The White River winds from the Ozark mountains through quiet towns, lush forests, and finally, the fields of the Arkansas Delta until it meets the Mississippi River.
This river also has a story that has both fascinated and perplexed locals for over a century.
Legend of the White River Monster
People have claimed that there is a strange creature in the waters of the White River. At first they called him the White River Monster. Later he was affectionately nicknamed “Whitey” by locals.
He captured the imagination of the region and become an enduring legend of the Natural State.
Origins of the Legend
The first recorded sighting of the White River Monster dates back to the early 1900s.
Early accounts describe a large aquatic creature, with grayish skin, measuring anywhere from 12 to 30 feet in length. There were discrepancies in the size reported by those who saw the creature.
(However, I doubt if those potential exaggerations surprise anyone who has ever talked to a fisherman about their catch.)
Although there had been previous sightings it was in the 1930s that the White River Monster truly gained fame.
In 1937, a farmer named Bramlett Bateman was the first to publicize his encounter. Bateman, who lived near Newport, Arkansas, claimed to have seen something in the water that had “the skin of an elephant, four or five feet wide by twelve feet long, with the face of a catfish, . . . lolling on the surface of the water.”
The local newspaper picked up the story, and it wasn’t long before his description sparked a bit of a frenzy, both local and beyond. This led to an influx of visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious creature.
Through the next years sightings continued but became more sporadic and soon interest began to wane.
You might be interested in learning more about other fascinating Arkansas legends!
Renewed Sightings and Theories
In the 1970s, another wave of White River Monster enthusiasm began.
Multiple sightings were reported near the river town of Jacksonport. This time the creature was described as being the size of a boxcar, having gray peeling skin and a bone protruding from its forehead.
The idea of the monster became very popular.
The Government gets Involved
The Arkansas State Legislature decided to take the unusual step of declaring a portion of the White River a protected refuge for the creature in 1973.
It was called the White River Monster Refuge and made it illegal to harm the monster inside this area.
Theories About the White River Monster
It was about this time that cryptozoologists began to get involved.
Have you ever heard of a cryptozoologist? I hadn’t before researching this legend. A cryptozoologist is “a person who tries to find, describe, or study creatures that appear in stories and that some people believe exist or say they have seen, but that have never been proven to exist.”
Kind of a cool job.
Theories as to what “Whitey” could be ranged from the fantastical to the scientific. Some said it might be a surviving member of an extinct species, such as a plesiosaur, while others suggested it could be a misidentified giant fish such as a sturgeon, or even a large alligator gar.
Professor Roy Mackal of the University of Chicago, who had a Ph.D. in biology thought that the creature was an elephant seal.
The theory that makes the most sense to me was this one by Joe Nickel. He makes a very persuasive argument that the White River Monster was a manatee.
The White River Monster Today
Though the creature has remained elusive, the legend of the White River Monster endures in Arkansas.
For those who live along the White River and for other Arkansans, the legend of the monster is a reminder of the power of nature, the endurance of local folklore, and the beauty of unanswered questions.
Its story has become a permanent part of Arkansas history, blending mystery, excitement, and the allure of the unknown into one unforgettable tale.
Perhaps some mysteries are better left unsolved.
At least the White River Monster continues to swim through the waters of tall tales, myth, and memory in Arkansas.
Hope you enjoyed hearing about this Arkansas legend about the White River Monster.
Thanks for stopping by!
