Isabella: Utah’s Very Own Sea Monster Of Bear Lake

On the eastern boarder of Utah and Idaho is a natural mountain lake that is a popular destination spot for anyone that enjoys any manner of water sport or fishing.  Because of its 109 square miles of vibrant turquoise water, Bear lake in known as the “Caribbean of the Rockies”.  With its sandy beaches and picturesque mountain setting it is marvelous vacation spot anytime of year.

The Legend of the Monster

Rooted in Native-American folklore the Monster of Bear Lake is said to be either a Guardian Spirit, or an evil person that was cursed.  The creature is described as being a large reptile,  about 40 to 50 feet in length, brown in color and various types of head.  Numerous witnesses say it had the head of a Horse, or an Otter, other say it had the head of a Walrus without tusks.  Other discrepancies in the description have spines along its back and others say it is smooth.  These different accounts to many suggest that there is more than one creature in the lake, to others it is proof that the monster does not exist.

The First Recorded Citing's

In 1869 Joseph Rich, a correspondent to the Deseret News reported of local accounts of a large serpentine creature or a “great big fish” in Bear Lake and tales going back over a hundred years.  This and subsequent articles by Rich was enough to grad the attention of people everywhere including, the then president of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Brigham Young.  Although 26 years latter Rich confessed to sending the report to the Deseret News as a joke and hoax.  Despite this revelation reports of the monster continued to happen even as recent as 2002 by local business owner Brian Hirschi in The Casper Star Tribune. And in 1996 The name Isabella was voted on by elementary school children as part of the annual Raspberry Days festival.

The Bear Lake Monster Today

Now the Bear Lake Monster, "Isabella", is little more than folklore fun for locals to scare children into behaving while in or around the waters of the lake.  Some theorized that because it is said that nobody has ever found the bottom of Bear Lake that it has a subterranean connection to Loch Ness or even to Japan. Overall a majority of the see it as a fun local joke.