The Pope Lick Monster (also known as the goatman) is a half-goat, half-human, entirely evil humanoid. The origin of the Pope Lick Monster is unknown. Some speculate he was a circus freak runaway. Others believe he was the result of a satanic ritual gone wrong. No one knows, but one thing’s for sure, those who believe in his existence say his goal is to kill. Whether he uses mind control powers, brute force, or the swing of an ax, he’s out to get you.
The Pope Lick Monster earned his name from the place he resides—beneath the Pope Lick train trestle in Louisville, Kentucky. The grand trestle was built in the mid-to-late 1920’s and stands in working fashion today, spanning Pope Lick Road and Pope Lick Creek. Owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway, the bridge is 772 feet (235m) long, and the steepest drop is about a 100 feet. Old and foreboding, the bridge is as much an oddity as the cryptid itself.
Trespassers have risked their lives, and some even died just to say they walked the tracks. Many people believe the Pope Lick Monster is guilty of all those deaths. You can read about our trip to the Pope Lick Train Trestle here along with some fun pop culture.
Disclaimer: In order to showcase cryptids in a real world setting, we have made some adaptations that may not accurately reflect traditional folklore standards.