| Sub grouping | Lake monster |
|---|---|
| Similar entities | Loch Ness Monster, Bear Lake Monster |
| Folklore | Moon Lake Monster |
| Other name(s) | Moonie, Nessie of Moon Lake |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Moon Lake, Utah |
| Habitat | Water |
| Details | Described as a large, black, bumpy creature resembling a log with scales or a fin, or as a giant serpent. |
Moon Lakeclass=notpageimage| Location of Moon Lake in Utah
The Moon Lake Monster, also known as "Moonie" or the "Nessie of Moon Lake," is a cryptid reported to inhabit Moon Lake in Duchesne County, Utah. Descriptions of the creature vary, with accounts ranging from a bumpy figure resembling a log with scales or a fin to a serpent-like entity.
Sightings
Visitors to Moon Lake have reported sightings of the monster over the years. During a family reunion, one witness described a figure resembling a log with a fin that appeared to follow their boat, with scales visible as water moved over it. Another account referred to the creature as "black, ugly, and bumpy."
Gary Sutherland, a former owner of Moon Lake Resort, stated that sightings typically occur during calm, windless conditions in the early morning or evening. Witnesses have reported V-shaped ripples caused by a rounded object just below the surface. In 1994, Bill Reardon observed such a ripple through binoculars and described it as moving steadily and zigzagging across the lake. He ruled out logs or known animals as the cause.
Other reports describe a serpent-like creature. One resident stated that stories about the monster are well-known in the area, comparing it to the Loch Ness Monster.
Folklore and legends
The Moon Lake Monster is reportedly tied to Ute tribal legends. One story claims that a burial canoe was pulled underwater by a large hand, leading the tribe to abandon the lake, believing it was cursed.
Another account involves two Native American children who disappeared in the lake. After search efforts failed to locate their bodies, the tribe believed a large aquatic creature was responsible.
Environmental context
Moon Lake, at an elevation of 8,300 feet in the Uinta Mountains, is a natural lake expanded by a dam built during the Great Depression. The lake, shaped like a crescent moon, is known for its sandy western shoreline, uncommon in the Rocky Mountains, and is a popular destination for fishing, hiking, and camping.
Some believe parts of the lake are bottomless, with speculation about underground passages connecting it to other areas of the state.
See also
References
- Baggerly, Kayla (October 30, 2024). "Utah's most haunted: Moon Lake's ghost girl and the legend of Moonie". ABC4. KTVX. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ "Moonie, The Moon Lake Monster". Moon Lake Resort. Moon Lake Resort. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ Weeks, Andy (March 4, 2022). Haunted Utah. Eerie Lights Publishing. ISBN 978-1945950353.
- Robinson, Doug (June 15, 1989). "Moon Lake - Unique Yet Little-Known". Deseret News. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
40°37′N 110°42′W / 40.617°N 110.700°W / 40.617; -110.700
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