Are You Brave Enough to Face the Mothman?

Did you see the Mothman Prophecies (2002) with Richard Gere and Debra Messing? If you did, you may remember that the city mentioned in the movie was Point Pleasant, West Virginia. This is a very small community and shares a border with Ohio. Perhaps, one of the most notable events was the collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967, which killed 46 people. The bridge spanned the Ohio River between Point Pleasant and Kanaugua, Ohio.

The Silver Bridge disaster is somewhat connected to the Mothman because all over the world people have reported seeing Mothman before a great tragedy struck. However, Point Pleasant is the supposed origins due to the fact it was supposed to live in the area of an old World War II TNT plant.

Every year, there is the Mothman festival where everything has to do with the famous Mothman. For those fascinated with possible strange creatures and the eerie feeling that this creature brings about, the festival can be a lot of fun. I’ve been there and so have many of my friends since we live within two hours of the Point Pleasant area.

Nevertheless, this town has a lot of history that goes outside of the winged monster. For instance, the Battle of Point Pleasant occurred in 1774 and is where Colonel Andrew Lewis defeated Chief Cornstalk, a Shawnee Indian Chief, in a battle. This was actually the first battle of the American Revolution and a monument has been erected in honor of this fact. Fort Randolph was where Point Pleasant sits now, so a replica of the fort has been built close by.

But despite this nice historical aspect, everything goes back to the Mothman. This seems to be the main attraction and for good reason. Towns usually have beautiful statutes and monuments, but in Point Pleasant you have the statue of a monster that started scaring couples in cars and eating the dogs of farmers in 1966. Witnesses described the monster to be 7 feet tall with a shriek that was excruciating to the ears. The most prominent feature when seen in the dark was the glowing red eyes. Over 100 locals said they saw this monster over a one year period.

There have been many theories surrounding origins of the beast. Some believe it is the result of a curse by Chief Cornstalk, while others blame chemical dumps. No matter the reason for this alleged existence, it has sparked much interest in the Point Pleasant area. However after the Silver Bridge collapsed, the Mothman sightings stopped. Some believe a sonic boom from its wings caused the collapse, while others believe the Mothman’s presence was to warn the people of Point Pleasant of imminent danger, especially since Mothman sightings around the world have always been prior to a tragedy. No matter what, a mark has forever been placed on the area.

If you want to check it out, you can make a day trip out of it if you live close. However, individuals from around the world flock to the area to see the place where the Mothman terrorized citizens for over a year. For lodging, there are bed and breakfasts and small hotels. There are also a number of local restaurants in the area. And yes, you can buy souvenirs at various places, such as gas stations, and in the downtown area.