State Cryptids: The Gowrow & The White River Monster
This week’s cryptids hail from the state of Arkansas. One is a river monster that’s been lurking in the White River since 1915, and the other is a 20-foot-long lizard creature with tusks and claws. Welcome to Arkansas.
The White River Monster
Since about 1915, in the White River, “Whitey” has cut the waters with its 12 to 30-foot serpent body. Descriptions of the creature vary. Some say it is four to five feet wide with spines on its back, while others say it carries a horn on its forehead. It was also reported that when “Whitey” came on land it would leave behind three-toed footprints in the mud.
Theories range from Whitey being an elephant seal to being an unexplained prehistoric predator.
In 1937, Farmer Bramlette Bateman, claimed to have seen the creature multiple times and started a view site, charging 0.25$ to anyone wanting to catch a glimpse. Business was good for a short time, but eventually, the River Monsters’ fame fizzled except for appearances on souvenirs and t-shirts. But locals still recall the legend of “Whitey,” and the sightings that lasted until the 1970s.
Sightings have been so frequent over the years that state legislation was introduced in 1973 to designate…
