Alkali Lake Monster: Urban Legends In Nebraska

Everyone has heard of the famous Loch Ness monster and the various sea monsters some people think inhabit the world's oceans. You may not know, however, that Nebraska has its very own lake monster known as the Alkali Lake Monster...a huge, stinky creature blamed for eating livestock and anything else in its path.

Near Hay Springs in northwestern Nebraska lies a smallish body of water once known as Alkali Lake (today it goes by Walgren Lake.) Legend has it that the lake is home to a terrifying aquatic animal known as the Alkali Lake Monster (or sometimes the Walgren Lake Monster.) The beast is said to be anywhere from 40 to 100 feet in length, somewhat resembling an alligator. Some depictions give the monster four legs, while others show it with two front legs and a flipper in the back. Still others give it the serpentine body most often associated with the Loch Ness monster. Most depictions agree that the beast has a large horn between its eyes and a horrible, unforgettable stench.

While some people have claimed that sightings of the monster can be traced back to Native American legends, the first written record of the monster is from a 1922 issue of the Hay Springs News. The following year, a local man named J.A. Johnson described the monster in an interview with the Omaha World Herald. Johnson and two of his friends were camping on the banks of the lake when they noticed the creature about 60 feet away. The men claimed that as soon as the beast saw them, it belted out a huge roar, whipped around, and plunged beneath the muddy lake water.

Still, the people in and around Hay Springs aren’t in any hurry to let go of the story. They commemorated the tall tale during the town’s centennial celebration in 1985, selling shirts and buttons with the monster’s likeness on them. The beast is something of a source of pride for the little town; it was even mentioned in the classic novel Old Jules by Nebraska author Mari Sandoz. Sandoz also based her short story "Ossie and the Sea Monster" on the tale of the Nebraska Alkali Lake Monster.

If you visit the lake and happen to see - or smell - the legendary Walgren Lake Monster, share your story in the comments! Also, if you know of any other urban legends in Nebraska, tell us about them on our nomination form for the chance to see them featured in an upcoming article.