Around 7:15 PM on September 12, 1952, Fred and Edward May were two boys who were playing outside with their friend Tommy Hyer. They all saw a bright light in the sky and land on the property of farmer G. Bailey Fisher. Ed and Fred told their mother Kathleen about it, and together with their dog Rickie, their neighbors Neil Nunley, Ronnie Shaver, and National Guardsman Eugene Lemon - they all went to inspect it.
They reached a hill when Neil said they saw a red pulsating light. Eugene pointed his flashlight and saw "a man-like figure with a round, red face surrounded by a pointed, hood-like shape". Kathleen May described the figure as having "small, claw-like hands", "clothing-like folds," and "a head that resembled the ace of spades". The creature made a hissing noise and glided towards the group. Eugene dropped his flashlight and they ran away. Rickie had already ran away whining immediately upon seeing the creature.
This is the most well-known artist' rendering of the creature.
After the sighting, they smelled a "pungent mist" and felt nauseated. On a separate note, the local sheriff and deputy were investigating reports of a crashed aircraft. They searched the site of the reported monster but "saw, heard and smelled nothing".
The story became national news, with the national press service rating it the #11 story of the year. A minister from Brooklyn questioned the May family. A special reporter from Pittsburgh interviewed them. And of course, leading writers in UFO phenomena flocked to the area.
Eugene Lemon (left) and Kathleen May (right) with the famous sketch.
After investigating the case in 2000, Joe NIckell of the Committe for Skeptical Inquiry concluded the following: The night of the September 12 sighting, a meteor had been observed across three states—Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Three flashing red aircraft beacons were also visible from the area of the sightings, which could account for descriptions of a pulsating red light and red tint on the face of the supposed monster. The creature itself was nothing more than a barn owl, whose face resembles that of what was described.
The Flatwoods Monster has become part of the local culture, with a sign saying "Welcome to Flatwoods, Home of the Green Monster." Near the town hall, there is a big chair shaped like the creature for anyone to sit in. There's even an entire museum dedicated to the Flatwoods Monster.
In the video game The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, the creatures called "Them" that attack the Romani Ranch are supposedly inspired by the Flatwoods Monster.
Fallout 76 also features a version of the creature.
