Haunted Arkansas Part 6

The White River Monster
Newport

Even though it isn't a haunting it is still weird!

Newport Arkansas has its own version of “nessy” the Loch Ness Monster and is pretty much accepted as being real by the townspeople. The White River Monster even has his own game preserve.

From about 1915 to the late 1970's, residents of Newport reported seeing a monster in the White River. This monster, nicknamed "Whitey", was described as being snake-like and at least thirty feet long. Witnesses reported that it made a loud bellowing noise and had a spiny backbone. Many reports were made by fisherman and campers along the river. In 1971, two men reported that they saw three-toed tracks along the muddy river banks and places where the trees and vegetation had been broken because of the monster's size.

Cloyce Warren of the White River Lumber Company snapped a picture in 1971. Was the photograph really of a monster? Arkansas legislators seemed to think so.

In 1973 the Arkansas State Legislator created the White River Monster Refuge along the area of the White River that runs adjacent to the Jacksonport State Park. They enacted a resolution which made it illegal to "molest, kill, trample, or harm the White River Monster while he is in the retreat."

Now… I think that perhaps the Legislature may have been having a few flashbacks from the 60’s… to much “maryjane” perhaps?… hmmm wonder just what kinda crops they were really growing back then?

Biologists believe Whitey was actually an elephant seal who somehow migrated incorrectly and ended up in Newport. Some townspeople believe that it was an elaborate plot to gain attention by farmers in the area… who knows?

The monster hasn't been seen much in recent years but many of the people living around the White River still believe he is there. Some think that he has died because the river has gotten shallower.

I hear you can still get T-Shirts and other memorabilia around the White River area even though I have never seen it.