By Tim Binnall
West Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles has created a fantastic new license plate that celebrates a bevy of the state's most beloved cryptids. The department unveiled the cool collectible last week, and it became available to purchase today. Serving as a bit of a puzzle to even the most ardent cryptozoology fans, the license plate design features nine different legendary creatures with a connection to West Virginia hiding throughout the scene. Lurking alongside the state's iconic Flatwoods Monster and Mothman are Bigfoot, Sheepsquatch, Bat Boy, Veggie Man, a werewolf, a turtle-like cryptid known as the Ogua, and a bizarre beastie known as the Grafton Monster.
Beyond being a celebration of the state's legendary creatures, DMV Commissioner Everett Frazier indicated that the piece doubles as a tribute to the late artist Jesse Corlis, who crafted the richly detailed design and, sadly, passed away "before he had the opportunity to see the cryptid plate come to fruition." The eye-catching offering for drivers is the latest example of West Virginia embracing its remarkable history of mysterious monsters and apocryphal animals in recent years. Back in 2024, the state's tourism department launched a 'Paranormal Trail' showcasing landmarks connected to such stories.
Meanwhile, West Virginia has also made history with the new license plate, as it is the first-ever cryptid-themed design produced in the United States or anywhere in the world. To that end, previous efforts to celebrate the Lake Champlain Monster in Vermont and Sasquatch in Washington in a similar fashion both failed to move beyond the proposal stage, despite considerable excitement over the idea from residents. Perhaps the only downside to the new cryptid license plate may be how coveted it will likely be to sticky-fingered ne'er-do-wells looking to get their hands on the piece without having to pay for it.