Minnesota

1Pepie Told story

Water monster · Lake Pepin near Lake City, Wabasha County (Minnesota-Wisconsin line) · first reported 1871 · also called Lake Pepin Serpent, Lake Pepin Monster

Lake Pepin is a wide stretch of the Mississippi River between Minnesota and Wisconsin, and its monster is called Pepie. Reports go back to an 1871 newspaper story of a sea serpent more than 30 feet long. In 1968, two fishermen were said to watch a large dome-shaped back roll through the water. Some writers connect Pepie to older Native traditions about the river. Interest has not faded: in 2008, residents offered a $50,000 reward for proof that the creature exists, according to one folklore collection. Large lake sturgeon, paddlefish, gar and floating logs are all suggested as sources for the sightings.

• 1871Told story A newspaper reported a sea serpent more than 30 feet long in Lake Pepin. Source: hangar1publishing.com
• 1968Told story Two fishermen reportedly saw a large, dome-shaped back moving through the water in an undulating way. Source: hangar1publishing.com
• 2008On the record A $50,000 reward was offered for proof of the creature, drawing new attention to the legend. Source: folkbestiary.com

Visiting: Lake City's waterfront and marina on Lake Pepin.

2Hairy Man of Vergas Told story

Ape-like · Wooded trails south of Vergas, Otter Tail County · first reported 1970s · also called Vergas Hairy Man

Vergas is a small lake-country town in west-central Minnesota, and its woods south of town are home to a legend called the Hairy Man. Stories from the 1970s describe a creature seven to eight feet tall whose piercing screams carried through the trees. In the mid-1970s, the reports drew regional news coverage. Large footprints were said to be found, but nothing conclusive turned up. The story is still repeated in collections of Minnesota folklore, though detailed records are hard to find. Skeptics point to bears, owls and the excitement of a good story spreading among teenagers.

• Mid-1970sTold story Reports of a tall hairy figure and loud screams near trails south of town reached regional newspapers. Large footprints were found, but no proof. Source: folkbestiary.com

3Minnesota Iceman Proven hoax

Ape-like · Toured from Minnesota; now in Austin, Texas · first reported 1967-1968

In the late 1960s, showman Frank Hansen toured fairs and shopping malls with what he called a hairy man frozen in a block of ice. He claimed it came from Siberia and that he was only its caretaker for a wealthy owner. In 1968 the researchers Ivan Sanderson and Bernard Heuvelmans examined it through the ice, and Heuvelmans even proposed a scientific name. The Smithsonian's John Napier looked into it and found Hansen had commissioned a latex model from a West Coast company in 1967. Most people now consider it a sideshow hoax, although some argue a real body was swapped for the model. In 2013 it was sold on eBay to a museum in Austin, Texas.

• 1968-1969Proven hoax Sanderson and Heuvelmans studied the frozen figure and wrote about it, including in Argosy magazine in April 1969. Napier's investigation concluded it was a latex model. Source: en.wikipedia.org
• February 2013On the record The exhibit was sold on eBay to Steve Busti, owner of the Museum of the Weird in Austin, Texas, where it went on display. Source: en.wikipedia.org

Visiting: Museum of the Weird, Austin, Texas (the figure is no longer in Minnesota).

4Vermie Told story

Water monster · Lake Vermilion, St. Louis County · first reported late 1800s (legend) · also called Lake Vermilion Monster

Lake Vermilion, a big island-dotted lake in Minnesota's northern lake country, is said to hide a giant snake-like beast nicknamed Vermie. The legend reportedly dates to the late 1800s, when the area was opening up to mining and logging. Details are scarce. No dated sightings or named witnesses turned up in the sources found, and it may be more of a local nickname than a long record of reports. Northern Minnesota lakes do hold big fish, including muskies and sturgeon, which are the usual suspects for monster stories. Vermie remains an obscure entry, worth a mention for road-trippers heading to the Iron Range.

Visiting: Public accesses around Lake Vermilion; Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park is on its shore.

5St. Croix Hoop Snake Told story

Other · St. Croix River valley, Minnesota-Wisconsin border · first reported unknown · also called Hoop snake

The hoop snake is an old American tall tale: a snake that bites its own tail and rolls after its prey like a wheel, then straightens out and strikes with a venomous tail. The only escape is to dodge behind a tree, which takes the hit and dies. Folklore records include alleged sightings in the St. Croix River valley on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, including around Hudson, Wisconsin. Science has never accepted the animal, and naturalist Raymond Ditmars offered a reward for proof that was never claimed. Suggested sources include mud snakes curled in a loop and snakes seen swallowing their own tails.

6Wendigo in Minnesota Told story

Humanoid · Northern Minnesota forests · first reported Algonquian tradition · also called Windigo

The Wendigo comes from the living traditions of Algonquian-speaking peoples, including the Ojibwe of northern Minnesota, where it is tied to winter, hunger and greed. Many Native people consider it a serious subject rather than entertainment. Modern campers sometimes report screams and tall silhouettes in the north woods. See the main Wendigo dossier.

Full story: Wendigo →

7Bigfoot in Minnesota Investigated report

Ape-like · Northern Minnesota; most reports in St. Louis, Itasca and Beltrami counties · first reported 1908 (claimed)

The BFRO lists about 80 Minnesota reports, most from St. Louis, Itasca and Beltrami counties. Cryptid writers also cite a claimed 1908 encounter near White Earth and a run of reports along the Kettle River from 2008 that drew a Finding Bigfoot town hall in 2011. See the main Bigfoot dossier.

Full story: Bigfoot →

8Dogman in Minnesota Told story

Humanoid · Northern Minnesota, including the Long Prairie area · first reported unknown

Upright canine reports similar to Michigan's Dogman and Wisconsin's Beast of Bray Road also come from Minnesota, with the Long Prairie area named in one cryptid list. See the main Dogman dossier.

Full story: Michigan Dogman →