Everyone is familiar with the legend of the Mothman, who was said to visit Point Pleasant, West Virginia, a terrifying number of times leading up to the devastating collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967. The reports of a giant moth-human hybrid man were reported numerous times over the weeks and days leading up to the catastrophic event, which took the lives of 46 people. The strange thing, however, is that these sightings continued to be reported well into the 70s and 80s.
The events following were so otherworldly and unusual that they garnered attention from Hollywood, which resulted in the movie The Mothman Prophecies starring Richard Gere. While there are many theories surrounding what the Mothman could actually be, one thing is for sure: West Virginia certainly enjoys celebrating its folklore. Whether a person is of the camp who believes in the legendary, winged creature known as Mothman or just appreciates a bit of supernatural flair in their life, this state is the place to be for all things strange and unusual. Starting with the annual Mothman Festival, here's everything you can do in Point Pleasant where it all started.
The Mothman Festival
Since 2001, the town of Point Pleasant has been celebrating the arrival and status of the Mothman. It's not enough that there's a giant statue dedicated to the massive created with glowing red eyes (more on that later), but the festival, itself, entails all things Mothman-centered, starting with an opening night of movies. On the first Friday of the festival, the town shows movies related to the Mothman sightings, of which there are many - not all made it to theaters, but all are a great way to start off any supernatural-themed event such as this.
Through Saturday and Sunday, the town's events go on to include vendors, Mothman cosplayers, guest speakers, a variety of food, hayrides, and even tours of the areas where Mothman was allegedly spotted. According to the town, the event is great in more ways than one, since it also introduces visitors to the history of the area as well as the Native American history that took place on the land long before it became Point Pleasant.
Mothman Museum And Statue
For those who would rather explore and learn about the Mothman at their own leisure and outside of a festival event, there are plenty of ways to do that, too. Point Pleasant is home to the Mothman Museum, which contains every exhibit guests need to fully understand the presence that this unusual creature had on this small West Virginia town. There, visitors will be treated to the history of Mothman sightings along with any and all evidence that the town has of its existence. Various newspaper clippings and eyewitness accounts are there for guests to read, each one sending more chills down one's back than the last. While there are many exhibits in the museum devoted to the humanoid creature in pop culture, there's plenty there to walk away with a solid education on it, as well. A timeline of the original sightings is also helpful and goes hand-in-hand with an itinerary that includes the World War II-era TNT Area where the original Mothman sighting was.
In order to grasp just how huge (and terrifying) bearing witness to the Mothman would have been, look no further than the statue that takes up residence in the center of downtown Point Pleasant. This steel statue stands at a towering height of 12 feet and features red, ruby-like eyes and a large, red-reflective wingspan. Conveniently, the statue is located not more than 30 feet away from the Mothman Museum, so it's easy to see both in one trip.
West Virginia State Farm Museum
If the Mothman lore isn't your thing at all but you do happen to find yourself in Point Pleasant (or, if it is, and you're just looking for something else to do) then the West Virginia State Farm Museum is a great place to stop. While this museum isn't necessarily on the same creepy level as that of the Mothman, it is fascinating in its own right as a farming, agriculture, and taxidermy-centered destination. Each exhibit is more surprising than the last with various animals on display along with farming tools that have been used through the centuries. One of the museum's biggest attractions is General, the world's largest taxidermy horse, weighing at 2,850 pounds at the peak of his life. The most captivating thing about this museum, though, is the fact that it spans over an area of 50 acres, spread between multiple buildings that make up a reconstructed 19th-century town.