Daily Yonder offers a spooky survey of rural monster myths

An artist's rendition of what the Beast of Busco
might look like. (Source: Cryptid Archives)

Just in time for Halloween, The Daily Yonder has new updates to its series about spooky local legends. In "Rural Monsters, Myths, and Legends," Liz Carey surveys how communities have leveraged local lore into tourist attractions, TV shows, and more. She notes that the legends aren't "simply silly or scary," but also "offer a valuable window into the unique culture and community life of places often unseen and under-appreciated."

The series includes stories about the Mothman in West Virginia, the Van Meter Visitor in Iowa, and more. The latest update recounts stories about the Beast of Busco, a 500-pound turtle that allegedly lurks in a lake near Churubusco, Ind. Interestingly, it was a columnist for The Journal-Gazette in Fort Wayne that gave the rumored beast its name. 

Click here to read more from the series, and stay tuned for tomorrow's update about the Big Muddy Monster of Murphysboro, Illinois.