The year 1915 began the sightings of the Monster of the White River in the small town of Newport, Arkansas. The sightings were sporadic at first. However, in July 1, 1937 Bramblett Bateman reported seeing “something appear on the surface of the water from the best I could tell, from the distance, it would be twelve feet long and four or five feet wide. I did not see the head or tail, but it slowly rose to the surface and stayed in this position for some five minutes. It did not move up or down the river at this particular time, but afterward on different occasions I have seen it move up and down the river, but I never have, at any time, been able to determine the full length or size of said monster." Deputy Z.B. Reid confirmed Bateman’s sightings. From that point on, the controversy of the Monster of White River has run rampant in Arkansas, as well as throughout the country.

In 1971 sightings began once again. Witnesses reported that it was the size of a boxcar, the length of three or four pickup trucks, some said that it looked as if it were peeling all over, but it had smooth skin or flesh. Someone even reported that it had a bone coming out from its forehead. People reported strange sounds coming from the creature. The many accounts of people who did not know each other, including some children and elderly citizens added fuel to the controversy surrounding this creature. If you get any strange photos and need somewhere to store them, click here for ideas.