This week is about a Missouri cryptid, and while I was doing research, I found not one but two cryptids. Both of them sound fascinating and unique. Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay 

Everyone has heard of Bigfoot or Bigfoot-like creatures reported in almost every state. So, what is special about this Bigfoot creature? Momo doesn’t fit the typical description of Bigfoot.

Momo, which is short for Missouri Monster, has a pumpkin head and glowing orange eyes. How would you like to meet that one night? The rest of the description fits your standard Bigfoot—7 to 8 feet tall, covered head to toe in black fur. The most noticeable characteristic is the god-almighty horrible smell.

He was first seen in Louisiana, Missouri, in 1972 by two local boys and their sister. They said they smelled it first, and it is a scent they will never forget. It was standing near the edge of the woods. And according to the kids? Momo was carrying the carcass of a dead dog.

That was the beginning of the Momo sightings. It seemed for a while everyone was seeing Momo. Most of the reports are from around the Mississippi River. There have been stories of brief glimpses of the hairy beast in the woods. Sounds of spooky cries and screams and bear-like growls at night. Others tell of horrible smells, like rotting vegetation or dead animals.

A convincing witness was Richard Allan Murray. He was a long-time resident of Louisiana and even served as the town’s fire chief. Murray, who sat on the city council, was driving near one of the many city creeks. He saw something moving in the woods. His headlights silhouetted a hairy creature walking on two legs. It stared through the brilliant light at Murray before disappearing back into the woods.

The encounter left Murray speechless. It turned out he drove to the creek, hoping to see Momo. Murray thought the Momo craze was all a bunch of nonsense. That is, until he saw Momo for himself.

The local news media company printed Murray’s story, which attracted thrill-seekers and monster hunters. The frenzy grew to the point where the city put together a 20-person posse. A posse to hunt the dreaded Momo. The hunt took place on Marzolf Hill, except they never found anything.

Many people believe Momo is a hoax.

Stories about Momo overturning cars and eating a peanut butter sandwich were told. I have to admit if I heard those stories? I would think Momo was a fake too.

Unless you talked to the Harrison family who lived on Marzolf Hill, then you might change your mind. Houchin’s who is the patriarch of the family hadn’t seen the monster. He swears he heard it and smelled it. However, two of the younger Harrison’s saw it in their backyard near the woods. They described it as being 6 to 7 feet tall, covered in black hair. Whatever they experienced scared them so badly, they left their home.

The Momo is smaller than Bigfoot, described to be 9 feet or taller. Is it a smaller version of Bigfoot, or is it another species entirely?

Another cryptid haunts Missouri as if it didn’t have its hands full with Momo.

Meet the Nixa Hellhound. The place is called Camp Winoka, near Springfield, Missouri. Legend states that this camp used to be a Girl Scout Camp. In the late 1970s, three young girls were brutally murdered there, so the story goes. Shortly after that, the camp was closed.

Then sightings of an unusual creature spread across the Ozarks. The descriptions ranged from a mutated deer, a hybrid fox/wolfman, to even a hunchback gorilla.

This monster beast has invaded back yards and has helped itself to a few goldfish. Witnesses have claimed to see it near Rivercut Golf Course.

I guess it wanted to do a few rounds of golf before terrorizing the neighborhood.

Camp Winoka was never a girl scout camp, but it was a hunting lodge built around 1890. The hunting lodge is on the James River near Lake Springfield. It is a favorite location for birdwatchers and nature lovers. One such enthusiast, Louis Herman, believes the Nixa Hellhound is not a cryptid.

Herman states the Nixa Hellhound is the “Booger Dog,” and only appears once in a generation. The hellhound is affiliated with supernatural events. There had been a significant thunderstorm in the region 18 hours earlier. The energy from that storm system stirred things up, and the Nixa Hellhound appeared.

Paranormal experts say that the magical creature always makes an appearance within 18 hours of a major storm. Steeped in Ozark legend, the hellhound is part of the town’s history. They named it “Paul” and even put it on the endangered species list.

A supernatural critter that only shows up after a storm. Did the storm create the hellhound? Lightning contains a considerable amount of energy. If that’s the case, why hasn’t the hellhound been reported around the United States after storms?

Does it lie dormant until the next tempest, then the lightning brings it to life? Is it ethereal and needs the lightning to give it form? Whatever the theory, the Nixa hellhound is a fascinating story.

One witness claims to have captured a picture of the beastie drinking at a creek at Camp Winoka.

There is no doubt that the Ozark Mountains are strange and creepy. They are filled with myth and lore, about strange noises and screams. There have been tons of articles and books written about strange critters hiding in those mountains.

This is the first time I have heard about a phantom monster that comes to life after a storm.

Missouri has two fascinating cryptids, and although a pumpkin-headed monster would be interesting to see? I would be more curious to see the Nixa Hellhound. So, if you are ever in the Ozark Mountains during a storm? Keep an eye out for this magical creature. Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay