Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock you’ve probably seen at least one episode of Buzzfeed Unsolved – an atypical paranormal investigation show in which a sceptic (Shane Madej) and a believer (Ryan Bergara), investigate legendary haunted sites and spooky legends to try to answer the age old question: “Do ghosts exist?”. (Even if you haven’t seen a full episode then I KNOW that you’ve at least seen the “Hey there demons” meme).
I stumbled upon the show by accident one day but was quickly sold by the antics and humor they incorporate into ghost and ghoul hunting. One episode in particular that caught my eye was investigating the Legend of the Mothman of West Virginia. The legend begins with 4 teenagers who were driving outside of town near the TNT plant. They claim to have to have seen a large flying man with big wings and red eyes. Others in the area soon started reporting similar sightings of the same creature, soon nicknamed the Mothman. After the collapse of the Silver Bridge in December 1967, it was said the Mothman was spotted flying around it days before it happened. This created a legend of prophecy and foreshadowing of tragedy associated with his sightings. Fast forward to present day, and even though there haven’t been any confirmed sightings in a while, the whisper of Mothman legends have created a stir around the little town of Point Pleasant. Today, the small town has built a tourist empire around the legends and you can do all kinds of interesting Mothman themed activities around town. I was intrigued. During the planning of a road trip to Niagara Falls, we found out that Pt. Pleasant was only a small detour from our path and that we could easily add a morning of Mothman antics to our trip. Following in the footsteps of my favorite ghoul hunters, I donned my demon hunting tank and set out for what ended up being one of the most fun side trips I’ve ever made. Want to have your own Mothman Day? Here’s some things you definitely won’t want to miss!
Mothman Statue
Your first stop in town on a Mothman day should be the famous Mothman statue. Right in the center of town, you won’t be able to miss it (nor will you want to). Such a quirky art piece, you can’t leave without snapping a picture or selfie with it. If nothing else it’s a unique Instagram post.
The Coffee Grinder
The next place you’ll want to drop by is The Coffee Grinder. It’s a cute little local coffee shop where you can get some fun Mothman themed treats! You’ll want to try a nice cup of Mothman Brew coffee (their signature blend). If you’re feeling particularly inspired, you can even get a special Coffee Grinder Mothman travel mug (which I of course now own). Don’t forget the themed snacks! You can get small or large Mothman cookies and Mothman “droppings” (chocolate covered coffee beans – yum!). Also, adding to the quirky photo op theme of the day, be sure to get your picture posing as the Mothman drinking his own coffee brew!
The Mothman Museum
Most people start moaning “tourist trap” as soon as they see the Mothman Museum (and they’re probably not totally wrong). However, it’s pretty cheap and is a fairly entertaining way to learn more about the history of the Mothman and Point Pleasant. They have the original testimonies from the original Mothman sightings, tons of memorabilia, and information on the bridge collapse. There’s also (surprise, surprise!) some prime photo op points here too so don’t skimp on the pictures. The museum is attached to a huge Mothman gift shop where you can buy all kinds of fun souvenirs too. A lot of stores in town have little Mothman gifts but this is probably one of the best places to pick up a trinket to take home.
Village Pizza
The last and probably most interesting thing you have to do on a Mothman Day in Pt. Pleasant is dropping by Village Pizza for (you guessed it)…A MOTHMAN PIZZA! Yes, you read right, Mothman pizza. A delicious pizza with toppings formed in the shape of a cute little Mothman. It’s almost too cute to eat but also too yummy not to eat. It was the perfect way to wrap up our little Mothman excursion. Be sure to pick up your “I ate a Mothman Pizza” shirt too to commemorate the day.
Whether you’re a believer in the supernatural or a skeptic, you can’t deny that something with an urban legend like that of the Mothman is at the very least comical and intriguing. If you happen to be in West Virginia it’s definitely a fun morning, and if you’re a fan of Buzzfeed Unsolved you’ll instantly recognize the places around town from the episode. If you're slightly more adventurous you might even want to venture out to the forest where the TNT area is and try to spot one for yourself.
Mothman is one of the most interesting urban legends and has a dark and mysterious history. And hey, if you still have your doubts, you can at least stop by town to get some fun pictures, some local coffee, and a yummy pizza right?