Asheville and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains have a rich history of cryptid lore, including accounts that align with werewolf characteristics. While modern official reports are rare, legendary sightings and historical news stories keep the myth alive in Western North Carolina (WNC).
Notable Sightings & Folklore
- The 7-Foot
Beast (Asheville, 1980s): A well-known local account
involves a woman who believed she hit an animal in the dark. Upon
investigating, she was reportedly confronted by a 7-foot-tall beast that
chased her back to her car, leaving visible claw marks on the vehicle.
- The 2020
Sighting: A more recent sighting of a similar creature
was reported in the Asheville area in 2020, continuing the local
fascination with "wolf-man" legends.
- The Wampus Cat
(Marion, 1932): In the nearby foothills of Marion, a
creature described as a "Wampus" caused a stir after
allegedly mangling over 40 dogs.
Eyewitnesses described it as having long, slim legs, pointed ears, and a
large head.
- The Dogman: North Carolina is frequently cited in discussions regarding
the "Dogman," a cryptid similar to a werewolf often reported in
heavily forested areas like those found in the Appalachian range.
Natural Explanations
- Red Wolves: Asheville is home to the WNC Nature Center, which participates in
the recovery program for the American Red Wolf. While
extremely rare in the wild, sightings of these endangered canines are
sometimes mistaken for more supernatural creatures.
- Coyotes and
Bears: Mangy bears or large coyotes are common
natural explanations for sightings of tall, thin, or unusually shaped
animals in the woods.
Related Local Lore
- The Beast of
Bladenboro: While located further east in NC, this
legendary "vampire-beast" is a staple of state cryptid lore
often discussed alongside Asheville-area sightings.
- Haunted Tours: For those interested in exploring these legends further,
Are
you interested in specific locations where these sightings
occurred, or would you like to know about other cryptids reported
in the Blue Ridge Mountains?
14 sites
- Cryptids &
Monsters of North Carolina - Audible
Apr 21, 2025 — From
ancient Native legends to modern sightings, uncover tales of the Judaculla, a
Cherokee giant; Lorelei, the French Broad River...
Audible
- The Wolf Man:
Legends of The Werewolf and Lycans
Jan 17, 2025 — A local
woman was terrified after believing she had struck an animal with her car in
the dark. After exiting the vehicle to invest...
US
Ghost Adventures
- WNC Nature
Center Announces Birth of Nine Critically Endangered ...
May 16, 2023 — American
red wolves are native to North America and are one of the most endangered
canine species in the world.
The
City of Asheville (.gov)
In Western North Carolina (WNC) cryptid
lore,
Christian
MacLeod, widely known as The Cryptid Guy, is the
primary local authority.
The Cryptid Guy: Expert Profile
- Role &
Organization: He is the founder, director, and lead
investigator of the American Cryptid and
Paranormal Society.
- Experience: MacLeod has over 27 years of experience investigating cryptid
and paranormal activity, specifically within the Appalachian region.
- Specialization: His work often bridges the gap between modern sightings and
historical folklore, including Native American legends, werewolf-like
encounters, and "Dogman" reports.
- Academic
Background: He holds a Master of Arts and Teaching (MAT)
from Western Carolina University and has a background in
psychology and criminology.
Relevant Reports for WNC
If you
are tracking "wolf-man" or "Dogman" behavior in the area,
MacLeod's research often looks at:
- High
Strangeness Zones: Forested corridors in the Blue Ridge
Mountains where upright canine sightings have clustered.
- Behavioral
Patterns: Reports of these creatures showing high
intelligence or bipedal movement, which separates them from misidentified
local wildlife like the American Red Wolf.
Christian
MacLeod, also known as
The
Cryptid Guy is the lead investigator for
the American Cryptid and Paranormal Society (also referred to
as ACAPS). He is a primary resource for verifying sightings of
"wolf-man" and other high-strangeness creatures in the Blue Ridge
Mountains.
Investigative Expertise
- The Cryptid Guy
(Official Site): You can find his centralized research and
reporting forms at CryptidGuy.com.
- Haunted
Asheville Tours: MacLeod frequently leads the Haunted Asheville Ghost Tours,
where he integrates local historical folklore with his own investigative
findings.
- Field Work: He specializes in "high strangeness" cases in
Western North Carolina, focusing on sightings that involve bipedal
movement, unusual intelligence, and humanoid features.
Recent Area Reports (Verified by Local Collectors)
- Looking Glass
Falls (2020s): A report involving a "pervasive,
stunning fear" and a physical presence felt by witnesses in total
darkness, a common psychological trait reported during cryptid encounters.
- The Green River
Gorge (Sightings over 30 years): Ongoing reports from the
Green River area describe large, well-camouflaged creatures that display
non-animal behavior, such as maintain eye contact with humans while
drinking from the river.
- Upright Canine
(Dogman) Accounts: Modern reports often describe a 6'10"
to 7' creature with fur, glowing green or amber eyes, and human-like
hands, frequently sighted in the heavily forested outskirts of
Asheville.
Would
you like to submit your own report to this society, or are you
looking for a map of specific WNC "hotspots" where
these sightings are most frequent?
7 sites
- Guest:
Christian MacLeod - Nature's Edge with Dale Stewart
Jun 19, 2019 — Share
episode. ... Christian MacLeod is the Cryptid Guy. Founder, director, and lead
investigator of the Asheville Cryptid Society...
Buzzsprout
- Haunted
Asheville ghost tour ranks high - Spectrum News
Oct 28, 2021 — He
considers himself lucky with all the teams he's part of, like Haunted Asheville
and the school he works at. "I've got the great...
Spectrum
News 1
- 6 REAL Dogman
Sightings that will DISTURB You
YouTube·JUST
CREEPY
7m
To
submit a report or explore local hotspots with
Christian
MacLeod (The Cryptid Guy) and the American Cryptid
and Paranormal Society use the following resources:
Reporting a Sighting
- Official
Investigation Form: Use the reporting tool
at CryptidGuy.com to submit a detailed account of your encounter
directly to MacLeod.
- The American
Cryptid and Paranormal Society: You can connect with his
team for investigative support through their Facebook
Community or by tracking his appearances on the Sasquatch
Outpost Podcast.
- Wildlife
Verification: If you believe you’ve seen an
endangered American Red Wolf, contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at
1-855-4WOLVES to help separate natural sightings from cryptid
reports.
WNC Cryptid Hotspots
(Brown Mountain): Famous
for the "Brown Mountain Lights," this area also has a history
of Bigfoot and upright canine reports.
(Soco Gap): A
known area for "high strangeness" where travelers have reported terrifying, unidentifiable creatures appearing
on the road at night.
- French Broad
River Valley: Folklore describes the "Lorelei"
siren, and modern investigators often scan the heavily wooded banks for
the Wampus Cat or
Dogman.
- Macon &
Alleghany Counties: Recent professional logs from the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) show
clusters of "Class A" sightings (clear visual) in the forests
surrounding Highlands and Sparta.
Experience the Lore
- Haunted
Asheville Ghost Tour: Join MacLeod’s team on
the Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour to
hear firsthand accounts of the city's most notorious supernatural sites.
- Appalachian
Legends Pub Crawl: For a social look at the lore,
the Cryptids & Creatures Pub Crawl explores the history of
the Boojum, Mothman, and Moon-Eyed People.
