Visiting the Mothman Museum and Point Pleasant West Virginia
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. This site also contains affiliate links to products besides Amazon and we may also receive a commission for purchases made through those links too (at no additional cost to you).
Traveling With Your Dog? Visit the Mothman Museum!
If you like cryptozoology (the study of the supernatural) then the Mothman Museum and Point Pleasant, West Virginia should be on your bucket list. Several townsfolk in and around Point Pleasant each saw a winged creature believed to be the Mothman the year before the fatal bridge collapse in 1967.
These events inspired a book and the movie, Mothman Prophecies. The museum shares the story of the tragedy of the town as well as some of the details and artifacts of the film and book.
Is the Mothman Museum Dog Friendly?
The Mothman Museum IS dog friendly. Leashed and well-behaved dogs are allowed in the museum and while you walk around town. There are also several parks and walking paths nearby that you can explore with your pup.
What is Mothman?
The Mothman is said to be a harbinger of great tragedy and several sightings were recorded around Point Pleasant, West Virginia leading up to the Silver Bridge collapse that claimed 46 lives. Historians have found numerous records of sightings of a winged creature before the disaster occurred around the world including Chernobyl.
This has led to speculations of whether the Mothman legend is in fact the same creature in similar folklore from other societies. People also wonder if the Mothman appears to warn people of upcoming disasters or has a hand in making them happen.
Why Visit Point Pleasant West Virginia?
Point Pleasant is a small city in West Virginia near the border of Ohio. It’s located on two different rivers: the Kanawha and the Ohio Rivers. The town has several parks and walking trails along the river with some beautiful views. There is also a nice main street area with small shops and restaurants. Point Pleasant is currently most famous for the Mothman legend which is tied to a tragic bridge collapse in 1967.
These Mothman sightings inspired a book by John Keele and the movie Mothman Prophesies. The interest in the Mothman legend led to the opening of the Mothman Museum which is now a popular stop for those interested in the supernatural and cryptozoology.
Where to Stay in Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant West Virginia has camping opportunities as well as hotels for you to choose from if you decide to stay overnight in the area.
Campsites Near Mothman Museum
There are several campgrounds in and around Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The campsites generally cost around $25 a night and are dog friendly. Some of the campgrounds also have cabins available.
Hotels Near Point Pleasant West Virginia
Use our booking.com link to find the best hotel for your vacation needs!
Booking.comWhere to Eat When Visiting the Mothman Museum
When you get hungry, don’t worry! There are several dining options in Point Pleasant to choose from during your visit. Take your pick from any of the typical chain restaurants as well as some local places like Bear Wallow BBQ and Rio Bravo II.
To continue the theme of the trip, you can grab a Mothman-themed ice cream treat at What’s the Scoop.
Mothman Museum
If you are visiting Point Pleasant West Virginia, you probably came for the Mothman Museum and the Mothman Statue! The museum is located on the corner of 4th and Main Street. The statue is a few feet away just up 4th Ave and isn’t really visible until you make that turn.
Mothman Statue
The Mothman statue is a very popular photo op, so I recommend checking to see if there is a line before entering the museum or window shopping down Main Street. During the busier months, be prepared to have to wait for your turn.
Mothman Museum Price and Hours
When you’re ready to enter the museum, admission is just $4. The museum is open 7 days a week, but they are closed on big holidays. The hours typically run from 10 am – 5 pm Monday through Thursday. 10 am- 6 pm Friday and Saturday. And 12 noon to 5 pm on Sundays.
How long does it take to go through the Mothman Museum?
The exhibits in the museum may not be large or fancy but they are full of interesting memorabilia and items. If you aren’t a big sign reader it probably won’t take you very long to do a quick walkthrough. However, if you plan on taking your time, watching the videos, and reading some of the reports you could be there a lot longer.
Tip: If your group has varied attention spans, I would recommend setting up a meeting spot at one of the shops on Main Street or at the river so everyone will have enough time to enjoy the museum. I love reading so I was one of the last ones in our group to leave the museum. The police reports had to be one of my favorite things!
What’s in the Mothman Museum?
Once you enter the building, you will find a small gift shop area. This is where you can buy Mothman and other cryptozoology memorabilia including books and the Mothman Prophecies movie. The checkout counter is also where you pay your admission fee if you want to go back to explore the exhibits.
The museum is small and loosely divided into sections. Inside you’ll find Mothman replicas and sketches throughout the museum. These figures are inspired by the different descriptions of the people who had given their firsthand accounts of the creature.
There is also a photo op cut-out board in the museum that you can take advantage of.
As you walk through the main part of the museum, you will get a short history of the town. You will also hear about all the Mothman sightings that Point Pleasant residents had leading up to the tragic Silver Bridge Collapse. You can find handwritten accounts, newspaper articles, and police reports of the surrounding events throughout the museum.
Towards the back of the museum, you will find a section dedicated to author John A Keel where he discusses his book and another to the movie. They even have some props from the film; Mothman Prophecies.
Other Point Pleasant Activities:
Don’t forget to check out some of the other things to do in Point Pleasant when you’re done at the museum. If you are waiting for the line to go down at the Mothman statue, or waiting for the rest of the group to finish up inside, there is plenty to do within walking distance.
You can stretch your legs at Point Pleasant Riverfront Park just down the street from the museum and admire the historic statues and murals while walking along the riverfront.
Stroll down Main Street to visit other stores dedicated to Bigfoot, Mothman, and other creatures. If you like ice cream, I highly encourage you to walk down and get a fancy-themed shake at What’s the Scoop?
If you don’t mind a short drive and want to spend some time outdoors, Point Pleasant also has several other parks to choose from. You can visit Tu-Endie Wei State Park, Krodel Park and Point Pleasant Splash Pad, and the McClintic Wildlife Management Area. McClintic is where the TNT area is which is where the Mothman was first spotted.
Nearby Attractions:
While the Mothman Museum alone may not be worth a trip to West Virginia, it is located near a lot of other fun and unique attractions to make it worth your while. You can easily spend weeks exploring it all from other paranormal stops, museums, and breathtaking parks!
Dog-friendly Paranormal Attractions near Mothman Museum:
Check out our post on Dog-friendly Vacation Stops in West Virginia for more ideas!
State and National Parks near Mothman Museum:
- Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio
- New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia
- Carter Caves Resort State Park in Kentucky
Nearby Museums and More:
- Huntington Museum of Art
- The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
- Charleston, West Virginia (WV state capital full of museums, shops, and more).
Why You Should Visit:
If you are into mysteries and sightings of the unknown, Point Pleasant should be on your bucket list. Visit the place of the first recorded sighting of Mothman in the area and the museum to learn more about the legend and surrounding events that inspired the book and movie. Make a day of it by taking in the quaint Main Street and enjoying the parks before you continue on to the next stop on your road trip.
Want to make your visit even more memorable? Visit during the Mothman Festival in September!
Pin for Later:
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.
