Florida has been dealing with an apparent monster for almost 200 years. Source: Courtesy of RiversEdge Team
While Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster grabs all the global buzz, Florida has faced its own water beast for nearly 200 years.
Locals call it “Johnnie” — a massive, 35-foot horned sea creature lurking in the St. Johns River.
Sightings date back to 1849 when stunned residents first reported the mysterious monster. Since then, legends of Florida’s river monster have refused to fade.
That first sighting stunned an experienced ship captain. He described it as “an immense sea monster,” calling it both a “serpent” and a “monster of the deep.”
The captain claimed the creature raised its snake-like head multiple times above the water. Each time, it revealed most of its massive body — along with a pair of terrifying fins several feet long.
After that chilling moment, reports of Florida’s sea monster continued. In 1953, Buck Dillard, a seasoned river guide, saw it too. He and a group of fishermen watched as the beast stared back at them.
“He looked at us for about a minute, then went under and swam away,” Dillard recalled.
They waited two more hours, hoping it would resurface. But it never did.
Later that year, another eyewitness gave a bizarre description — a creature that “swims like a fish and walks like a dog,” sporting a 10-inch horn on its head.
Still, not everyone buys the legend. Some skeptics insist “Johnnie” is nothing more than a large manatee or sea cow.
The captain claimed the creature raised its snake-like head multiple times above the water. Each time, it revealed most of its massive body — along with a pair of terrifying fins several feet long.
After that chilling moment, reports of Florida’s sea monster continued. In 1953, Buck Dillard, a seasoned river guide, saw it too. He and a group of fishermen watched as the beast stared back at them.
“He looked at us for about a minute, then went under and swam away,” Dillard recalled.
They waited two more hours, hoping it would resurface. But it never did.
Later that year, another eyewitness gave a bizarre description — a creature that “swims like a fish and walks like a dog,” sporting a 10-inch horn on its head.
Still, not everyone buys the legend. Some skeptics insist “Johnnie” is nothing more than a large manatee or sea cow.
Florida wildlife officials remain unconvinced. John Dequine, a commissioner with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, offered a simpler explanation.
“If you’ve ever seen a cow surface with eelgrass and weeds all over its head, you might mistake it for a monster,” he said.
He explained that manatees often dip their heads underwater to feed on eelgrass — giving them a monstrous appearance at just the right moment.
Still, true believers aren’t backing down. Many insist “Johnnie” is no manatee but a prehistoric creature that somehow survived extinction.
While Florida has “Johnnie,” Scotland’s famous cryptid, the Loch Ness Monster, kicked off its own legend in 1933.
On May 2 that year, the Inverness Courier reported a shocking sighting. A local couple claimed they saw “an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface” of Loch Ness.
The story went viral before viral was a thing.
Later that same year, Hugh Gray snapped the first known photo of Nessie. But skeptics called it a hoax — just a blurry shot of his Labrador splashing in the lake.
“If you’ve ever seen a cow surface with eelgrass and weeds all over its head, you might mistake it for a monster,” he said.
He explained that manatees often dip their heads underwater to feed on eelgrass — giving them a monstrous appearance at just the right moment.
Still, true believers aren’t backing down. Many insist “Johnnie” is no manatee but a prehistoric creature that somehow survived extinction.
While Florida has “Johnnie,” Scotland’s famous cryptid, the Loch Ness Monster, kicked off its own legend in 1933.
On May 2 that year, the Inverness Courier reported a shocking sighting. A local couple claimed they saw “an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface” of Loch Ness.
The story went viral before viral was a thing.
Later that same year, Hugh Gray snapped the first known photo of Nessie. But skeptics called it a hoax — just a blurry shot of his Labrador splashing in the lake.
In 1934, London doctor Robert Kenneth Wilson snapped a photo that grabbed global headlines. The image appeared to show a mysterious creature raising its head above the waters of Loch Ness.
For decades, it fueled belief in the Loch Ness Monster.
But in 1994, the truth finally surfaced. Chris Spurling, one of the people behind the stunt, confessed on his deathbed — the “monster” was just a toy submarine.
Still, the legend lives on.
Despite the hoax, public fascination never faded. In fact, Scotland leaned into the myth. Today, the country celebrates it proudly with events like the Loch & Land Festival.
Tourists still flock to Loch Ness, hoping to catch a glimpse of the world’s most famous cryptid.
For decades, it fueled belief in the Loch Ness Monster.
But in 1994, the truth finally surfaced. Chris Spurling, one of the people behind the stunt, confessed on his deathbed — the “monster” was just a toy submarine.
Still, the legend lives on.
Despite the hoax, public fascination never faded. In fact, Scotland leaned into the myth. Today, the country celebrates it proudly with events like the Loch & Land Festival.
Tourists still flock to Loch Ness, hoping to catch a glimpse of the world’s most famous cryptid.
