The Mystery of the Lake Okoboji Sea Monster in Iowa

The Iowa Great Lakes are (by far) the most impressive bodies of water the Hawkeye State has to offer. At over 12,000 acres and with 70 miles of shoreline, the lakes are the premier summer spot in the entire state. West Okoboji alone is famous for being one of the only blue-water lakes in the world, with depths reaching over 130 feet. But, according to local lore, hidden in the lake's depths, is a monster of staggering proportion.

Way back in the Summer of 1903, Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett were enjoying a quiet boat ride on West Okoboji Lake when the water suddenly began to churn... What happened next has turned into legend and made this monster the "Nessie" of the Midwest.

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"Obojoki" - The Loch Ness Monster of the Iowa Great Lakes

What Charles and Mrs. Bartlett saw that afternoon in 1903 wasn't another ship or even a large fish. According to their eyewitness testimony, it was a dark, massive creature that nearly capsized their small boat.

According to the Bartlett's, the waves the creature produced were so powerful, it tipped their skiff boat over, capsizing the vessel. Mr. Bartlett later told authorities he believed the animal to be a "Sea Serpent".

If that were the only encounter in the lake's history, it would likely be all but forgotten by now. But it wasn't.

Nearly 100 years later, in June 2001, a woman was staying at a resort on the lake with her two children. She and both of her kids reported seeing a large creature with a humped body and snake like scales, swimming in the water. The "monster" was said to have a head that looked like a cross between a lizard and a horse. The mysterious beast (a dark bluish/green color) was seen with its mouth wide-open before diving near the dock, causing it to shake so violently, the woman and her children were forced to run back to shore for safety.

The Iowa version of the "Loch Ness Monster" was fittingly given the name "Obojoki" and is said to be around 140 feet long.

So, is it all real? Probably not. There's no actual evidence to support the existence of "Obojoki", however, if it truly did exist, West Okoboji Lake would be the place to find it. As previously mentioned, it's the deepest natural lake in all of Iowa. The lake got so deep thanks to ancient glaciers (between 12,000-14,000 years ago) which carved deep depressions into the Iowa bedrock.

Sources: Cryptid Wiki Website