The Ozark Howler: Monster Cat in the Ozarks?

Ozarks of Arkansas

One of my favorite stories from my years of living in different parts of the South is the tale of the Ozark Howler in Arkansas. (It is also said to live in Missouri and Oklahoma, maybe even in Texas).
Now let me be clear from the start that this mysterious animal or beast or monster or whatever it is has been the focus of an incredibly large number of hoaxes and false reports. One hoaxer even admitted to a researcher that he spread as many false stories as he could to poke fun at the Chupacabra craze that swept through Texas a decade or so ago.

Small Waterfall in the Ozarks

That said, there are real stories from sincere eyewitnesses of a strange creature roaming through the Ozark Mountains. Its nightly cries are said to sound like a the screams of a woman.

I first heard reasonable eyewitnesses talk about the Arkansas Howler in 2004 when I was living in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Several people that I talked to who had seen or heard it or found its prints did not believe it to be a real "monster," but instead thought that a mountain lion or cougar was loose in the Boston Mountains that stretch between Fort Smith and Van Buren on the south and the booming Northwest Arkansas corridor.

Wildlife authorities maintained at that time that there were no native cougars left in Arkansas. Nevertheless, residents who lived in and along the fringes of the Boston Mountains, which are part of the Ozarks, were serious in their claims that a large animal was roaming their neighborhoods.



Cougar as seen in a USDA Photo

The most convincing evidence I saw during my time in Arkansas were photos from a trail cam belonging to a couple that lived north of Van Buren in Crawford County. The photos without doubt showed a large, tawny cat that looked just like a cougar to me. State wildlife officials did not dispute that it could be a big cat, they simply point out that there is no evidence of a breeding population of such animals in Arkansas.

Be that as it may, they do agree that there could be cougars or other large cats roaming the wild areas of the Ozarks, just believe that if they are there, they were someone's pets that either escaped or were released by their owners when they got too big and dangerous.

The Ozarks from White Rock Mountain

Now to be fair, other eyewitnesses claim to have seem something much more monstrous than a cougar in the hills and hollows of the Ozarks. Sightings ranging from a cat much bigger than a cougar to a cat-like monster with glowing eyes and horns growing from its head have been reported.

Whatever it is, and a recent investigation in Newton County, Arkansas, obtained plaster casts of what a biologist identified as possible Puma tracks (Puma is another name for a big cat like a cougar), the Ozark Howler is very much part of the modern folklore and tradition of the Ozarks.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ozarkhowler.

Eureka Springs - The per capita Wedding Capital of America

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

It often comes as a surprise visitors that the quaint Victorian town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, hosts more weddings per capita than any city in the United States.

In fact, some years more people get married in Eureka Springs than actually live there! So I thought in honor of Valentine's Day it would be enjoyable to take a look at this charming community in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.

Eureka Springs has always been a special place. The first visitors came back in the late 19th century when dozens of mineral springs were found flowing from the sides of the mountains there. The town was founded in 1877 and in less than one year more than 3,000 people came to live in Eureka.

Historic Downtown of Eureka Springs

They came because of the popularity of mineral springs in those days. People believed the pure water provided cures for a variety of illnesses and the arrival of the railroad brought crowds in to enjoy the spas, hotels and other amenities of the resort community in the Ozarks.

The belief in the power of water from mineral springs diminished in the 20th century, but unlike many such places, Eureka Springs preserved its beautiful atmosphere and architecture. It stands today as one of the most beautifully preserved Victorian towns in the world. The romance of days gone by is unmistakable and the town offers beautiful historic accommodations, restaurants, shops and entertainment. Carriages roll through the streets and couples walk hand in hand along the sidewalks.

Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs

And there are weddings. More weddings than can be imagined. There is no blood test and no waiting to get married in Eureka Springs. A couple can arrive, get their license, get married and be on their honeymoon in a beautiful historic hotel, bed and breakfast or more modern accommodation in less than 90 minutes.

An array of wedding locations are available, ranging from the simple to the elegant, or one of the town's many ministers will come to you and perform a wedding at the location of your choice. An overlook on East Mountain, for example, provides a spectacular view of the valley and Victorian town and is popular for couples looking to marry surrounded by the beauty of the mountains.

To learn more about Eureka Springs, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eurekaindex.

For complete information on getting married in Eureka Springs, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eurekaweddings.