By Timothy Page

Author’s note: I have my own theories of what it may have been and would love to hear yours. Please leave them in the comments below.

Rising 1,287 feet above the otherwise-flat farmlands of Addison County, Snake Mountain stands as a mysterious monadnock that has captured the imagination of Vermonters for generations¹. This sprawling wilderness area, officially designated as a 1,215-acre wildlife management area, harbors more than just the typical flora and fauna of the Green Mountain State². Among its dense forests and rocky ledges, local folklore speaks of a terrifying cryptid known as “The Black Beast of Snake Mountain,” which allegedly terrorized the region during the 1920s and 1930s.

The mountain itself has long been shrouded in mystery and local legend. Originally called Rattlesnake Mountain by some residents, though this name was based on the mistaken belief that it housed Vermont’s only venomous reptiles, the area has maintained an aura of isolation and foreboding³. The dense wilderness, with its 9,500-year-old kettle lake known as Cranberry Bog, formed shortly after the retreat of the last glacier in Vermont, creating a landscape that seems almost primordial in its untouched state⁴.

According to documented folklore, the Black Beast was said to be a savage creature that lurked behind barns and houses surrounding the mountain during the early 20th century⁵. While physical descriptions of the creature remain frustratingly vague in the historical record, the accounts of its behavior paint a picture of an aggressive, intelligent predator that seemed to target isolated rural residents with calculated precision.

The most detailed account of an encounter with the Black Beast comes from Joseph Citro’s The Vermont Monster Guide, which recounts the harrowing experience of a woman driving home after visiting a neighbor⁶. As she traveled along the winding road that carved around the base of Snake Mountain, the creature allegedly began pursuing her vehicle. What started as a terrifying chase quickly escalated into something far more sinister when the beast not only kept pace with her automobile but began to gain ground. Fearing for her safety and unable to outrun the creature, the woman pulled into the first farm she encountered along the route.

The encounter took an even more dramatic turn when the beast reportedly leaped onto the roof of her car and began clawing at the metal surface above her head⁷. In desperation, the woman began frantically honking her horn, hoping to attract the attention of the farm’s residents. The noise succeeded in drawing the farm family to their front porch, but when they turned on their floodlights to investigate the commotion, the sight of the creature was so terrifying that the family immediately fled back into their house, screaming in terror. The men of the household quickly retrieved their firearms, but by the time they returned outside, the Black Beast had vanished into the Addison County night, leaving only a traumatized victim and bewildered witnesses.

Additional accounts describe the creature’s apparent fondness for terrorizing children who worked on farms near the mountain⁸. The beast was said to drop down from tree limbs without warning, startling young farm workers before disappearing just as suddenly as it had appeared. Despite numerous attempts by local farmers and hunters to shoot the creature, every effort proved futile. The Black Beast seemed to possess an almost supernatural ability to vanish at will, leaving behind only shaken witnesses and increasingly elaborate local legends.

The mountain’s history adds another layer of intrigue to the Black Beast legend. Snake Mountain was once home to the Grand View Hotel, built in 1870 by Jonas N. Smith during an era when mountaintop resort properties were popular destinations for those seeking fresh country air and panoramic views⁹. The hotel operated until 1925, when it was destroyed by fire, leaving only a concrete foundation and scattered ruins that remain visible today¹⁰. The timing of the hotel’s destruction coincides roughly with the period when Black Beast sightings were most frequently reported, leading some to speculate about a possible connection between the two events.

The cryptid’s apparent disappearance from local folklore mirrors that of many similar creatures reported throughout New England during the early 20th century. As rural communities became more connected and modern conveniences reduced the isolation that once characterized these regions, reports of mysterious creatures began to fade from collective memory. The Black Beast of Snake Mountain seems to have followed this pattern, with sightings ceasing sometime during the 1930s and the creature gradually fading into local folklore.

Today, Snake Mountain remains a relatively undiscovered hiking destination, its trails winding through thick brush past remnants of ancient farm machinery and up rocky carriage roads to the summit¹¹. The mountain’s isolation persists, with few tourists venturing into its wilderness areas, perhaps unconsciously preserving the sense of mystery that once gave birth to tales of the Black Beast. While no evidence exists to support the historical accounts of this cryptid, the legend serves as a fascinating glimpse into the fears and folklore of rural Vermont during a time when the boundaries between civilization and wilderness were far more permeable than they are today.

Sources:

1. “Mysterious Snake Mountain,” Obscure Vermont, accessed July 15, 2025, https://obscurevermont.com/mysterious-snake-mountain/
2. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, “Snake Mountain Wildlife Management Area,” accessed through Obscure Vermont, July 15, 2025
3. “Mysterious Snake Mountain,” Obscure Vermont
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Joseph Citro, “The Vermont Monster Guide,” referenced in “Mysterious Snake Mountain,” Obscure Vermont
7. Ibid.
8. “Mysterious Snake Mountain,” Obscure Vermont
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.