Devil’s Lake, located in Sauk County, is a 372 acre body of water considered to be the centerpiece of Wisconsin’s most popular state park. Devil’s lake was created during the glaciers during the last ice age and is set among towering quartzite bluffs, a setting that draws well more than a million visitors each year. Originally inhabited by the North American Nakota Sioux Indians, Devils Lake has been a popular gathering place for centuries, including white settlers that began claiming the land in the 1800’s.

Despite the regions natural beauty Devil’s Lake has long been home to a monstrous creature feared by the Native Indians of the area. A lack of sightings in modern times have lead some investigators to believe that if the Devil’s Lake Monster ever existed at all has either moved on to a new location or gone extinct some time ago. One of the earliest legends involving the Devil’s Lake Monster revolves around a Native American Indian Tribe, most likely Sioux, whose chief assembled an expedition of young warriors to go on a midnight hunting trip on the fertile lands located across the lake from their village.

A full moon reflected off the night blackened water as the warriors and their leader slipped there canoes into Devil’s Lake and began their late night trek. Shortly into the trip a flurry of tentacles ripped through the calm water, capsizing the canoes and pulling terrified warriors down to their deaths. Although the beast left no survivors, the warrior’s screams for help alerted their fellow tribesmen who rushed onto the beach only to witness the horrific event, illuminated for all to see by the glow of the moon.

Those warriors who were lucky enough not have been selected for the lake not hunting trip held a festival every year in order to pay homage to their fallen brethren. During the festival gives and animal sacrifices where thrown into the lake as a means to appease that they believed to be a demon of the lake. The tradition continues to this day, though the event is treated more as a picnic and annual celebration.

When the first missionaries arrived in the Devil’s Lake area they where greeted by the Nakota Tribe, who told them about a year in which the area experienced a great drought. During this drought the Nakota Tribe remained near the swiftly drying lake, not only because it was the only source of water for miles, but also because it drew animals from all over to its shores in order to drink, providing the tribe with a stable food source. As the summer drew on and the drought continued to lower the lakes levels it eventually became two lakes, separated by a shallow strip of mud which ran through the middle.

One morning the Nakota people awoke to find what they could only describe as a huge, fish like creature trapped on the strip of mud which now divided the two remaining bodies of water. The tribe described the large creature as having a long neck, small head and wide body that it thrashed and wiggled in an attempt to free its self. After several days the creature was able to free its self and slip into the deeper of the two remaining pools of lake water.

Researchers tend to vary in opinion as to what the Devil’s Lake Monster might be, some have suggested a form of giant fresh water octopus while others have looked to a more familiar face in the lake monster world, suggesting it may be a plesiosaur that found its way into the lake after the last Ice Age. Either way what ever the Devil’s Lake Monster is, or was, there has been no real sightings of the creature for some time, leaving some to speculate what ever the creature was may be long gone by now.

The Evidence
No physical evidence has been found to date that would suggest the existence of the Devil’s Lake Monster.

The Sightings
No documented sightings of the Devil’s Lake Monster could be found at this time.

The Stats – (Where applicable)

• Classification: Lake Monster
• Size: Unknown
• Weight: Unknown
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Location: Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin, United States of America
• Movement: Swimming
• Environment: Glacial Lake