BLOG: The Top 5 Legendary Monsters of Tennessee
Every state in America has its own share of strange legends, mysterious creatures, and stories that blur the line between myth and memory. From swamp beasts in the bayous to ghostly hitchhikers on desolate highways, the U.S. is a patchwork of paranormal lore. And what better state to start with than the one we call home—Tennessee. With its ancient mist-covered mountains, deep lakes, and centuries of layered history, the Volunteer State is teeming with cryptid tales that refuse to die. Below are some of the most legendary monsters said to roam Tennessee’s woods and waters.
1. The Tennessee Bigfoot (a.k.a. “The Wild Man”)
The Tennessee Bigfoot, often referred to as the “Wild Man of the Woods,” has roots dating back to Cherokee oral traditions and pioneer-era reports. While “Bigfoot” as a term rose to fame in the Pacific Northwest, Tennessee has quietly built a significant catalog of sightings dating back over a century.
In the 1800s, local newspapers described ape-like men stalking rural communities. These beings were said to be covered in hair, standing 7 to 8 feet tall, and capable of howling like wolves or women in distress.
One of the most famous modern sightings occurred in 1997 near the town of Paris, Tennessee. A hunter reported watching a tall, hairy figure drinking from a creek. When he moved closer, the creature let out a guttural growl and ran into the woods on two legs—covering ground so fast the witness later told a local paper, “It was like the trees swallowed him.”
The Tennessee Bigfoot is still actively tracked by organizations like the BFRO (Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization), with dozens of reports from east Tennessee counties like Monroe, Roane, and Sevier.
2. The White Bluff Screamer
Hailing from White Bluff in Dickson County, the “Screamer” is a cryptid wrapped in a blend of myth and local folklore. It is typically described as a banshee-like creature—possibly humanoid, possibly animalistic—that emits terrifying screams in the night.
The legend is said to trace back to the 1920s, when a family built a cabin deep in the woods. They reportedly fled within a week, claiming to hear unearthly screams each night. Some even said they found claw marks on the walls.
More recently, a hiker in Montgomery Bell State Park reported hearing “a long, high-pitched shriek” in 2013 that made his skin crawl. Wildlife officials attributed the noise to a bobcat—but the hiker, a lifelong outdoorsman, swore it was something else. “It sounded like it wanted me to know I was being watched,” he later said on a regional paranormal podcast.
3. Spearfinger – The Stone Witch of the Smoky Mountains
Spearfinger, or U’tlun’ta in Cherokee legend, is one of the most chilling creatures tied to Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains. This stone-skinned witch was said to haunt the forests near what is now the Tennessee-North Carolina border, especially around the Oconaluftee River and the high ridges near Clingmans Dome.
With a long, sharp finger made of stone (hence the name), she could shape-shift to appear as an old woman and would lure children away from their villages. Once alone, she used her spear-finger to cut out their livers—believed to be her source of strength. According to oral tradition, her voice could mimic relatives, calling children by name. She was nearly invulnerable because her heart was hidden in her right hand, not her chest.
Though Spearfinger is a folkloric figure, modern hikers in the Smokies have occasionally reported bizarre incidents eerily similar to her legend—like hearing voices calling them by name in areas with no other visitors. One Appalachian Trail trekker in 2017 said he heard a woman’s voice calling from the woods behind his shelter repeatedly, though he was alone. “It sounded like my grandmother, but she passed away years ago,” he later told a ranger. “I didn’t sleep a wink.”
4. The Tennessee River Monster – Leviathan of the Deep South
The Tennessee River, which winds through much of the state and serves as a vital waterway, is home to countless legends—but none more fearsome than the Tennessee River Monster. Tales of an enormous, serpent-like beast date back to Native American folklore, long before European settlers arrived. Later reports from 1800s riverboat crews described a creature "as long as a skiff," with a body that could rise in multiple humps and eyes that glowed just above the waterline.
One famous account comes from a river captain in the 1820s near Chattanooga, who reported a “sea serpent” attacking a small paddleboat and dragging it under—though no fatalities were confirmed.
In the 1960s, a commercial fisherman near Pickwick Lake swore he saw something “as thick as a barrel and longer than my boat” slide through the shallows. His nets were shredded, and he refused to fish that part of the river again. More recently, in 2002, a group of kayakers near Muscle Shoals reported feeling something massive brush beneath their boats. One even capsized.
Whether it's a misidentified giant catfish or something stranger, the river keeps its secrets—and its monster.
5. The Tennessee Dogman
The Dogman—a bipedal canine creature often associated with Michigan—has crept into Tennessee folklore more recently but with increasing credibility among cryptid researchers.
Dogman sightings are often reported in the Appalachian foothills and rural parts of Middle Tennessee. Eyewitnesses describe a creature over 6 feet tall, with the head of a German Shepherd and the muscular body of a man.
In 2012, a couple near Lafayette, Tennessee, claimed they saw a Dogman standing in the middle of a rural road at 2 a.m. It reportedly stared at them with yellow eyes, then ran into the woods “like a wolf on two legs.” Their report was covered by several cryptid investigation blogs and drew widespread attention.
From ancient legends to modern encounters, Tennessee is teeming with unexplained phenomena. Whether you’re a die-hard skeptic or a believer with trail cams at the ready, there’s no denying that these stories form a rich part of the state’s folklore.
So next time you're camping in the Smokies or casting a line at your favorite lake—keep an eye on the treeline… you might not be alone.
