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In 1903, the small town of Van Meter, Iowa, was stalked by something impossible—a winged creature with glowing horns and a stench of sulfur.

Was it a cryptid, a hoax, or something stranger?
In this episode, host Robert Barber unpacks witness reports, local panic, and theories behind one of Iowa’s most bizarre—and enduring—legends.

🦇 Like your folklore dark and mysterious? Follow State of the Unknown and leave a review to help others find the strange.

State of the Unknown is a documentary-style podcast mapping the haunted highways, hidden legends, and supernatural stories tucked into the corners of America’s 50 states.

🎙️ New episodes released every other Wednesday.

🕯️ If you enjoy the show, follow wherever you listen and leave a review—it helps others find these forgotten stories.