The Pope Lick Monster

The Pope Lick Monster is a legendary creature said to live beneath the Norfolk Southern Railway trestle over Pope Lick Creek in Louisville, Kentucky. Described as a goat-human hybrid, the creature allegedly lures people onto the trestle where they are struck by trains.

Description

The monster is described as having the body of a man with the legs and horns of a goat, covered in pale skin or white fur. Its face is grotesquely malformed. Some versions give it the ability to hypnotize victims.

The Legend

According to legend, the creature uses hypnosis or voice mimicry to lure people onto the 772-foot trestle. Once they are on the tracks, they become disoriented and are unable to escape before a train comes.

The Tragic Reality

The trestle has been the site of multiple deaths, though these are attributed to trespassers attempting to cross the active railway bridge, sometimes while searching for the monster.

Origins

Various explanations for the legend exist: a circus freak who escaped and went feral, a farmer who made a deal with the devil, or Native American spirits. None has been verified.

Assessment

The Pope Lick Monster represents a dangerous legend that has contributed to real deaths. Whether the creature exists or not, the trestle itself is genuinely deadly.