The Mothman: All You Need to Know About the Mysterious Point Pleasant Cryptid
When it comes to mysterious monsters beyond the realm of science, the Mothman is practically an Appalachian household name.
Cryptozoology is the study of certain mysterious animal-like figures that haven’t been confirmed by science (yet). Bigfoot, the Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster are some of the most well-known and beloved figures of local legend. Point Pleasant, West Virginia has a cryptid of its own—the Mothman. Who is he? Is he a warning of future tragedies, misunderstood wild creature, or just a figment of local imagination?
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Who (or What) is the Mothman?
In the fall of 1966, two couples reported an interaction with a giant, flying creature that would change the town’s lore forever. Steve and Mary Mallette and Roger and Linda Scarberry were driving around 11:30pm when they noticed a large, winged figure ahead near a vacant power plant in the distance.
The men described the figure as nearly seven feet tall with a ten-foot wingspan. They said it had glowing red eyes and was a bit of a clumsy runner. But what it lacked in track skills the creature made up for with its flight. As the car and its riders attempted to politely GTFO of there, the creature, now airborn and following them, kept pace with their vehicle, reaching speeds of at least 100 MPH.
Witnesses noted that the creature was avoiding their headlights, and its eyes only glowed red when they caught the light, similar to a nocturnal animal, and that it was a light grey in color. The couples managed to leave the monster behind, but when they returned, the creature was still there, as if it were waiting for them.
The name that would eventually be given to the creature, Mothman, is said to be inspired by the style and vibe of the Batman comics. Though many witnesses describe this cryptid as less of a moth and more of a bird or creepy angel type, the villain Killer Moth is thought to have inspired the creature’s name.
Simple Cryptid or Foreboding Omen?
After the report, authorities went back to the power plant around 2 am to search for the creature. They were unable to locate the creature, but local media took the story and ran with it. Over the following year, several more sightings of the Mothman were reported. West Virginia University wildlife biologist Robert L. Smith attributed the strange creature’s appearance to irregular migration patterns of the sandhill crane—but the townsfolk’s belief in the Mothman would continue nonetheless.
In December of 1967, tragedy struck the town of Point Pleasant. The Silver Bridge reached across the river to connect the states of West Virginia and Ohio. The bridge, built in 1928, tragically collapsed into the river in the middle of rush hour—resulting in the deaths of 46 people.
An investigation revealed that an eyebar in one of the suspension chains caused the cataclysm. But this event, combined with the frequent and eerie sightings of the mysterious Mothman, led many to speculate that the creature’s appearance was an effort to warn the townspeople of the tragedy to come.
A film was later made based on the writings of UFOlogist John Keel. In Keel’s 1975 book The Mothman Prophecies, the journalist collected evidence to support a connection between the local legendary creature and the tragic bridge collapse. In 2002, Keel’s Mothman theories were loosely adapted in a film of the same title starring Richard Gere.
Is the Mothman Good or Evil?
It’s a tough question—historical facts tell us that the Silver Bridge collapsed due to comprehensive structural issues. There aren’t any legends about a local shadowy creature knocking around the bridge with a giant wrench or anything. Rather than being purely good or purely evil, it seems like the Mothman is just pure (foreboding) vibes.
Catching a glimpse of the Mothman will inspire different emotions based on what you believe about him. If you believe, like many in Point Pleasant did, that his arrival foretold the collapse of the Silver Bridge, then seeing him may not be your idea of a party. Did you leave the stove on? Better go check, and nevermind that giant, red-eyed flying thing in the bushes over there.
But you might believe, as I do, that the Mothman is just a cryptid out here trying to live a peaceful life. Perhaps it found a nice, cozy shelter in a quaint little town with a vacant power plant. And, just minding its own business, the Mothman accidentally became connected to one of the town’s biggest historical events.
The Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant, WV
These days, if you travel to Point Pleasant, WV, you’re almost guaranteed to see the Mothman. That’s because his legend has put the town on the map—and there’s no better symbol of that than the famous Mothman statue.
Visitors can find it right beside the Mothman Museum—a perfect slice of Americana in a cozy little town. The museum was featured in Fallout ’76, where the cryptid is worshiped by an Appalachian cult in the post-Great War era. In the game, there are actually a variety of mothmen—creatures that mutated after a nuclear holocaust.
The real-life museum features magazine clippings and other testimonies from the initial year of Mothman sightings. There are displays about the bridge, movie memorabilia, and dozens of great selfie opportunities with life-sized artist imaginings of the local cryptid.
How to Play This Cryptid in RPGs Like DnD, Call of Cthulhu, and More
Bringing the Mothman to your RPG table is very doable. He’d likely come to life as an NPC. This Appalachian creature would fit nicely into several RPGs, from D&D to Call of Cthulhu and beyond.
The Mothman in D&D
According to our in-house homebrew expert Meaghan, it would depend on your views on the cryptid. Is he tied to tragedy, an ill omen of sorts? “I’d go with Wild Magic Sorcerer. He probably doesn’t mean for random bad sh*t to happen, but it does sometimes.
But if you’re like me and you like your Mothman benevolent, we could go with a Chrono Wizard.
How would you incorporate the Mothman into your game night?
