Submitted by: Clinton
Many people share legends about the Red River Gorge Monster, but I used to be a skeptic. If anyone told me they saw a Bigfoot or a werewolf, I would have laughed. I won’t laugh anymore. Even ten years later, every hair on my body stands on end just remembering that night.
The Long Drive Toward the Red River Gorge Monster
At the time, my in-laws lived in Kentucky. We lived in Michigan, but my father-in-law was nearing the end of a long battle with COPD. Every Friday, I’d pick up my wife from work and drive straight through the night so she could spend the weekend with him.
As a long-time night shift security worker, staying awake wasn’t the problem. It was 1:00 AM, I had my coffee, and the road through the mountains was peaceful. My wife and daughter were asleep. I had the curves of the Mountain Parkway all to myself as I entered the territory of the Red River Gorge Monster.
A Huge Black Mass at the Guardrail
As I came out of a curve, my headlights swept across the guardrail ahead. I saw movement and slowed down, expecting a deer to bolt.
It definitely wasn’t a deer.
I saw a huge, black mass stepping over the guardrail. At first, I thought “Bear,” but as I got closer, I knew it definitely wasn’t. I would later learn that this was the legendary Red River Gorge Monster:
- It was bipedal (standing on two legs).
- Thick black hair covered it from head to toe.
- It stood between 8 and 10 feet tall.
Then, it turned its head. I will never forget those glowing green eyes staring directly into my soul.
Escaping the Red River Gorge Monster
I hit the accelerator so hard I thought the pedal would go through the floorboard. Survival mode took over. I watched in the rearview mirror as the Red River Gorge Monster walked across the highway and over the opposite guardrail toward the river.
I didn’t stop. Even if the rims exploded, I was going to keep moving. My wife woke up to find me white as a sheet, clutching the steering wheel so tight my hands had lost all color. Fear poured out of me as I sped away, unable to find the words to tell her what I’d seen until we were miles away.
Is it a Bigfoot or the Hillbilly Monster?
When I finally told her I’d seen a werewolf—or maybe a Bigfoot—she laughed. She thought I’d dozed off. It wasn’t until we reached her parents’ house and spoke with her Aunt that the laughter stopped.
The mountains are full of stories about Wendigos, Wolfmen, and the “Hillbilly Monster.” My wife looked it up online and found I wasn’t the only one who had seen the Red River Gorge Monster. She apologized then; she realized the terror was real.
The Aftermath: We never drove that route again. We took the long way around every single time until my mother-in-law eventually moved to Michigan. If you have had a similar encounter, you can submit your story here. You can also learn more about Kentucky’s diverse wildlife to see why I know this wasn’t just a bear.
I don’t know what I saw that night. However, I will do everything in my power to ensure I never see the Red River Gorge Monster again.
