Locals first saw a strange, humanoid figure standing nearly seven feet tall, with massive wings folded against its back and eyes that glowed like burning coals in the night. Its sudden appearance left the town in shock and set off a series of mysterious events that would trouble Point Pleasant for more than a year.
The first encounter occurred one late evening when two young couples, Roger and Linda Scarberry and Steve and Mary Mallette, were driving near the abandoned TNT Area, a leftover munitions site from World War II. They saw a towering creature standing by the roadside, unlike anything they had ever seen. Its red, glowing eyes were on its chest rather than a head, and massive wings rested behind it. Terrified, they fled at over 100 miles per hour, and the creature reportedly took flight and followed them with ease. Their report to the local police made headlines, and the name "Mothman" was born.
Over the next year, strange sightings continued. Residents claimed to see the red-eyed creature hovering over homes or flying in the night sky. Pets and livestock mysteriously disappeared, and reports surfaced of mysterious men dressed in black asking probing questions, giving the impression of a government or extraterrestrial cover-up. Each sighting added to the town’s growing sense of dread, cementing Mothman as a figure of fear and curiosity.
The story reached a tragic peak on December 15, 1967, when the Silver Bridge, connecting Point Pleasant to Ohio, collapsed during rush hour, killing 46 people. Eyewitnesses claimed to see Mothman perched on the bridge shortly before it fell, leading many to believe the creature was either a warning or a harbinger of disaster. Strangely, after the bridge collapse, sightings of Mothman almost entirely ceased, leaving the town with a chilling legend that continues to capture imaginations.
Scientists and skeptics have proposed more rational explanations for the sightings. Some suggest that large birds such as Sandhill Cranes, with wide wingspans and red markings around their eyes, could account for the glowing-eyed descriptions. Others believe the creature could have been a giant owl or other nocturnal bird, whose appearance in dim light combined with human fear created the legend. Despite these theories, Mothman has persisted as a cultural phenomenon.
Today, Mothman has become a symbol of Point Pleasant rather than a source of fear. A shining steel statue of the creature stands in the town center, welcoming tourists and celebrating the legend. The annual Mothman Festival, held each September, draws thousands to discuss paranormal events and honor local folklore. The story has also inspired the book The Mothman Prophecies by John Keel and a 2002 film of the same name. Mothman is often called a "Harbinger of Doom," with legends claiming appearances before other disasters such as the Chernobyl nuclear accident and the September 11 attacks, though these are largely anecdotal. The tale of Mothman remains one of the most enduring and fascinating chapters of American folklore, blending mystery, fear, and cultural identity into a single unforgettable legend.