Ohio’s Most Famous Urban Legend: A Haunting Tale for Curious Travelers

You would never expect the small, unsassuming town of Gallipolis, Ohio, to be haunted by a folkloric monster, but that’s just what you’ll find in this enclave that sits on the West Virginia border. While most people associate the nearby town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, with the aforementioned diabolical creature, Gallipolis also has a claim to being this monster’s hometown.

The chilling history of the Mothman began in 1966 when a humanoid, flying creature was spotted on a remote, country road near Gallipolis. The first account was recorded on November 15, 1966, when two couples spotted the creature while driving down a deserted street. Red, glowing eyes, huge wings, and a humanoid body were the descriptions these frightened travelers gave to the local police station. 

More sightings followed the original account, culminating with the Silver Bridge collapse on December 15, 1967. Countless locals claimed to have seen the Mothman near the bridge just before it crashed into the Ohio River, killing 46 people. Adding even more fuel to the fire, two of the victims were never found. Many residents began to believe that seeing the Mothman was an evil omen and harbinger of bad things to come. Investigators stated that an eyebar in the suspension bridge was the cause of the collapse, and the way American bridges were built changed forever following the incident.

The Mothman Museum is located just across the river from Gallipolis in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, a drive of less than 15 minutes. Here, you’ll find everything from newspaper clippings to eyewitness accounts and historic documents. You can also check out the iconic Mothman statue in Point Pleasant, which happens to make for a fun photo opportunity and proof that you explored the town where Mothman himself was sighted. Visitors can further stoke their fear flames by watching the Mothman Prophecies, a 2002 film on the creature that took place in Pittsburgh, before visiting Gallipolis and Point Pleasant.

Many have tried to explain away the sightings of Mothman by saying it was a migrating sandhill crane or a barn owl, but locals are still haunted by this winged beast. Critics point to mass hysteria as a cause of the sightings that followed the original account. Although exploring the nearby forests, it isn’t difficult to see why locals believed a creature of this size could be hiding in the hills.

Gallipolis is small-town Americana at its finest, a tiny river town with deep history. The third-oldest settlement in the state, Gallipolis, was founded by French explorers in 1790. In fact, “Gallipolis” means “City of the Gauls,” an homage to the original name for France before it was changed in the 5th century. Although there were no accounts of Mothman until 1966, some theorists believe the creature could be associated with the Native American myth of the Thunderbird.

For those stopping by town to delve into all things Mothman, pay a visit to the Our House Tavern Museum—a tavern from 1819—or the Gallipolis Railway Freight Station Museum. For history buffs, Fort Randolph is another fun stop that’s perched just across the river and offers a window into the city’s storied past. If your stomach is rumbling, it’s also worth your while to stop by the Tuscany Italian Restaurant, where you’ll find homemade bruschetta and pasta. If you happen by over the holidays, Gallipolis is home to one of our favorite Christmas lights displays in Ohio.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip to Gallipolis using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.