Nebraska

1Alkali Lake Monster Proven hoax

Water monster · Walgren Lake (formerly Alkali Lake), near Hay Springs, Sheridan County · first reported 1921 · also called Walgren Lake Monster, Giganticus Brutervious

Walgren Lake is a small lake in the Nebraska Sandhills near Hay Springs, once called Alkali Lake. In 1921 the Hay Springs News began running stories about a huge creature in it, and in 1923 the Omaha World-Herald quoted local man J.A. Johnson describing a 40-foot, gray-brown animal with a horn between its eyes. Other tellings made it a fire-spitting beast that ate calves. Historian Louise Pound later traced the tale to Chadron newspaperman John G. Maher, a known prankster who sent it to papers as far as London. The Federal Writers' Project gave it a mock Latin name in 1938. Some think Johnson simply saw a large beaver. Hay Springs still treats it as a point of pride.

• 1921Proven hoax The Hay Springs News printed the first monster story under a joking headline about a whale of an animal. Source: history.nebraska.gov
• 1923On the record The Omaha World-Herald published J.A. Johnson's account of a 40-foot, dull gray-brown creature with a horn-like object between its eyes and nostrils. Source: history.nebraska.gov
• About 1950Proven hoax Photographers Vangraven and Thomas produced a staged photo titled The monster of Big Alkali. Source: history.nebraska.gov

Visiting: Walgren Lake State Recreation Area near Hay Springs.

2Missouri River Serpent of 1885 Proven hoax

Water monster · Missouri River at the Union Pacific bridge, Omaha · first reported Apr 1, 1885

On April 1, 1885, the Omaha Daily Bee treated readers to a breathless report of a gigantic serpent in the Missouri River. Timed bulletins tracked the 50-foot, black-scaled monster, complete with upright ears and flaming red eyes, as it swam toward the Union Pacific bridge and supposedly damaged it. The paper even described its call as a cross between a homesick foghorn and a sentimental song. At 4 p.m. the Bee admitted the whole thing was an April Fool lie. It is a fine example of 19th-century newspaper humor, and a reminder that some old monster reports were never meant to be believed.

• Apr 1-2, 1885Proven hoax The Omaha Daily Bee ran a series of mock bulletins about a river serpent near the Union Pacific bridge before revealing it was an April Fool joke. Source: history.nebraska.gov

3Oggie Told story

Water monster · Lake Ogallala, below Kingsley Dam, Keith County · first reported unknown · also called Lake Ogallala Monster

Lake Ogallala is a small lake below Kingsley Dam and big Lake McConaughy in western Nebraska. A cryptid publisher lists a serpent nicknamed Oggie there, said to reach about 20 feet, to prey on waterfowl and to surface like a whale. No dated sightings or named witnesses were found. The nickname follows the pattern of Nessie and Ogopogo, which suggests a modern, possibly tongue-in-cheek local legend. Nebraska's reservoirs hold large fish such as carp, catfish and paddlefish, which would be the first suspects in any real report.

Visiting: Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area.

4Valentine Clothesline Catfish Told story

Water monster · Valentine, Cherry County (with Verdigre and Neligh) · first reported July 26, 1907

In July 1907, the Norfolk Weekly News-Journal gathered three escalating fish stories from northeast Nebraska. In Verdigre, a catfish supposedly swallowed a three-pound fish already on the hook and was landed too. In Neligh, a giant fish was said to gulp two hooked fish and drag a man across the stream. Valentine topped them all with a 102-pound catfish caught while hanging onto a clothesline rope, at first mistaken for a drowning person. The paper joked that the tales showed the Western urge to always do more. They are tall tales rather than cryptid sightings, but they capture the spirit of Plains fish lore.

• July 26, 1907Told story The Norfolk Weekly News-Journal printed the three fish stories and gently doubted the Valentine one. Source: history.nebraska.gov

5Bigfoot in Nebraska Investigated report

Ape-like · Douglas, Dawes and Sarpy counties; Pine Ridge area · first reported 1974 (claimed)

The BFRO lists under 20 Nebraska reports, including a 2024 daylight sighting near Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha. Cryptid writers also cite 1974 reports at Fontenelle Forest and near Blue Springs. See the main Bigfoot dossier.

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