These amphibious anomalies have shocked and terrified both business men, farmers and police officers and remains one of the most intriguing cryptozoological mystery in the United States.
One of the most intriguing cases is that of the Loveland Frogmen. The story of these unique creatures begins in May of 1955, on a lonely stretch of road that runs along the Little Miami River in Clermont County, just on the outskirts of a small town known as Loveland, Ohio.
Loveland, Ohio can best be described as a sleepy, pocket suburb in the hills north of Cincinnati. Nestled along the Little Miami River, Loveland is a community that straddles three counties and is home to a true enigma of the aquatic realm. Loveland, Ohio is home to the legendary Loveland Frogmen.
Appearance:
A Loveland Frog is said to be roughly three to four feet in height, weighing 50 to 75 pounds, and having greenish, leathery skin. They are also described as having frog faces, with large eyes and mouths, as well as walking on two legs. By some estimates, this puts them at the size of a large dog or a small person.
They are also sometimes said to have deep wrinkles on their heads where hair would be on a person.
Chronology:
The legend of the Loveland Frogmen begins in the early summer of 1955. The exact date is a matter of speculation, but most reports place it sometime in May. Like any good legend involving monsters, this encounter is typically told in three similar, but slightly different versions.The first states that at approximately 3:30 a.m., an unnamed business man claimed to have witnessed three, bipedal, quasi-reptilian entities congregating by the side of the road. The man pulled his car to the curb and observed these creatures for what he estimated to be about three minutes.
During this time he noticed that these strange beings stood between 3 and 4-feet tall, were covered with leathery skin, and had webbed hands and feet. Their most distinguishing characteristic, however, was their distinctly “frog-like” heads, which the man claimed bore deep wrinkles where there hair should have been.
Just as the man was about to steal away, one of the creatures suddenly held what the witness could only describe as a “wand” above its head. The anonymous source further claimed that sparks spewed out of the end of this device. Needless to say, he left posthaste.
As this first account does not give an exact location or road, it is difficult to confirm which specific bridge the reports are meant to describe. The tale is further complicated by local information that puts the man entering or leaving Branch Hill (a community bordering the southern end of Loveland). It is worth noting that most of the side roads leading to and from Loveland, specifically the bridge areas, are not well lit
At about 1:00 am., on March 3, 1972 — nearly 17 years after the first report — a police officer (who understandably chose to remain anonymous) was traveling along Riverside Road heading towards Loveland when he saw something that would forever change his life.
The officer claimed that he was driving slowly, due to the substantial amount of ice on the road, when he saw what looked like a dog by the curb.
Suddenly, the animal darted in front of the cruiser, forcing the officer to slam on the brakes in order to avoid a potential collision with the creature. Once the police cruiser came to a halt, its headlights fell upon the prone creature; at this point the officer describes something that seems literally too bizarre to be true.
In the span of seconds this crouched, frog-like creature, stood on two legs, stared back at the police man, then scrambled over the guard rail and scurried down the embankment, finally disappearing into the Little Miami River.
The officer in question described the creature as being 3 to 4-feet tall and weighing in the area of 50 to 75 pounds. He also claimed that its skin had a leathery texture and that the animal’s features resembled those of a frog or lizard. Another officer investigated the scene later that evening. He saw no sign of the creature, but reported that there were distinct “scratch” marks on the guard rail where the animal purportedly crossed.
The second sighting occurred two weeks later while police officer Mark Mathews had an encounter of his own. According to the report officer Mathews, while driving into Loveland, spotted what he believed to be an injured animal lying on the pavement. Mathews climbed out of his cruiser with the intention of removing the carcass from the already ice slicked road, when the creature abruptly lurched upwards into a “crouched” position.
Taken aback by the Frog Man’s Reptilian visage, Mathews unholstered his revolver and took a shot at the creature, which then proceeded to hobble over to the side of the road and step over the guardrail — all the while keeping a watchful eye on the trigger-happy officer. Mathews’ “Frogman” matched the first officer’s description down to the last detail, with the exception of a tail, which was absent in earlier reports.
In the years following these events, Officer Mathews ended up recanting somewhat on his tale. He now claims that the animal in question was nothing more than a large reptile, which likely escaped from its owner. He further insists that the only reason he shot at the creature was to help confirm a fellow officer’s story — a story which was, of course, being met with predictable skepticism by their superiors.
Whether or not Mathews’ change of heart was inspired by ridicule or the fading memory of an event from which he was 30-years removed, the fact remains that his own testimony counter indicates his later retraction.
Other sightings of the Loveland Frog came from area farmers. One spotted a large reptilian creature with large circular eyes. Its skin was a pale greenish-grey and its huge mouth was filled with sharp pointy teeth. Luckily, the creature didn’t attack the farmer, but quietly slipped away, heading back toward the waters’ edge from whence it came.
Another recent encounter comes from a woman who claims she was attacked by a reptilian creature while swimming in the Ohio River near Evansville, Indiana. The frogman grabbed her by the legs and dragged her deep under the water. The panicked swimmer managed to kick herself free from the monster with help from a bystander who witnessed her distress. The attack left behind tears and scratches, as well as an unusual green palm print that stained her leg for days.
It is vital to note that the tales of the Loveland Frogmen did not truly originate in 1955. The Native American population was familiar with a creature, or species of creatures, they call Shawnahooc (River Demon). The creature was described as being a large reptile that could walk on two legs. The creature lived specifically along the banks of the Little Miami River. It is said that this creature threatened the indigenous tribes until they sent their greatest warriors to confront the demon. After the fray was decided, the Shawnahooc is said to have gone into hiding. When the Native Americans were driven from the territory by encroaching settlers, the Shawnahooc is claimed to have returned to the river banks. This particular aquatic legend is attributed to both the Shawnee and the Twightwee tribes.
Although there have been no confirmed sightings of the Loveland Frogmen in almost 40-years, the Ohio River — and it’s tributaries like the Little Miami and Licking Rivers — remain some of the most prolific cryptozoological “hotspots” in the continental United States
The Loveland frogs continue to be sighted at irregular intervals along the Ohio River and the Little Miami River. They got their moniker from the town of Loveland, Ohio, near most of the sightings. Today cryptozoologists have little interest in these creatures. After all, they sound absurd, just like most humanoids that are not some kind of Bigfoot or a closely related hairy humanoid.id.
The tales of the Loveland Frogmen have been the subject of countless campfire stories that echo the banks of the Little Miami River. Whether cryptid, alien, or hybrid, the Loveland Frogmen has captured the collective psyche of the Ohio River Valley. Some dismiss the creature as something too imaginative to be real. Others insist that the dark river banks hold secrets few are willing to accept. Regardless, when stalking through the dank mud of the Little Miami, even those with a rationally skeptical mind will find themselves peering over their shoulder on occasion.
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