Kentucky Folklore Alleges the Existence of a Giant Lizard, a Lake Monster, and an Octopus

Well, for starters, we all know that octopuses really do exist...but in Kentucky? And that's why this ocean dweller can be included in a piece about Bluegrass folklore. Hey, when I was a kid and saw 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea for the first time, I thought octopuses were on the same mythical level as the Kraken.

Let's dig in.

Boonesborough Octopus

I can assure you that making a connection between Daniel Boone and an octopus was not on my Bingo card. Legend has it that back in the 1940s, a girl was swimming in the Kentucky River near Boonesborough and was attacked by something in the water. Once she was on dry land, it's been claimed, she had circular abrasions on her legs. I'm guessing some leapt to the conclusion that it was an octopus, although they do not and cannot live in fresh water. And, once again, that doesn't make it a cryptid. But I guess if there was a big octopus that lived in fresh water, then you'd have your cryptid.

Herrington Lake Monster

I saw one source that indicated that this monster was the Boonesborough Octopus. But, for heaven's sake, let's keep our folklore straight. A description of the Herrington Lake Monster indicates it looks nothing like an octopus, but, instead, an eel with a pig's head. It makes so much more sense, doesn't it? A cryptid Fandom page provides an artist's rendering. A University of Kentucky professor claims to have seen it several times in 1972. However, after multiple "sightings," he backed off the supernatural angle.

The Milton Lizard

If this were about a big lizard named Milton, it would make me very happy by appealing to my sometimes odd sense of humor. But no. Here we have another piece of fun Kentucky folklore shot down by science. The Milton Lizard is said to be about 15 feet long, closely resembling a monitor lizard. The thing is, they are native to the South Pacific and would not survive in a colder climate like Kentucky's. Several sightings were reported in 1975, but none since.

Kentucky Cryptids

As a childhood fan of mythical monsters like the Cyclops, the Minotaur, and the Norse frost giants, this topic is very appealing to me. If it is to you, take the map I found at monsterologist.com and have a field day.

And make sure you let us know if you find anything.