The Cutest Sea Monster in the Ohio River

Camden Park
Huntington, WV

Back in May of 1962, Camden Park in Huntington, WV had just received a shipment from the West Coast. For the price of $100 plus an addition $125 in shipping and handling costs, the popular park would now be in possession of George, a male sea lion. George was the intended mate and companion for a female sea lion already at the park named Jenny. He was added to the sea lion pool, but only after 10 days in West Virginia, George was sick of Jenny and longed for home. 

On Friday, May 25th, George flopped over the 4 foot high fence surrounding the pool, and made a beeline to Twelvepole Creek. Quickly swimming down the creek, he made it to the Ohio River and was off on his quest for freedom. 

By that evening, he had made it 20 miles downstream. He was spotted at the Greenup Lock and Dam and Camden Park officials began formulating a plan to go capture him. Apparently, they didn't think George would figure out how to actually get through the dam, but he did. He was spotted by a pipeline crew at 10 am the next morning having a fish breakfast on the downriver side of the dam. After a bit of a frolic, George started booking it toward the sea. 

Later that day he was in the Cincinnati area. A motorist called the Cincinnati Zoo with reports of a three foot long MONSTER in the Ohio River, swimming near Lock 27 at Ferbank. A Mr. and Mrs. Balzheiser were out on the river in their boat near Dayton, Ky and thought a dog was caught in the river. They approached it, hoping to rescue it, and realized the dog had FINS. 

Around this time, George also apparently tried to hitchhike back home. He jumped into a towboat piloted by Captain R.F. Rogers. The crew tried to feed George sardines, but he got scared and jumped back into the water. He later would briefly jump into one of the barges being towed by the boat, but ultimately decided that he didn't need the ride after all. Captain Rogers called his daughter to tell her about the weird thing that happened to him. She just happened to live in Huntington, and was able to make the connection that this was probably the missing George. 

After being spotted Sunday morning by Lewis Kelly, the lockmaster at Dam No. 38 near Rising Sun, Indiana, George once again approached a tugboat. The Claire E. Beatty was stopped near Carrollton, Kentucky when the crew spotted George. The boat's cook prepared some salmon for George, and after awhile of being outwitted by the sea lion, the crew managed to pull him in. They locked him in a cabin and fed him salmon, milk, and even hamburger, while Captain Leland (Lee) Roberts contacted the Cincinnati Zoo. 

Representatives from the Cincinnati Zoo came to collect George until the staff at Camden Park could make arrangements to get him back to West Virginia. But, there was a slight problem....when it seemed as if George was never coming back, Camden Park manager W.H. Nudd put in another order to the West Coast. George II was already on his way....

The weirdness surrounding Camden Park doesn't end with George. The park has long had a reputation of being haunted. From its Adena burial mound to the ghostly woman on the Big Dipper, Camden Park has had its fair share of strange history, which you can read about here!:  (Camden Park Creepiness)

27 May 1962
Beckley Post Herald

28 May 1962
Beckley Post Herald

28 May 1962
Beckley Post Herald 

29 May 1962
Raleigh Register

Parkersburg Sea Serpent

ChatGPT's interpretation of the
Parkersburg Sea Serpent

When you hear the term 'sea serpent,' I'm guessing the Ohio River doesn't necessarily come to mind, especially since it's an inland river and not a sea. But, the Ohio River is FULL of strange creatures, spanning its entire length.  In 1893, it was the Parkersburg, WV area that would become the focus for some Ohio River weirdness.

In late June/early July, a 'sea serpent' was seen in various places between Neale's/Neal Island (about two miles above Parkersburg) and Blennerhassett Island (about two miles below the city). For a couple of weeks, multiple witnesses, many young people out on social boating outings, described an encounter with a long, snake-like creature, floating on the surface of the water. 

This creature was black in color, and anywhere between 8-15 feet long, with an estimated 10 feet long being the average reported length. The creature had a broad head as big as a barrel and bulging eyes that were almost canine in appearance. Although spotted floating atop the water, when approached by a boat, the creature would then quickly dive, causing dangerous waves. 

Many locals believed the tales, with some citizens reporting that they, too, had seen the serpent almost on a daily basis. It was said that the witnesses were reliable and truthful---a belief that was reiterated over and over in newspaper reports. However, out of state newspapers who covered the story were a little less impressed and accused the witnesses of lying, being drunk, etc. 

Was the Parkersburg Sea Serpent simply a hoax by some bored kids trying to liven up their summer festivities, or was it a simple misidentification? Or, was there really a monster living in the Ohio River in 1893? 

Location of Neal Island and Blennerhassett Island

The Cincinnati Enquirer
02 July 1893