Flatwoods, West Virginia: Replica Space Monsters for Sale

July 2016, the aliens are now on a shelf with all the other souvenirs. A bit pricey at $29, we opted for the WV bobblehead hillbilly. Also, fireworks for sale now across the street.

The replica space monsters are not actually in the Bear Haven gift shop, but in the attached Sunoco convenience store on top of the microwave by the nachos. Not much of an attraction here, but hey, we needed gas anyway. At $28 a pop we opted for the tank of gas.

Imagine my delight when I walked into the Sunoco at 312 N. Court St. and found, amongst WV souvenir shirts, one lonely space monster. No sign, no explanation.

With a smile, I strode to the counter and said "I'll take two sodas and a space monster, please." What they don't tell you is what a great luminary this odd fellow makes! Stick a candle in there and you're good to go.

Sure, the Mothman has a life-sized statue and a museum, but does he have clean bathrooms and free Sunoco bumper stickers? I think not.

The replica space monsters for sale in Flatwoods at the Sunoco station are known as "The Flatwoods Monster" or "The Braxton County Monster." They are representations of a 11-12 foot tall space monster that crash landed its UFO on a hillside in 1952. The statues are roughly 20 inches tall and made of pottery painted red and green. They cost around $28 when I bought mine a few years ago.

There is also a sign at the entrance to Flatwoods that states, "Flatwoods, WV: Home of the Green Monster" The "green monster" is another name for the alien that crashed that has now become known as the Braxton County/Flatwoods monster.

Flatwoods now holds an annual festival in honor of crash called "The Braxton County Monsterfest." It is a small affair, sure to get larger as years and interest increase.