Flatwoods beast
Field Report
The Flatwoods Beast, also called the Braxton County Monster, is a chilling figure reported in 1952 in Flatwoods, West Virginia. Local boys exploring a glowing object that fell from the sky claimed they encountered a towering creature with spade-shaped head, glowing eyes, and a body cloaked in dark, mechanical folds. The sighting sparked a media frenzy, drawing UFO investigators who tied it to other mid-century extraterrestrial encounters. Skeptics propose the witnesses saw an owl silhouetted by nearby lights, their terror amplifying the experience into something monstrous. Still, the Flatwoods Beast has become part of West Virginia identity, celebrated in festivals and roadside attractions. It remains a vivid example of how a single night’s fright can birth a legend that endures for generations, blending extraterrestrial dread with deep Appalachian storytelling.
Classification
Type:Non-Terrestrial
Location:United States, West Virginia, Flatwoods
Traits:Tall, spade-headed, glowing eyes, clawed hands, floating motion
Threat Assessment
Danger Level: 7.2
First Reported: 1952
Sightings: 5
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Behavioral Patterns
It stands rigid among trees, head swiveling slowly to track intruders. When lights shine on it, it slips behind trunks and vanishes.
Folklore & Origins
West Virginia families believed this metal-smelling figure was a punishment sent from above.
Media Documentation
Briefly covered by West Virginia newspapers in the 1950s after UFO encounters were reported. Now a staple of cryptid documentaries and local festivals. National outlets occasionally mention it as American roadside folklore.
Hoax Analysis
Flatwoods Beast has sparked speculation of hoax due to inconsistent eyewitness accounts, but no conclusive proof exists. Some suggest it may have been a misidentified owl or local prank.