Creature information | |
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Other name(s) | Grafton monster |
Grouping | West Virginia cryptid |
Origin | |
Region | Grafton, West Virginia |
Part of a series on the |
Paranormal |
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In West Virginia folklore, the Grafton Monster, is a boulder-like creature that has been spotted around Grafton, West Virginia in 1964. [1] [2] [3] [4]
On June 15, 1964, around 11 p.m., Grafton Sentinel reporter Robert Cockrell spotted a mysterious creature in Grafton while he was on the road near the Tygart Valley River. This creature was large, standing around 7-9 feet tall, white, hairy, and without a noticeable head. After witnessing this encounter, Cockrell was eager to write an article about the monster, but the editors of the paper initially rejected his report, finding it unbelievable. However, after more sources began to witness similar encounters, the news outlet allowed Cockrell to publish the report. Following Cockrell’s report, numerous individuals claimed to have seen the creature, leading to widespread interest and local investigations. [5] [6]
In 2024, Grafton, West Virginia hosted the inaugural Grafton Monster festival, a two-day event in June to celebrate the Grafton monster and West Virginia folklore. [7] [8] This also included the soft launch of the Grafton Monster Museum, located on Main Street. [9] [10]