4 Strange Creatures And Cryptids That Have Been Spotted In Kansas Throughout History

Kansas isn't famously known for cryptid activity, as most of the strange happenings in the world seem to be centered in larger cities and mountain areas. However, these Kansas cryptids have had a few chilling sightings that just can't be ignored. Have you seen any of these legends during your travels in Kansas? Tell us about them in the comments!

1. Sinkhole Sam

Sinkhole Sam is a longtime legend from the Inman lake area in McPherson County. Legend has it that after the Inman lakes area was drained, it left "sinkholes" behind as shallow puddles, the largest being named "the Big Sinkhole." Two men were reportedly fishing in the Big Sinkhole and saw Sam, describing it as a long snake-like creature measuring somewhere around 15 feet long and as wide as an automobile tire.

The creature was allegedly living in caverns below the freshwater lakes, which would serve as the perfect hiding place and reason no one else had seen Sam before. Some speculated the creature to actually be a "Foopengerkle", some species thought to be extinct and one that this writer certainly has never heard of before. No one has found any more evidence of Sinkhole Sam, but many explain it away with the underground cavern home theory.

2. Beaman

The Beaman is a monster of the Kansas City area, and has reportedly been spotted on both sides of the state border. The legend can be traced back into the earlier 1900s when it's said that a circus train wrecked and a 12-foot-tall gorilla escaped. Many believe the real "Beaman" sightings were of the offspring of this escaped gorilla, and haven't been able to catch it yet.

Other sightings have compared the animal to more of a coyote or wolf but standing on two legs, and just a little too human looking to be a normal animal. Footprints have been found spaced out too far to be a normal man's stride, but no sightings have happened for a while, likely due to the alleged escaped gorilla's lifespan.

3. Bigfoot

Way down in the southeast corner of Kansas where it meets the other states, there have been reports of Bigfoot sightings, with some reports dating back at least 100 years or more. Soon after the Civil War, in Crawford County, there were reports of a wild man or gorilla roaming the wooded areas either on its back legs or all fours. According to the report, it looked too much like a man to shoot at, and no one was able to capture it to know for sure.

Other sightings describe the same sort of creature, with shaggy hair five to six inches long and a very wide gait. Plenty of people are skeptical due to hoax calls and practical jokers, but the people who see Bigfoot out in the wild often believe in him forever after that.

4. Pterosaur

Now that we've had our share of furry giant men in the forest, the next sightings are of a long-extinct (or is it) dinosaur known as the Pterosaur. This creature was actually native to Kansas millions of years ago, back when the western Interior Seaway covered most of our region with a wide expanse of water. The largest pterosaur fossil had a wingspan of more than 25 feet, which is mind-blowing to think about flapping around the sky.

Like modern birds, their bones were hollow, allowing for easier flight as they glid through the skies. They've been sighted all over the world, but multiple witnesses have spotted at least one in Kansas, west of Cheyenne Bottoms. Considering the Pterosaur's wingspan, it would be hard to confuse it for a large seabird, because there's simply no bird to compare it to, considering the Great Albatross has a wingspan only reaching about 11 feet. Considering they've been spotted all over the world, what do you think about a few still existing today?

If you've seen a cryptid in Kansas, please let us know about your experience in the comments! Cryptid hunting is always a fun pastime to exchange stories about, especially if you live in the same state. However, if you like your history a little more solid and proven, check out these 9 historic sites in Kansas perfect for a day trip.