Once Upon A Time In Arkansas: White River Monster

A Jacksonville Park Ranger and an Amateur monster hunter share the evolving story of the "Devil Fish" which has appeared four more times since the Civil War. We discuss why the town has accepted and celebrated the monster, and why it is important to them.

[@notmyworld44]

In 1990 while working at a warehouse in Fayetteville, AR, I made the acquaintance of a rather simple young country woman from Newport Arkansas. Her name was Holly, and was training for a nursing/medical career in Fayetteville. When she told me she was from Newport I excitedly asked her what she knew about the "White River Monster". She told me she had seen and actually touched a young one that had been captured and was confined in an improvised chicken wire cage in the shallows of the White River at her town. When I asked her for a description, what she described was a young plesiosaur, about 9 feet in length, although she didn't know that term. She said it had rough skin, a long neck and tail, flippers for feet, and ate nothing but aquatic vegetation. Holly said it got free one night when it tore through the chicken wire and escaped. I have wished many times since then that I could talk to her again.

[@thatguy22441]

I'm from Arkansas, and you need to know that Arkansans are usually full of shit. Arkansas is extremely boring, and people make up stories to break the monotony.

[@locustgrove7212]

🤣

[@notmyworld44]

@@locustgrove7212 Locust Grove Oklahoma? Been thru there many times.

[@locustgrove7212]

@@notmyworld44 arkansas

[@ozark_trapper]

I grew up between Batesville and Newport. Spent many weekends on the river. Put in at Batesville and run to Bradford. Spent countless hrs around the 7 11 farm on the river. Between Newport and Bradford. I heard this story growing up.

[@damianthielemier6249]

Gahhh-dang!! I can’t imagine having that much fuel and time to spend. Did you have room to sit anywhere or just on top of all the extra tanks? lol I grew up on the “5 Rivers system” upstream from you, and have been very fortunate to never have broken down on the water besides the random fouled plug here and there. That being said, putting in and starting out going down is….definitely one strategy. You have much more confidence than I, sir.

[@bowmaster270elite7]

i hooked a monster 50lb+ blue outa white river in ozark arkansas

[@murphyoutdoors1547]

I live in a small town off the white river up stream from Newport and I saw something when I was around 15 it was a long narrow object around 12 foot in length that swam fast (could only tell that because it was against current) it was longer than 2 grown adults. I’m 23 now so that’s been 8 years but I firmly believe that I saw something

[@locustgrove7212]

Sounds like a gar

[@notmyworld44]

@@locustgrove7212 Never have seen or heard of a gar that long. Have you? Gar generally live in very warm waters near the Gulf coast. They rarely exceed 6 feet in length.

[@locustgrove7212]

@notmyworld44 probably a log! I grew up and swam in the white river all my life, and people have wild imaginations. There ain't no white river monster.

[@notmyworld44]

@@locustgrove7212 Reports of it date from as early as the Civil War era. My understanding is that it hasn't been seen since the 1970s. Based on your local lifetime experience I respect what you are saying. I am in the Bentonville/Rogers area of Benton County, Arkansas. Thanks for your feedback.

[@locustgrove7212]

@notmyworld44 you never know I guess, it could be true.

[@mylastnameiscensored]

Born & bred in Arkansas. Last name is Beaver (my great grandpa). If you have a video pertaining to the lake or town, I would love to see!

[@AOT_HxH95]

Could be a prehistoric Xiphactinus fish.

[@mikeelder6298]

When I was a kid back in the 70s White River Monster was big in the news. It was turning over trailers and leaving footprints. I was living in Holly Grove and the WRM was ranging between Newport and Clarendon. Of course I don't believe that the WRM really exist.

[@jeffshope1140]

In your video you did not say where the dog man was. As far as a town

[@iasimov5960]

Quitman Ark

[@AOT_HxH95]

Lets be real. Most of us only know about this from Lost Tapes.

[@jackd6148]

The monster was an elephant seal.

[@notmyworld44]

I doubt that.

[@jackd6148]

@@notmyworld44 I watched another video about it.

[@jeremysanborn6712]

That is just a theory by Dr Roy Mackal

[@salvagemonster3612]

Great fun story. But we know it was all a lie. Just part of that Loch Ness grab for attention