CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Mothman, the Flatwoods Monster, and seven other creatures from West Virginia folklore will soon appear on vehicles across the state as the Division of Motor Vehicles introduces a new Cryptids license plate.
The plate, designed by the late West Virginia graphic artist Jesse Corlis, will be available Monday, Nov. 2, at DMV regional offices, according to Commissioner Everett Frazier.
The design features nine creatures associated with locations across West Virginia. The department has identified Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster, also known as Braxie, and is inviting residents to identify the others before publishing the complete list on its website.
Registration will cost $61.50 for one year or $113 for two years. Motorists can also exchange their existing plates for the new design, with fees prorated as applicable.
Plate honors artist who died in 2023
Frazier said the release also honors Corlis, who designed several West Virginia license plates before his death in 2023.
“First and foremost, I would like to pay tribute to Jesse Corlis, the talented graphic artist who designed the Cryptid license plate, along with several other license plates you see traveling the roads of West Virginia every day,” Frazier said.
Among Corlis’s other designs was the popular Pollinators plate, commonly called the Bee Plate.
“Tragically, Jesse passed away in 2023 before he had the opportunity to see the Cryptid plate come to fruition,” Frazier said. “We recognize his creativity, talent, and contributions to the West Virginia license plate program, and we are proud to see his work celebrated through this unique design.”
West Virginia’s legendary creatures
The new plate draws on folklore that has become part of the state’s tourism industry, particularly in communities associated with reported encounters.
Mothman became famous following sightings of a large, winged creature in the Point Pleasant area in 1966 and 1967. The city now hosts an annual Mothman Festival and is home to a museum and statue dedicated to the legend.
The Flatwoods Monster entered West Virginia folklore following a reported encounter near Flatwoods in Braxton County in September 1952. Witnesses described a strange figure after seeing a bright object cross the sky. The incident attracted national attention and became one of the state’s best-known stories of an alleged extraterrestrial encounter.
Both creatures remain prominent in West Virginia tourism promotions. The West Virginia Department of Tourism is featuring Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster in a Halloween celebration at the Culture Center in Charleston on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Frazier said the department wanted to recognize the state’s folklore while offering motorists a new specialty plate.
“Now, contrary to popular belief, the DMV does have a sense of humor!” he said.
“We’re excited to introduce a license plate celebrating West Virginia’s legendary myths, folklore, and mysterious creatures.”
Motorists can find registration information and DMV regional office locations on the agency’s website. The department also maintains an online collection of specialty license plates.
“West Virginia has plenty of legends,” Frazier said. “Now you can put one on your vehicle!”