadow figures, and the ghosts of former patients and inmates.
Cursed Land: Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is built on an ancient Native American burial ground and the site of a colonial massacre.4 A series of fatal accidents led to its abandonment, and it is now infamous for the restless spirits of both the Native Americans and the children who died there.
The Greenbrier Ghost: One of the state’s most unique stories is the legend of Elva Zona Heaster Shue (1897).5 Her spirit allegedly appeared to her mother, revealing that her husband had murdered her.6 The mother’s ghostly testimony was used in the subsequent trial, which led to the husband’s conviction—the only documented case in American legal history where a ghost’s testimony helped solve a murder.
Historical Hauntings: Towns like Harpers Ferry are saturated with Civil War-era ghosts, while the Droop Mountain Battlefield is said to echo with the sounds of battle and the ghosts of soldiers.7
3. UFOs and Extraterrestrial Theories
West Virginia has a notable place in the history of Ufology, primarily due to the legends surrounding the Flatwoods Monster and Mothman.8
Interdimensional/Alien Theories: Both the Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster are often theorized to be extraterrestrial beings, interdimensional travelers, or creatures created by secret government experiments.
The Men in Black: The Mothman sightings were often accompanied by reports of the mysterious Men in Black (MIB)—sinister, dark-suited men who would allegedly intimidate witnesses and discourage them from speaking about their encounters, tying the local legends directly into wider 1960s UFO paranoia.9
The paranormal is so ingrained in West Virginia’s cultural identity that the state has established an official
West Virginia Paranormal Trail for tourists interested in exploring these famous locations.
The paranormal landscape in West Virginia is broadly divided into three main categories: Famous Cryptids, Legendary Ghosts & Hauntings, and UFO/Alien Encounters.
1. Famous Cryptids and Monster Legends2
West Virginia is often called the “Cryptid Capital of the World” due to its concentration of legendary creatures, many of which have achieved international fame.
Mothman
Point Pleasant (1966-1967)
The state’s most famous creature. Described as a man-sized, winged figure with large, glowing red eyes. Its sightings were concentrated around the collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967, leading to the popular belief that the creature is a harbinger of doom or a supernatural warning. The town of Point Pleasant embraces the legend with a museum and annual festival.
Flatwoods Monster
Flatwoods (1952)
Also known as the Braxton County Monster. Following a UFO sighting, a group of locals encountered a 10-foot-tall, non-humanoid figure with a spade-shaped head, glowing eyes, and a metallic, skirt-like covering. The area reportedly smelled of a noxious mist. It is often linked to Cold War-era UFO and alien encounters.
Sheepsquatch
Southwestern WV (1990s)
A bizarre, large creature described as being covered in fluffy white wool, with ram-like horns, sharp teeth and claws, and sometimes walking upright. It is frequently sighted in the remote areas near the former TNT plant.
Grafton Monster
Grafton (1960s)
A tall, hulking, headless creature with smooth, pale, seal-like skin. Sightings began along the Tygart Valley River.
Ogua
Monongahela River
A legendary river monster, often described as a massive serpent or turtle, which dates back to Native American and early settler folklore.
2. Legendary Ghosts and Hauntings
The state’s history of war, poverty, mining disasters, and institutional abuse has left behind numerous intensely haunted locations.
Institutional Horror: The most famous sites are the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (Weston) and the West Virginia Penitentiary (Moundsville). Both are National Historic Landmarks that offer paranormal tours, with reports of aggressive spirit encounters, shadow figures, and the ghosts of former patients and inmates.
Cursed Land: Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is built on an ancient Native American burial ground and the site of a colonial massacre.4 A series of fatal accidents led to its abandonment, and it is now infamous for the restless spirits of both the Native Americans and the children who died there.
The Greenbrier Ghost: One of the state’s most unique stories is the legend of Elva Zona Heaster Shue (1897).5 Her spirit allegedly appeared to her mother, revealing that her husband had murdered her.6 The mother’s ghostly testimony was used in the subsequent trial, which led to the husband’s conviction—the only documented case in American legal history where a ghost’s testimony helped solve a murder.
Historical Hauntings: Towns like Harpers Ferry are saturated with Civil War-era ghosts, while the Droop Mountain Battlefield is said to echo with the sounds of battle and the ghosts of soldiers.7
3. UFOs and Extraterrestrial Theories
West Virginia has a notable place in the history of Ufology, primarily due to the legends surrounding the Flatwoods Monster and Mothman.8
Interdimensional/Alien Theories: Both the Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster are often theorized to be extraterrestrial beings, interdimensional travelers, or creatures created by secret government experiments.
The Men in Black: The Mothman sightings were often accompanied by reports of the mysterious Men in Black (MIB)—sinister, dark-suited men who would allegedly intimidate witnesses and discourage them from speaking about their encounters, tying the local legends directly into wider 1960s UFO paranoia.9
The paranormal is so ingrained in West Virginia’s cultural identity that the state has established an official
West Virginia Paranormal Trail for tourists interested in exploring these famous locations.
Explore West Virginia’s Most Intriguing Mysteries
StrangeWV is dedicated to uncovering the eerie and fascinating stories that make West Virginia unique, inviting curious minds to delve into the state’s mysterious and unusual heritage.
