The mystery of Mothman has captured the attention of people around the world, and Point Pleasant in West Virginia is keeping the legend of this curious cryptid alive. From a museum to a metallic Mothman statue, here are six Mothman attractions for you to visit in Point Pleasant!
The Legend of Mothman
Mothman was a tall man-like flying creature that spooked the residents of Point Pleasant in the 1960s.
The sightings began on November 15, 1966, when two couples driving around a large, overgrown wildlife preserve known as The TNT Area saw the humanoid creature. As they approached an old powerplant, they spotted “a thing” with glowing red eyes disappearing around the side of the building.
The glimpse of this strange creature left them panicked, and the friends fled the area. But as they left the preserve, it appeared on a bank ahead. They later described it as a “thing which appeared to be a man about 6 feet tall with wings on its back and red eyes 2 inches in diameter and about 6 inches apart”. Despite driving at 100mph, the creature followed, gliding over the top of their car.
This sighting was just the beginning. Over the next thirteen months, multiple residents of Point Pleasant caught sight of the enigmatic Mothman. It wasn’t until 15th December 1967, when the Silver Bridge collapsed, killing 46 people, that the Mothman suddenly disappeared.
Mothman Attractions: Things To Do in Point Pleasant
If you’re looking to add a dash of Mothman to your trip to Point Pleasant, here are six things to do on your visit!
1. Find the Mothman Statue
The 12-foot metallic statue has watched over Point Pleasant since 2003. The sculpture, made by hand by artist Bob Roach, has become so popular it surprised even the artist himself. Tourists travel from around the world to take a photo with this silver Mothman. And if you can’t make it to Point Pleasant, you can watch the statue from the comfort of your home on the Mothman Museum’s livefeed!
2. Look Around the Mothman Museum
If you want to delve deep into the history and lore of Mothman, then the Mothman Museum is an attraction you don’t want to miss. This little museum has plenty of fascinating things to look at, including old newspaper clippings reporting on the events that unfolded in Point Pleasant. One of the most intriguing items is the original police depositions from those who reported seeing Mothman.
There’s a range of props and memorabilia from the 2002 film, The Mothman Prophecies, based on the book of the same name. The author, John Keel, visited West Virginia to investigate the peculiar events and also features in the museum exhibits.
3. Visit the TNT Area on a Mothman Tour
If you’re looking for Mothman things to do, the TNT area is a notable place in Mothman lore. The TNT area was the location of the first Mothman sighting when two couples saw the towering dark creature spread its giant wings and fly into the night sky. These eerie abandoned bunkers are also where the most sightings occurred.
The TNT Area is a large area of land used as an ammunition manufacturing facility during World War II. It’s an intriguing place, with large dome bunkers that once held explosives. It’s a chance to go back in time and roam the same paths the Scarberrys and Mallettes did in 1966 when they first spotted the Mothman.
Tours are available at the Mothman Museum or the Mothman Festival.
4. Attend the Mothman Festival
Every year people from around the world gather together to celebrate the curious cryptid at the Mothman Festival. The festival is held every third weekend in September with guest speakers, stalls, food and entertainment. The street fair is a fun, family-friendly weekend where you can eat Mothman-shaped pancakes while celebrating all things paranormal.
5. Visit the Silver Bridge Memorial
On December 15, 1967, exactly thirteen months after the first Mothman sighting, the Silver Bridge collapsed, killing 46 people. An investigation into the incident found that the cause was a small 2.5mm defect on a single eyebar on the suspension chain.
Author John Keel linked the disaster to the Mothman sightings – an omen of the upcoming tragedy. In his book, The Mothman Prophecies, Mary Hyre, a newspaper reporter, had a dream that prophesied the collapse. She dreamt of people drowning in the river surrounded by Christmas presents. After the bridge collapse, the Mothman wasn’t seen in Point Pleasant again.
You can find the memorial along the Ohio River, where the bridge once connected Point Pleasant to Gallipolis, Ohio. A mile downstream, in Henderson, you can also find the Silver Memorial Bridge, completed i6.n 1969.
6. Eat With the Mothman
As Point Pleasant embraces the Mothman legacy, it’s no surprise that local businesses do too. You can grab Mothman cookies and cupcakes at Coffee Grinder or a Mothman Pizza at Village Pizza Inn.
