Lake Worth Monster — Cryptid Encyclopedia

The summer of 1969 in Fort Worth, Texas. On a hot July night, John Reichart and his companions were parked near Greer Island at Lake Worth when something leapt from the trees onto the roof of their car — a seven-foot, 350-pound creature covered in white fur and scales, with goat horns and long clawed fingers. It left an 18-inch scratch mark across the roof.

Over the following weeks, the Lake Worth Monster became a media sensation. Dozens of witnesses reported encounters with a large, white, goat-like creature roaming the wooded areas around the lake. Photographer Allen Plaster captured a blurry image of a white figure standing upright in a clearing. Armed crowds gathered at the lake after dark, hoping for a glimpse.

The creature's most legendary feat: allegedly throwing a spare car tire 500 feet — a feat of strength far beyond any human or known animal.

In 2005, an anonymous letter surfaced claiming the whole thing was a prank by three high school students using a tinfoil mask and a modified gorilla suit. True believers dispute the confession, pointing to the volume of independent witnesses and the physical evidence. Whether real creature or elaborate hoax, the Lake Worth Monster captured the imagination of an entire city for one unforgettable summer.

"The monster landed on a man's car after jumping out of a tree." — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, July 1969.