Deep in the heart of West Virginia lies a decades-old mystery that may never be solved. This mystery, which unfolded in and around the woods and hills of Braxton County, centers on the unexplained appearance of an alien life-form that has come to be known as the Flatwoods Monster.

‘Twas back in the fall of 1952 that four young lads were playing about dusk in the town of Flatwoods, just north of Sutton, when they saw a streak of light flash across the sky and into the side of a nearby hill. Finding some adults, they hurried to the spot to investigate, and were faced with a massive, contorted monster with glowing eyes rising out of a noxious mist and levitating toward them.

Fleeing for dear life, the group reported the event to the authorities… who, of course, found nothing when they arrived at the site.

On the very next night, a family traveling on a deserted stretch of Route 4 nearby had a terrifying experience of their own: their car unexpectedly shut off, and as they were trying to restart it, the same hideous form (with the same sickly odor) appeared beside the car. After the apparition floated away into the woods, their car inexplicably began operating normally again and they escaped.

These are only two of a number of strange encounters that have been documented on and around early September, 1952, in the Braxton County area. Together, these corroborating accounts have developed into a formidable legend of the creature that has become known as the Flatwoods Monster (or, affectionately, “Braxxie”).

Though the monster apparently did not stay in the area, it left a lasting impact on the local community. To find out how much of an impact, one needs only visit the small towns in Braxton County - and your first stop should be the Flatwoods Monster Museum in downtown Sutton.

The Flatwoods Monster Museum is full of information and paraphernalia related to the Flatwoods Monster, including many historic artifacts. The monster’s fame has spread far and wide, and over the years it has been featured in books, video games, and film entertainment. The museum documents many of these, along with the original accounts of the eyewitnesses. Its friendly, down-to-earth curator will be glad to tell (and listen to) stories of the bizarre and paranormal.

This free museum happens to double as the Braxton County Visitor’s Center. It’s also your home base for following the trail of the five Flatwood Monster chairs, mega chairs with monster artwork that are scattered around the nearby Braxton County countryside. You can pick up a map showing each chair’s location at the museum.

Finally, after you complete your scavenger hunt, head over to the monster-themed Spot restaurant in the town of Flatwoods to enjoy monster-themed lunch or dinner fare.

What really happened on those nights in September 1952? We may never know for sure, but it’s fun to explore the bizarre possibilities at the Flatwoods Monster Museum in Sutton, WV! Learn more about this museum (and the legend it perpetuates) on the Flatwoods Monster Museum Facebook page. And while you're in Braxton County, be sure to check out the neighboring Bigfoot Museum, too!