When in California, don’t check for monsters under your bed — these mythical creatures roam your backyard. Sleep with one eye open, because monsters are skulking all through the night. Beware: Bigfoot prowls the forests of California; Chupacabra rushes over from the tales of Mexico; the Dark Watchers haunt the glimmering waters of Avila Beach. Ocean serpents swim from the depths of despair in the Pacific, haunting you upon reaching the majestic Malibu Beach (or so you thought it was only a beach lover’s haven).
Even the best California lakes are not shy from harboring their own mythical creatures; from Cali’s own version of the Lochness monster, Tahoe Tessie to Lake Elsinore’s Elsie; these creatures continue creeping on land, in water, and in the air. California is even known for fostering mythical sea creatures dating back to prehistoric times, such as the gigantic Megalodon Shark, bathing near the California coastline. Not only is the Golden State home to these strange beings, but it also is the land of strange laws; essentially from the laws of the land to the depths of the waters, sinister obscurities make their way into the norms of everyday living. Sit back and “try” to relax, as you learn about the American mythical creatures that make their way through the Golden State.
COOL MYTHICAL ANIMALS
BIGFOOT
Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Yeti, Yeren, Yowie; this creature adorns many names and an elusive history. In 1958, the legend began when journalist Andrew Genzoli featured a letter sent in from one of his readers regarding Bigfoot in the Humboldt Times. The letter clearly stated that loggers, at the time, were coming across mysteriously humongous footprints — unman-like footprints — in Northern California. Although Genzoli never gave the letter much thought, he hoped it would be a fun anecdote for his readers; however, the response from the readers was intense. Colleague and fellow journalist Betty Allen jumped on the wagon along with Genzoli, publishing another article regarding the footprint—claiming that the witnesses named it “Bigfoot”. And, so it began. Almost nine years after the first sighting of Bigfoot in Willow Creek, the footage was released that visibly showed a creature roaming the same area. The footage was subject to various tests from many experts to determine its authenticity. To this day, there’s no official decision on whether the video is real or fake; thus leaving room for imagination. Nevertheless, the Bigfoot obsession grew amongst Californians and the legend strung a series of similar sightings. According to the Travel Channel, the Golden State ranked second in the states among Bigfoot sightings. With 1,697 sightings recorded, California is the place to go to connect with mythical animals like this one.
Legends & Lore 