Newport is a small town nestled in Oregon’s Central Coast. Its main attraction is the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, a gorgeous historical lighthouse that’s the tallest in the state. But there’s another attraction in this sleepy coastal town, and it’s equal parts strange and sensational, with a story that will send shivers down your spine. Located in Newport’s Aquarium Village, you’ll come face-to-face with the Yaquina Bay Monster. Or rather, a statue of the aforementioned beast. Nessie, the Yaquina Bay Monster, just might be the strangest roadside attraction we’ve seen in Oregon, and today we’re going to dive into the story behind this mythical creature.
Tucked away between the Coastal Mountains, Pacific Ocean, and Yaquina Bay, Newport is a coastal Oregon town that dates back to the late 1800s.
MBRubin/iStock via Getty Images Plus The town is best-known for the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, which overlooks the eponymous bay.
But beneath the calm, placid waters of Yaquina Bay, rumors have been swirling for decades about something nefarious and nasty, alien and otherworldly.
Richard Griffin/Flickr
The Yaquina Bay Monster.
ДиБгд/Russian Wikipedia
The infamous Yaquina Bay Monster is said to be a relative of an actual prehistoric beast, the aquatic Kronosaurus queenslandicus.
Smart Destinations/Wikipedia
This gigantic marine reptile terrorized the seas near what is now Australia during the Cretaceous period, about 65 to 145 million years ago.
Dmitry Bogdanov/Wikipedia It had a colossal, 12-foot-long head, filled with 9-inch-long teeth.
Myths about sinister sea creatures have existed forever. Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster is the most notable of these legendary cryptozoological water-dwellers.
Matt Lewis/Flicker
In Oregon, the Yaquina Bay News reported in 1935 that two sea creatures, allegedly matching the description of a (very extinct) Kronosaurus, had been sighted off the coast, attacking local sea lions.
Richard Griffin/Flickr
This rumor spread quickly, creating lore and legends of a “Yaquina Bay Monster” in Oregon.
Vi Tang/Google Local And that’s why, in Newport’s Aquarium Village, you’ll find what is perhaps the strangest roadside attraction in the state: a 25-foot-long statue of the Yaquina Bay Monster.
Originally part of a traveling indoor exhibit featuring prehistoric creatures, this notorious sea monster arrived at Aquarium Village in 1992, and hasn’t left since.
Mervin Hanover/Google Local
To be fair, Aquarium Village is kind of a bastion of the bizarre.
Laura Elliott/Google Local
Around since the 1970s, this whimsical outdoor shopping center has an offbeat sea theme, complete with pirates and other sea giants.
Dhany Loekito/Google Images
“Orca the Whale” is another of the center’s larger-than-life residents.
John Kirchner/Google Local
And murals of mythical creatures can be found on the storefronts.
Kelly Hansen/Google Local
But Nessie is what ties it all together.
Casey Flynn/Google Local
And while this beast is a beloved roadside attraction in town, the question still remains: is the Yaquina Bay Monster out there?
Michel Curi/Flickr
Or is this creature simply a figment of the imaginations of local fishermen?
Richard Griffin/Flickr You’ll just have to visit Yaquina Bay, and see for yourself.
Have you heard about the Yaquina Bay Monster In Oregon? If so, what do you think—do you believe in this Oregon legend? Let us know in the comments below! And you want to see Nessie for yourself, visit Newport’s Aquarium Village anytime during open hours and look for the 25-foot monster. It’s pretty hard to miss!
MBRubin/iStock via Getty Images Plus
The town is best-known for the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, which overlooks the eponymous bay.
Richard Griffin/Flickr
ДиБгд/Russian Wikipedia
Smart Destinations/Wikipedia
Dmitry Bogdanov/Wikipedia
It had a colossal, 12-foot-long head, filled with 9-inch-long teeth.
Matt Lewis/Flicker
Vi Tang/Google Local
And that’s why, in Newport’s Aquarium Village, you’ll find what is perhaps the strangest roadside attraction in the state: a 25-foot-long statue of the Yaquina Bay Monster.
Mervin Hanover/Google Local
Laura Elliott/Google Local
Dhany Loekito/Google Images
John Kirchner/Google Local
Kelly Hansen/Google Local
Casey Flynn/Google Local
Michel Curi/Flickr
You’ll just have to visit Yaquina Bay, and see for yourself.
If you’re on a mission to see Oregon’s strangest roadside attractions, you’ll want to start with these eight truly bizarre places, located all around the state.
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Address: Newport, OR 97366, USA
