Moon Lake Monster
 |
| Sub grouping | Lake monster |
|---|---|
| Similar entities | Loch Ness Monster, Bear Lake Monster |
| Folklore | Moon Lake Monster |
| Other name(s) | Moonie, Nessie of Moon Lake |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Moon Lake, Utah |
| Habitat | Water |
| Details | Described as a large, black, bumpy creature resembling a log with scales or a fin, or as a giant serpent. |
The Moon Lake Monster, also known as "Moonie" or the "Nessie of Moon Lake," is a cryptid reported to inhabit Moon Lake in Duchesne County, Utah. Descriptions of the creature vary, with accounts ranging from a bumpy figure resembling a log with scales or a fin to a serpent-like entity.
Sightings
[edit]Visitors to Moon Lake have allegedly reported sightings of the monster over the years. During a family reunion, one witness described a figure resembling a log with a fin that appeared to follow their boat, with scales visible as water moved over it. Another account referred to the creature as "black, ugly, and bumpy."[1]
Gary Sutherland, a former owner of Moon Lake Resort, claimed that sightings typically occur during calm, windless conditions in the early morning or evening. Witnesses have reported V-shaped ripples caused by a rounded object just below the surface. In 1994, Bill Reardon stated that he observed such a ripple through binoculars and described it as moving steadily and zigzagging across the lake. Reardon claimed to have ruled out logs or known animals as the cause.[2][3]
Other reports describe a serpent-like creature. One resident stated that stories about the monster are well known in the area, comparing it to the Loch Ness Monster.[3]
Folklore and legends
[edit]The Moon Lake Monster is reportedly tied to Ute tribal legends. One story claims that a burial canoe was pulled underwater by a large hand, leading the tribe to abandon the lake, believing it was cursed.[2]
Another account involves two Native American children who disappeared in the lake. After search efforts failed to locate their bodies, the tribe believed a large aquatic creature was responsible.[2]
Environmental context
[edit]Moon Lake, at an elevation of 8,300 feet in the Uinta Mountains, is a natural lake expanded by a dam built during the Great Depression. The lake, shaped like a crescent moon, is known for its sandy western shoreline, uncommon in the Rocky Mountains, and is a popular destination for fishing, hiking, and camping.[4]
Some believe parts of the lake are bottomless, with speculation about underground passages connecting it to other areas of the state.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Baggerly, Kayla (October 30, 2024). "Utah's most haunted: Moon Lake's ghost girl and the legend of Moonie". ABC4. KTVX. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Moonie, The Moon Lake Monster". Moon Lake Resort. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c Weeks, Andy (March 4, 2022). Haunted Utah. Eerie Lights Publishing. ISBN 978-1945950353.
- ^ Robinson, Doug (June 15, 1989). "Moon Lake - Unique Yet Little-Known". Deseret News. Retrieved January 23, 2025.