Wild & Wonderful (and Paranormal) West Virginia

by Denver Michaels

West Virginia, the Mountain State, is a hotbed of paranormal activity. UFOs frequent the skies;"flying rays" have been spotted along the Ohio River; thunderbirds follow a flight path that runs through the state. Of course, there are the classic flying cryptids, the Flatwoods Monster and Mothman, both of whom left their marks in the Mountain State decades ago.

The densely forested hills of West Virginia conceal a number of odd creatures. Bigfoot sightings regularly occur throughout the state. Other bipedal cryptids such as Sheepsquatch and dogmen lurk in the shadows as well. It is not hard to find an outdoorsman in the state who has spotted a mountain lion; many folks claim to have seen black panthers in the woods. That's not all—devil monkeys, chupacabras, phantom dogs, and more stalk the hillsides.

The strangeness in the Mountain State dates further back than most people imagine. Long ago, an enigmatic people, the Mound Builders, left strange earthworks behind. Hundreds of burial mounds, many containing the skeletal remains of giants, were left in present-day West Virginia. Another strange group, the "moon-eyed people," also known as the Azgen, supposedly inhabited large portions of the state before being driven out by the Shawnee. Could these ancient peoples, the Azgen and the Mound Builders, have something to do with strange phenomena today?

West Virginia is home to many haunted locations. From battlefields to hospitals to hotels and all points in between, there is no shortage of ghosts stories to go around.

In this book, Denver Michaels seeks answers to why West Virginia experiences a disproportionate amount of strange phenomena. Delving into the history of the state, he tries to understand what is behind the unusual activity, strange stories, and cryptid creatures of the Mountain State.

Genres: Nonfiction, Monsters, Paranormal

163 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2017

About the author

Denver Michaels is an author with a passion for cryptozoology, the paranormal, lost civilizations & ancient history, and all things unexplained. In 2016, the Virginia native released his first book, People are Seeing Something, which makes a case for the existence of lake monsters in the United States and Canada. Since then, he has gone on to author Giants: Men of Renown, Strange Tales from Virginia’s Mountains, and other books covering cryptozoology and paranormal subject matter.

Michaels and his wife sold their home in 2020 and now travel the country full-time in an RV. Michaels enjoys the outdoors, hiking, fishing, investigating the unexplained, and working on new writing projects.

Reviews

[Marie]

Good read

This book is a well researched tome. As someone who watches Ancient Aliens on Friday’s, I found it interesting that instead of attributing religious stories to aliens, he attributes alien encounters to possible religious experiences. The book also states paranormal experiences and relates possible actual explanations for them. Much more interesting book than I expected.

[Nicki Hinkle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to read this with a fully opened mind. I have actually visited several of the sites discussed in this book. However, the narrator seemed to have a very personal attachment to this subject and at times it seemed that it was "the world doesn't believe me" so he had to push it further here.
I found lots of interesting things in the book, but I am not a believer after reading it.

[J. d'Merricksson · Rating 4 out of 5]

***This book was reviewed for Reader's Favourite

Wild and Wonderful (and Paranormal) West Virginia by Denver Michaels delved into the lore and legends of titular West Virginia (and neighboring Virginia), taking a peek at everything from battlefield ghosts to UFO encounters. The first chapter dealt with hauntings, and questions of giants in North America in paleo times. The next six chapters were devoted to cryptids of various natures- flying, aquatic, bipedal, phantom cats, Mothman, and a mixed bag of demon dogs, devil monkeys, and Slender Man. The final three chapters covered UFO phenomena.

I found this an entertaining, quick read that was a good overview of the paranormal and preternatural in West Virginia. It is a book written in a more sensationalised rather than academic style, though the author clearly did research, and provides numerous citations so the curious reader can further explore. I loved that the author went to many of the locales, and included their own pictures.

I came across several new-to-me concepts, such as the possibility of an extant kangaroo population in the US, comprised of escaped exotics, and that this accounted for at least some reported sightings of werewolves and dogmen. Roos can be aggressive, and if spotted in an environment where they are unexpected, could be mistaken for dogmen.

I have rarely heard of tulpa as an explanation for cryptids and preternaturals, and impressed it was included here. Tulpa are consciousness constructs. Individuals with extreme focus are said to be able to create them, but usually it is a joint, unconscious effort among many individuals whose fears, angers, and/or grief, are made manifest. Tulpa tend to change appearance in response to socio-cultural norms.

I grok the notion that 'alien’ visitors are perhaps Fae, or tulpa, tailored for each new generation. Of especial interest is the idea that aliens who visit for sexual purposes are really succubi/ incubi (sexual demons), or more likely, abductions/pleasurings are bouts of sleep paralysis. I've suffered from sleep paralysis and the vivid dreams that can accompany it.

I did feel things were repeated too often, certain thoughts or facts. One big one was the notion that Virginia/ West Virginia are the perfect place for the paranormal, for cryptids, for UFOs. I didn't need to hear it quite so many times. Another proofing run-through would not be amiss. There are many instances of missing or misspelled words.

📚📚📚📚

[Andreas Michaelides · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild & Wonderful (and Paranormal) West Virginia by Denver Michaels is a detailed record of events in the wildlife of West Virginia on one end and the paranormal developments on the other end of the author’s amazing research.

This book is a rollercoaster of information. Data about the unexplained phenomena that occurred and still occur in the state of West Virginia. A beautiful insight of the place where the author was born, raised and still lives.

It presents a plethora of archeological sites, like the huge Mounds and the stories about Giants. I didn’t know that they were such structures in the USA. Those hills remind me the ancient Greek Tombs we have here in Greece, and I wonder if they have similar architectural purposes. That is something that I would love to search in the future.

I learned so much about life forms that I did not know exist either in the imagination of our heads or in reality.

The Azgen people, Haunted locations across the West Virginia. Beings that supposedly live in the mountains like, Sasquatch, Dogmen and other bipeds.

Other existences that live in the water and in the air.

UFO are not left behind, and there are a lot of interesting stories that left me wondering. The one thing I really liked about this book is that the author did an excellent job presenting the data. The facts are presented without being biased and explanations are offered where is 100% positive scientific proof.

Lot’s of interesting photos in the book taken by the writer illustrating the places he visited to do his research.

If you are a lover of the paranormal. UFO’s, Ghosts, unexplained phenomena then this book is the perfect guide for you. Furthermore it’s the perfect guide for the places in West Virginia that allegiantly these events happen.

The book is intriguing, and there is not a boring moment. You can read the chapters in any order you wish. This autonomous approach makes it perfect for the reader that wants to know about The Flatwoods Monster and not about devil monkeys for example!

I really enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it. The author did an amazing job collecting and double checking his information.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Good Reads for a copy of Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.

This book has interesting stories and a lot of history.

Some of this stuff is believable. At least that's what people believe. I've never experienced it so I can only rely on what other's have. I recommend this book if you like aliens, strange apparitions, and strange phenomena. Great research by the Author. I live in New Jersey and now because of this book I'm staying far away from the Pine Barrens. That creeped me out.

Cherie'

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird happenings in the state of West Virginia

Recorded of events, sightings such as Bigfoot, UFO's. Also included in the book are Cryptic, Thunderbirds, folklore and mysterious creatures being reported in West Virginia. The author has also included photos and favorite places he has visited. I enjoyed reading the history and paranormal of West Virginia. I would recommend this book.

[Cindelu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads. It is a well balanced account of paranormal and UFO occurrences. It is a quick and entertaining read. Cleverly written and investigated. I loved all the pictures of the author at one location or another.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinarily Entertaining

This book contains an interesting group of encounters. Great for the native of West Virginia and the passers through alike. Several links are included for those wanting more information. Very entertaining book.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super informative and spooky!

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is like having a conversation about paranormal and odd occurrences in the Mountain State. Great baselines of the most famous (Mothman) and not so famous stories (Sheepsquatch).

[Augustine Kobayashi · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the mothman is really an owl-man?

[Valery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild & Wonderful (and paranormal) West Virginia by Denver Michaels is an exhaustive look at all of the weird happenings in the state of West Virginia. Otherwise known as the Mountain State, West Virginia is home to plenty of strange happenings and creatures. From the Mound people, with impressive burial mounds to Sheepsquatch to phantom dogs, there is ample opportunity in this book to explore the many oddities that seemingly inhabit the state of West Virginia. The author has done a good job of laying out in detailed fashion many of the strange things that happen in the state, and has documented his experiences well, not only with expansive text, but some photos as well. Michaels has thoroughly explored the history of West Virginia, and in doing so, has unearthed many interesting and intriguing stories. A must read for anyone interested in ghosts, the paranormal and unexplained happenings.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘There are places that make me feel uneasy.’

Virginia author Denver Michaels presents his third book dealing with his passion for cryptozoology (a pseudoscience that aims to prove the existence of entities from the folklore record), the paranormal, lost civilizations, and all things unexplained. Denver is an engineering technologist and works full-time while nurturing his obsession with his subject matter. He has traveled widely exploring the unexplained and in this his third book he turns his (and our!) attention to the waters of West Virginia and the paranormal activity there.

Denver writes in a style that suggests a knowledgeable sleuth sharing tales in the dark around a campfire site in a lost woods somewhere – that gift of relating stories of the unexplainable to wide-eyed friends huddled together for security. He openly relates his many findings of the strange things that go bump in the night (and day) in places we would not expect the bizarre to touch upon. ‘In West Virginia, there are literally dozens of places that make me feel uneasy— and I really don’t know why— something just nags at me.’And then he spends this book of photographs, documents, and descriptions of the paranormal variety that keeps us in rapt attention.

For instance, ‘West Virginia also has its share of Bigfoot sightings, ghosts, and UFO reports— but, it also has much more! I see West Virginia as one of the— if not the— premiere locations for cryptids and paranormal activity east of the Mississippi… In addition to strange creatures, West Virginia also seems to be a hotspot for UFO activity and other strange phenomena. The Ohio River Valley seems especially prone to strangeness. The Kanawha River, which dumps into the Ohio at Point Pleasant, was called Keninskeha by the Shawnee tribe, a name meaning river of evil spirits. Perhaps the evil spirits were the reason for the startling lack of Native American settlements in West Virginia when Europeans began to colonize the New World. Native Americans hunted in West Virginia and fought white settlers in an effort to resist colonization efforts. However, they refused to live there— a land with plentiful resources was forsaken. Why? UFOs have been widely reported in West Virginia since the early 1950s; accounts go even further back—
as the late 1800s! In 1969, West Virginia had the most UFO sightings per capita in the nation.’ And Denver spends this book explaining
why West Virginia.

Here are discussions of specific named cryptids – aquatic, flying, bipedal (the Grafton Monster for example) - mysterious cats, the mounds, devil monkeys, white phantom dogs, UFOs and the Flatwoods Monster. Not only is Denver’s written description of these puzzling phenomena vivid and informed but he also offers documentation of sightings and monuments to the existence of these paranormal beings.

To borrow a segment of his synopsis, ‘The strangeness in the Mountain State dates further back than most people imagine. Long ago, an enigmatic people, the Mound Builders, left strange earthworks behind. Hundreds of burial mounds, many containing the skeletal remains of giants, were left in present-day West Virginia. Another strange group, the "moon-eyed people," also known as the Azgen, supposedly inhabited large portions of the state before being driven out by the Shawnee. Could these ancient peoples, the Azgen and the Mound Builders, have something to do with strange phenomena today? West Virginia is home to many haunted locations. From battlefields to hospitals to hotels and all points in between, there is no shortage of ghosts stories to go around.’

Books of this nature are rare, and Denver Michaels’ volume stands as one of the best-written examinations of the inexplicable. Highly Recommended.

[Clipinchick]

I received this book for free from the author/publisher in response for an honest review of the book. I have not had the opportunity to read this book at this time. I will add my
review of this book once I have read the book. Thank k you for allowing me the optometrist review your work. I look forward to reading this book.