From the haunting hoot of the owl-witch along the Naches River to the spectral figure of the Propman gliding through the mist, Wenatchee is a place where the boundary between the known and the unknown seems tantalizingly thin. Every corner of this valley whispers eerie tales of the supernatural, weaving a chilling tapestry of the unexplained. Residents, their eyes gleaming with a mix of fear and fascination, eagerly share their spine-tingling stories, leaving us to ponder: Are these mere campfire tales, or is there a flicker of truth hidden within Wenatchee’s urban legends that offer a glimpse into the city’s hidden mysteries?
A Ghostly Pilot Known as Propman Takes Fear to New Heights in Wenatchee
On September 30, 1944, a B-24 Liberator, known as Flight 22, crashed into Mission Ridge, leaving a lasting impact on the Wenatchee Valley. The crash site, now called Bomber’s Bowl, has become a significant part of the region’s culture, especially among skiers and snowboarders. The wreckage of Flight 22 is rumored to bring good luck to those who touch it, and snow is said to fall if you kiss it. However, the most chilling aspect of this story is the legend of the Propman, an immortal zombie said to wander the mountains at night.
While the legend may seem fantastical, some elements lend credence to the tale. Only five of the six crew members’ bodies were ever recovered, and the circumstances surrounding the missing crew member’s disappearance remain shrouded in mystery. What is known of the fateful flight is that Flight 22 was carrying sensitive war documents that needed to be destroyed to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. For this reason, a thorough search was conducted of the crash site, with only five of the six crew members’ bodies being recovered. It is believed that the tail gunner managed to parachute out but landed simultaneously as the plane and was struck by a piece of the propeller. Despite his grievous injuries, he supposedly survived long enough to crawl to a nearby cave, now known as Propman’s Cave, where he transformed into an immortal, undead being. A blood trail was found, but his body and the piece of the propeller were never recovered.
Since the catastrophic crash, numerous individuals have claimed to have encountered Propman, including ski patrollers, cat drivers, Mission Ridge skiers, and hikers. One particularly chilling account comes from a former ski patroller who realized a humanoid figure was following him during an evening training session near Bomber’s Bowl. Assuming it was a lost skier, he offered directions back to the mountain’s base. That’s when he got a good look at the figure, who was undoubtedly Propman. The ski patroller described the Propman, who was still in his uniform and even still had his canteen, as having swollen features, missing body parts, and, most notably, a propeller blade protruding from its chest. Traumatized by the encounter, he quit the ski patrol and stopped skiing altogether.
In 2010, a similar story emerged from a Boy Scout who sensed he was being watched while trying to catch up with his group. After turning a corner, he saw what he believed to be the Propman following him and ran back to camp. Frightened by the experience, the young boy requested to go home and never set foot in the forest again. He quit the Boy Scouts altogether shortly after.
During the summer months, hikers can visit the wreckage, where the wing of the bomber can be found mounted to the spot, and the other half of the propeller is on display all year round. A small plaque memorializes the tragedy. As you wander through the crash site’s eerie silence, tread carefully, for some say Propman’s spectral form lurks in the shadows.
Screeches in the Night Might Be From the Owl-Witch Tah-tah-kle’-ah
According to the legends of the Yakama Tribe, the Tah-tah-kle’-ah, otherwise known as Owl-Witch, is a terrifying creature that haunts the shadows along central Washington’s Naches River. This fearsome being, deeply rooted in the region’s folklore, embodies the natural world’s mysterious and often frightening aspects.
Stories of the Owl-Witch date back generations, but the most widely known retelling of the mysterious beast’s origins, and perhaps even demise (or at least we hope), came from Yakima tribe member William Charley when sharing the story with an American farmer in 1918. While some versions of the legend describe the Tah-tah-kle’-ah as a literal owl-human hybrid with the head of an owl and body of a human, Charley described them as beings who were much taller than the average human with some peculiar tastes, eating everything that was deemed as “bad” that Native Americans didn’t eat, such as frogs, lizards, snakes, and other not-so-lovable critters.
Unfortunately, however, they most enjoyed feasting on children, and it was said they could even mimic the tribes’ languages to lure in their unsuspecting, young prey. Charley stated that there were originally five of these creatures, all of whom were sisters. It was said that before the last creation, these five owl-witch sisters terrorized the land, eating Indigenous tribal members whenever they had the chance.
From here, the legend of the Tah-tah-kle’-ah varies but ultimately ends the same, with the sisters being destroyed variously. Charley’s retelling states that two of the sisters were destroyed, but no one knew how and suspected a higher power might be to thank as their cave home had become red hot and blew out. He also said that one of the other sisters had drowned, and from her eye, all owls were created.
You would think this would be the end of the story, but alas, by all historical accounts, it seems unanimous that there were five sisters. Yet, there’s nothing concrete to suggest that all the Tah-tah-kle’-ah were destroyed, as most stories regarding their demise seemingly only account for the deaths of three of the five sisters. So, are the other two, perhaps, still out there? Over generations, some have attributed mysterious disappearances near Yakama and Wenatchee lands to these nocturnal nightmares.
A Sea Serpent Lurks in the Water of Lake Chelan
Carved by glaciers millennia ago, Lake Chelan’s immense depths and crystal-clear waters have long captured the imagination, but the possibility of what might be lurking beneath the surface makes the lake’s beauty all the more terrifying. A monstrous sea serpent is rumored to dwell within Lake Chelan’s 55-mile expanse and 1,500-foot depths, making this otherwise aquatic paradise its home.
Known as the Lake Chelan Dragon, for over 200 years, it has been the stuff of legends. Tales passed down through generations speak of a colossal 30-foot-long serpent with shimmering silver-blue scales and leathery wings. Its long, powerful neck and serpentine tail leave a wake of turbulence as it breaches the surface, while its roar echoes through the valleys.
One of the earliest and most dramatic accounts of this dangerous dragon dates all the back to 1892 in a report out of New Orleans’ Daily Picayune. A local newspaper at the time told the story of an unidentified young man bathing in the lake when razor-sharp teeth locked onto his leg. Two of his friends heard his cry for help and rushed in to save him. They attempted to slay the beast, attacking it with knives, rocks, and sticks to no avail. In a final act of desperation, they built a fire and attempted to kill it with fire. In retaliation, the creature unfolded what was described as its bat-like wings and took to the sky with their friend still in its mouth. In a final, horrific turn of events, the dragon dived back into the lake and disappeared beneath the surface, taking its victim with it. Their friend was never seen again.
Some legends say it arrived centuries ago, having been brought over from Scotland by mermaids in the early 19th century who aided in its hatching. Others believe it has always dwelled there, a guardian spirit of the pristine waters. Regardless of its origins, sightings of this mythical dragon continue to this day. Fishermen often report losing their catches to a monstrous underwater culprit, while loggers claim to have seen the dragon scavenging deer carcasses after forest fires. The dragon is said to breach the water or soar over the pine-lined basin, adding to the mystique of this already enchanting lake.
Whether a product of imagination or a hidden truth, the legend of the Lake Chelan dragon adds a layer of intrigue to the area’s natural beauty. Visitors and locals alike are drawn to the lake, not just for its stunning scenery but also for the chance to catch a glimpse of its most elusive resident.
Bigfoot Lives Among Us
If there were ever a chance to encounter the elusive cryptid known as Bigfoot, it would be at the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests. As one of the largest forests in the state, it is also the site of many Bigfoot sightings. The park’s vast wilderness, rugged terrain, and dense forests make for a perfect habitat for the camouflaged creature.
Tales of Bigfoot residing in the area date back to the beginning of time. Virtually every Washington Native American tribe had a name for the cryptid and would often tell stories to early settlers. For present-day Sasquatch seekers, many sightings have been recorded on the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) website, and dozens more have been shared through local news outlets and radio talk shows.
Wenatchee’s own Paul Graves keeps a watchful eye out for the large, hairy biped. On two separate occasions, once in 2013 and again in 2017, Graves found Bigfoot tracks in Wenatchee Valley’s snow-covered mountainside. Graves has personally been researching the cryptid for over a decade and has had work featured in magazines and on TV. While concrete proof remains elusive of Bigfoot’s existence, his collective evidence and that of others who have happened upon clear indications of Bigfoot’s presence in the forest has fostered a growing community of believers, each drawn to the allure of the unknown.
Whether rooted in reality or the fertile soil of human imagination, these chilling tales cast a haunting spell over Wenatchee. They serve as a reminder that even in our modern world, the unknown lurks just beyond the veil of the familiar. So, the next time you find yourself exploring the depths of the Columbia River Gorge, the winding roads of Cashmere, or the heart of a local forest, remember: the shadows may hold more than meets the eye.
