Today we are diving back into the waters to uncover the Lake Leelanau Monster, a cryptid who resides in, you guessed it, Lake Leelanau, just north of Traverse City.
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FIRST SIGHTINGS
Lake Leelanau is actually made up of two lakes. The north lake has a depth of over 120-feet but the southern lake is shallow and tops out around 62-feet. Despite the shallowness, some claim it is the home to a lake cryptid called by the locals as “Leelanau”. She is said to have a long neck and tail. Her eyes are abnormally large and glow red. She’s also claimed to have bat-like wings with a taste for violence, attacking boats and swimmers. Other than that, details on appearance are pretty slim.
Legend states Leelanau first appeared in the 1800s when a dam was built to provide power to the Leland Sawmill. This dam sealed off the lake’s largest outlet and, perhaps, the monster as well!
The most common sighting is said to have happened in 1910. William Gauthier was fishing in Lake Leelanua, called Carp Lake back then. He rowed to a section he had never fished in before with the hopes of improving his luck at catching something.
Several dead cedar trees jutted out of the water and he opted to moor his boat against one. As he attempted to tie the rope around a tree, two huge eyes popped open and stared at him. Terrified, Gauthier froze. The animal broke eye contact and dove beneath the boat. It was so long that Gauthier could see the submerged head on the far side of the boat and its tail on the other side. Gautheir claimed others said they had seen a similar beast in the waters as well but had refused to admit it. Later, when asked about the story, his great grandson said Gautheir refused to fish in the lake for many years after.
EXPIRED OR A NOTHINGBURGER?
That was the only encounter I could find in detail and there have been no recent sightings of anything unusual at Lake Leelanau. Some speculate that means the monster perished, while others say that proves the story is just made up.
Like many cryptids, the locals have embraced the monster and kept the legend alive. I mean, it is good for tourism. Upon learning Lake Leelanau’s location, I started plotting a day trip to the area.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE LAKE LEELANAU MONSTER?
Do you think this cryptid is just another made up legend? Did a monster once live there, trapped by the dam? These sorts of stories are the kind that tickle the imagination and entice us to go discover for ourselves if something lurks beneath the waves.
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The water in lake leelanau is real gross though I wouldn’t recommend anyone swim there (or visit). Check out Frankfort instead.
Could've just been a really big snake that has since died.