Van Meter Visitor
A winged creature terrorized a small Iowa town for several nights. It had a horn that emitted light. Citizens armed themselves. They chased it to an abandoned mine. Then it was gone forever.
In September 1903, the town of Van Meter, Iowa was terrorized by a bizarre winged creature that appeared nightly, emitted light from its forehead, and vanished as mysteriously as it arrived.
The Sightings
According to historical newspaper accounts:
Night 1: A local businessman saw a large figure on a rooftop. It had a glowing horn.
Night 2: The town doctor saw something similar. When he shot at it, the creature flew away.
Night 3: A bank employee was awakened by a blinding light from a creature perched outside his window.
Night 4: Armed citizens gathered to hunt it.
The Description
Witnesses described:
- Large winged creature (bat-like wings)
- About 8 feet tall
- A horn on its head that emitted blinding light
- Large beak
- Made a terrible odor
- Moved on the ground in a hopping motion
- Could fly
The Hunt
The town armed itself:
- Citizens with guns patrolled at night
- The creature was spotted multiple times
- It was shot at repeatedly but seemingly unaffected
- It was tracked to an abandoned mine
The Mine Encounter
At the old mine shaft:
- A second creature emerged
- Both retreated into the mine
- Citizens considered sealing the entrance
- The creatures were never seen again
The Coverage
The story was reported in:
- The Des Moines Daily News
- Local Iowa newspapers
- The account spread regionally
Skeptical Analysis
Modern researchers question:
- Why no further sightings after that week?
- How did a creature survive gunfire?
- What could produce light from a horn?
- Was it an elaborate hoax?
Possible Explanations
Hoax: A local prank that got out of hand.
Misidentification: Perhaps a large bird or bat.
Genuine Unknown: A creature that temporarily appeared.
Mass Hysteria: One sighting sparked imaginative reports.
Legacy
The Van Meter Visitor:
- Is celebrated locally today
- Annual “Van Meter Visitor Festival” is held
- Books have been written about the incident
- It remains one of Iowa’s strangest mysteries
Modern Interest
In recent years:
- Researchers have investigated the historical accounts
- The town embraces the legend
- The creature appears in cryptozoological literature
- Theories continue to be proposed
Sources
- Historical Iowa newspaper archives
- Local historical documentation