September 12, 1952. A fiery light streaks across the sky over Flatwoods, West Virginia. A group of kids and a mother, drawn to the glow, stumble upon a ten-foot creature in the misty woods. Its eyes burn orange, and the air turns heavy. The Flatwoods Monster sparked a mystery that lingers today.
Was it an extraterrestrial visitor, as some claim? Or a trick of the night, born from fear and shadows? The story, rooted in a small town, has grown into a legend, captivating paranormal enthusiasts and skeptics alike.
What landed in the hills of Flatwoods? Let’s uncover the creature, the encounter, and its legacy.
What is the Flatwoods Monster?
A shadow moves through the fog, its orange eyes glowing. The Flatwoods Monster, also called the Braxton County Monster or Green Monster, is a ten-foot cryptid reported in Flatwoods, West Virginia, on September 12, 1952. Witnesses described a figure with a spade-shaped head, claw-like hands, and a metallic skirt-like base, gliding as if otherworldly.
Some call it an alien, tied to the UFO craze of the 1950s. Others see it as a misidentified animal or a hoax fueled by Cold War fears. No evidence proves its existence, yet the story endures. Is it a visitor from the stars or a trick of the night? The mystery draws curious minds to Flatwoods.
Quick Fact: What is the Flatwoods Monster?
The Flatwoods Monster is a ten-foot cryptid sighted in Flatwoods, West Virginia, on September 12, 1952. Witnesses reported a spade-headed creature with orange glowing eyes, claw-like hands, and a metallic skirt-like base, gliding eerily. Known as the Braxton County Monster, this UFO-linked mystery endures.
The night that changed flatwoods
Dusk settled over Flatwoods, West Virginia, on September 12, 1952. A group of boys—Eddie and Freddie May, Tommy Hyer, Neil Nunley, and Ronnie Shaver—played outside when a bright object blazed across the sky, crashing on a nearby hill. Curious, they grabbed Kathleen May, the boys’ mother, and Gene Lemon, a 17-year-old National Guardsman, to investigate.
The group, joined by a dog, trekked up the hill. A pulsating red light glowed through the fog. Then, they saw it. A ten-foot creature loomed, its spade-shaped head framed by glowing orange eyes. “It glided, hissing, not touching the ground,” Kathleen May told the Braxton Democrat. Its claw-like hands and metallic skirt shimmered.
The forest went still. A rancid odor choked them, burning their throats. The dog howled and bolted. “It was like nothing human,” Gene Lemon said. Panic took over. The group fled, hearts racing.
Back in town, they reported the sighting to police. Nausea and dizziness plagued them, their throats raw. The next day, media swarmed—reporters from the Charleston Gazette descended. The story gripped the nation.
Days later, men claiming to be reporters interviewed the witnesses, pressing for details. They were military personnel. “Their questions felt secretive,” Kathleen recalled. This fueled cover-up rumors, though no proof surfaced.
The sighting wasn’t isolated. In September 1952, Braxton County buzzed with reports of strange lights and objects in the sky. UFO sightings continued in West Virginia through the 1960s, often unexplained. “No official records confirm these reports,” experts note, but they reflect UFO fever.
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Searching for evidence
The Flatwoods Monster drew serious scrutiny. The U.S. Air Force’s Project Blue Book investigated, labeling it “unexplained.” Their interest suggests concern over UFO reports. Some linked the initial light to a meteor. Yet, the creature defied explanation.
Physical traces offered clues. Searchers found oily residue and faint skid marks at the site. A foul odor lingered, matching the witnesses’ choking stench. Tests on the residue were inconclusive, and marks may have been natural. “The evidence was suggestive, but not definitive,” investigators said.
Cover-up rumors swirled. Locals claimed the military hid findings, especially after secretive interviews. “They took something,” one resident said, though no proof emerged. Official reports found no extraterrestrial evidence.
The 1950s’ UFO craze, fueled by Cold War fears, shaped the frenzy. No expert has cracked the case, leaving it a puzzle.
Was it just an owl?
Skeptics dismiss the alien story. A barn owl, its eyes reflecting light, could look eerie. “An owl on a branch might seem otherworldly,” experts say. UFO enthusiasts link it to aliens, but no evidence supports this.
A meteor likely sparked fear that night. The odor and nausea? Possibly hysteria, psychologists suggest. “It was no bird,” Kathleen May insisted. The creature’s size and motion don’t match an owl, witnesses argue. The debate rages on.
A legend in pop culture
The Flatwoods Monster is a cultural star. It stalks West Virginia in Fallout 76. A 2025 anime series brought it global fame. The Flatwoods Monster: A Legacy of Fear on Apple TV explores the tale, a must-watch.
Fans build it with plastic brick sets. It charmed crowds at the Mrs. America Competition. The Flatwoods Monster Museum in Sutton draws visitors. “It’s an icon,” a guide said.
Books About the Flatwoods Monster
Curious about the Flatwoods Monster? Several books dive into the 1952 mystery.
- The Braxton County Monster by Frank C. Feschino, Jr. (2012) offers a deep dive with over 200 visuals, claiming a UFO cover-up, though its style can be repetitive.
- George Dudding’s The Flatwoods Monster (2014) is a short intro but has disputed details. Mark A. Randall’s
- The Flatwoods Monster (2023) pairs the story with 20 colorful illustrations, perfect for visual fans.
Visit Flatwoods
Plan a trip to the Flatwoods Monster Museum in Sutton, West Virginia. See sketches and learn about 1952. The sighting site offers a spooky hike for explorers.
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My thoughts on the Flatwoods Monster
The answer to the question, “What was the Flatwoods Monster?” remains elusive.
Witnesses swear by their 1952 tale of a hissing, glowing figure. Skeptics point to owls and meteors. Oily residue and skid marks hint at something strange, but prove nothing.
My suspicion is that on that night in 1952, an alien ship came down and they all encountered an alien in some version of an environmental suit. After reading countless reports from early alien encounters, many of them seem to be wearing a protective suit of some sort.
A good example of this with be the Falkville Metal Man. If we landed on an alien world, we would wear environmental suits, so it is logical that aliens coming here would do the same.
The gas it emitted may have been a side effect of the suit or just a defense mechanism. A ship that had crashed and needed repairs would also account for the smell, skid marks, and the oily substance they found.
Ultimately, we will never know the whole truth of the Flatwoods Monster, but it will forever remain as one of the most intriguing alien encounters ever recorded.
8 Responses
The next time it starts gliding towards you give it a hug and embrace it in your arms, maybe it will take you away to a nice paradise…. and give it kiss too. Maybe it can swap juices with you.
Ding dang it boy don’t you have a distasteful website where you can whine about getting grabbed up by some doohickey thingy this is a website for paranormal researchers not whiny city boys
Hold on there Chet just go lay down and take a nice nap. You’ve been hunting ghosts since that one took your wife away from you and never found it it’s time someone younger took up your strife
Dang it Deadeye I swore to capture every ghost till I found the one who took my Donna
and I ain’t about to rest now
Well if you can catch them I say more power to you but you could be right it was more than likely one of Mal’s tricks I bet he’s got your donna
Dam it Mal I ought to put you over my knee and paddle your backside till you can only sit on your head! How’d you like that Mal??
Go to hell Chester and when you get there you can kiss my ass
When I go there I’ll take you to hell with me Mal