Everyone loves a good ghost story, and 50 years ago, Columbus, Indiana, got its very own urban legend: the Mill Race Monster (cue the spooky music). An urban legend is typically defined as a modern myth or tale, a genre of folklore passed down through generations. But is the Mill Race Monster really just a legend?

On November 2, 1974, the Columbus Police Department received a call from several women who claimed they saw “a monster” while driving through Mill Race Park around 3:00 p.m. They described the creature as standing 6 feet tall, walking upright on two legs, and covered in dark fur with a pale green face. Despite an immediate search of the area, the police found nothing to support their claims.

Later that night, around 11:45 p.m., another group of women rushed into the Columbus Police Department, terrified. They reported that a hairy creature with a green face had leaped onto their car hood, attempting to break through the windshield with its long, sharp claws. When the police suggested it might be a prank, the witnesses insisted, “This did not look like a mask.” Deep scratches on the car’s hood seemed to support their story, but a second search of the park yielded no trace of the creature.

Over the course of the month, there were four reported sightings and strange footprints found in the area, leading to one of the largest monster hunts in U.S. history. The city even closed the park for public safety. Theories about the creature’s identity have ranged from a man in a costume to Bigfoot, an alien, or even a military experiment. However, to this day, one eyewitness has stuck to her story. In an interview with local TV station FOX8, Tyra Cataline recounted, “We thought we were going to die. All three of us thought we were going to die. It was something. I don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t somebody wearing a costume.”

Comic Book Cover Art by Cartoonist Kevin Zeigler

The monster has not been spotted since the 1970s, but whether true or not, the tale has provided 50 years of scary bedtime stories and spooky tales. This year, it has even inspired an art show at Gallery 411, titled Monster Show, featuring sculptures by Curtis Hartwell, mixed media textiles by Laurie Wright, and the launch much anticipated launch of a LIMITED EDITION Mill Race Monster comic book by Kevin Zeigler!

The Columbus Area Arts Council is hosting a monster of a party to mark the 50th anniversary of the Mill Race Monster sightings in Downtown Columbus. Plan ahead and create a monster-inspired outfit or costume. Freaky or friendly, all monsters and costumes are welcome.

But the Mill Race Monster isn’t the only scary tale within the streets of Columbus. The town has several locations rumored to be haunted. The historic Crump Theatre, once a vaudeville and opera house, is said to be one of the most haunted places in Columbus. The most famous ghost is “The Lady in Black,” who has been seen on the staircase in a period-style dress. Other claims include sightings of ghostly children and men, reports of people being touched, and hearing disembodied voices. Music has even been heard coming from the top of the staircase.

The Crump Theatre has welcomed numerous paranormal investigations over the years, and to celebrate its 135th anniversary, it will hold a paranormal conference to investigate the building. Other notable haunted spots include the Bartholomew County Historical Society, where doors have been seen opening on their own, and Viewpoint Books, where books have reportedly flown off the shelves in the basement and footsteps have been heard after hours. The Historical Society has been working with a paranormal investigator to explore these haunted places downtown, and on November 1st, you can explore them too.

Visit Columbus, IN, and delve into the paranormal activities around town. You never know—you just might catch a glimpse of something unexpected and unforgettable.