Mogollon Monster (mythology)
The Mogollon Monster is a legendary humanoid creature reportedly inhabiting the pine-covered hills of the Mogollon Rim in north-central Arizona. Described as resembling Bigfoot from the Pacific Northwest, it is typically depicted as a large, hair-covered being that stands at least 7 feet tall, with a hairless face and eyes that can be green or red. The earliest recorded sighting dates back to 1903, when a man named I.W. Stevens claimed to have encountered the creature, noting its eerie scream and threatening demeanor. Sightings have continued into the 2010s, particularly near the towns of Prescott, Williams, Winslow, and Payson, often accompanied by reports of a foul odor and large footprints.
Local folklore has birthed several legends surrounding the Mogollon Monster, including tales of a white man’s madness after being tortured by Native Americans and a chief’s transformation into a creature seeking vengeance. While scientific evidence for the Mogollon Monster's existence remains absent, the creature has woven itself into the cultural fabric of the region, inspiring local songs and events, such as the annual Mogollon Monster 100 endurance race. Despite its obscurity outside of Arizona, the Mogollon Monster continues to captivate the imagination of those intrigued by myths and local legends.
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Mogollon Monster (mythology)
The Mogollon Monster is a legendary humanoid creature said to live in the pine-covered hills of the Mogollon Rim in north-central Arizona. The monster is described as a large hair-covered creature similar in appearance to the accounts of Bigfoot from the Pacific Northwest. The earliest recorded sighting of the creature occurred at the beginning of the twentieth century with further sightings continuing in the 2010s. Although no credible scientific evidence has been found for the monster’s existence, the creature has become engrained in local folklore and has even inspired an annual endurance race in the region.
Overview
The Mogollon Rim—pronounced mug-ee-yun—is a 200-mile (322-kilometer) long geological formation that runs along the north-central section of Arizona. The rim is an escarpment, a rugged, sloping cliff that marks the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau. Named after Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollon, the Spanish governor of the area in the early eighteenth century, the Mogollon Rim lies northeast of Phoenix and southeast of the Grand Canyon.
The first-known report of a mysterious creature living in the area comes from a 1903 newspaper account by a man named I.W. Stevens. Stevens claimed to have seen a large white-and-gray fur-covered creature he called the “wild man of the rocks.” Stevens said the monster gave out an “unearthly” scream and threatened him with a large club. He also claimed the creature beat two young mountain lions to death and ate them. The next reported sighting of the monster was not until the mid-1940s, when a thirteen-year-old Boy Scout claimed a large, hairy humanoid creature stood over him while on a camping trip. The scout described the creature as having a hairless face and giving off an extremely foul odor.
Reports of the monster giving off an overpowering stench are common among those who claim to have seen the creature. The monster is most often described as being at least 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall with a hairless face and covered with a thick coat of dark-brown or reddish-brown fur. Its eyes are said to be either green or red and it is said to leave behind footprints that can be as large as 22 inches (55.9 centimeters) long. Sightings of the creature are more common at the edge of the Mogollon Rim in an area near the Arizona towns of Prescott, Williams, Winslow, and Payson.
The Mogollon Monster’s origins have become the subject of several local legends, although none of them are based on any known historical event. One tale says the creature was a white man who was captured and tortured by local Native Americans. The man was tired to a log and set adrift in a river, eventually going insane from his ordeal. Another story says the monster was once a Native American chief who was exiled from his tribe. The chief transformed into a creature that wandered the pine forests seeking revenge for his mistreatment.
Although almost unknown outside of the Mogollon Rim area, the creature has become part of the local cultural landscape. It has been the subject of a folk song warning children not to litter and is the namesake of the annual Mogollon Monster 100, a 106-mile endurance race typically held in September.
Bibliography
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“The Legend of Arizona’s Mogollon Monster (As If You Needed Another Reason to Visit the Grand Canyon).” Visit Grand Canyon, 18 Oct. 2018, canyonnotes.com/2018/10/18/the-legend-of-arizonas-mogollon-monster-as-if-you-needed-another-reason-to-visit-the-grand-canyon/. Accessed 14 July 2020.
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Nothaft, Mark. “Why Do We Call It the Mogollon Rim?” Arizona Republic, 21 June 2016, www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-contributor/2016/06/21/why-do-we-call-mogollon-rim/86151416/. Accessed 14 July 2020.
Thompson, Clay. “Ask Clay: Gather Round for Tales of the Mogollon Monster.” Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2017, www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/claythompson/2017/03/29/ask-clay-gather-round-tales-mogollon-monster/99749318/. Accessed 14 July 2020.