The Beast of Bryn Athyn
Could a monstrous creature be lurking in the woods of this Montgomery County town?
The legend of the Beast of Bryn Athyn has haunted this quiet Montgomery County town for decades. Described as a Dogman-type creature standing between six and seven feet tall, the beast is said to resemble a monstrous hybrid between a dog and a werewolf. Its ability to move on both two and four legs has left witnesses shaken—and questioning the very nature of reality.
My journey to uncover the truth behind the Beast began in the summer of 2023 with a conversation with renowned UFO researcher, friend, and Huntingdon Valley resident Tom Carey, who is also an anthropologist. Tom sunk his teeth into this story like a dog into a meaty bone. He gathered witness accounts and introduced me to Richard Show, who had a chilling encounter with the creature back in January 1990 and wanted to tell his story.
Richard’s story was unforgettable. The way he tells it, he was sitting on a bench in the baseball field behind a small church, which was backlit by glowing lights. He was waiting for his friend to watch an important football game that month, sitting near third base. Suddenly, he saw a shadowy figure—about six to seven feet tall—emerge from the woods to his right and glide across the field toward second base. Despite the frozen ground, he heard nothing—no crunch of ice or grass underfoot—just eerie silence. The shadow would drift toward second base, then glide back into the woods, only to reappear moments later.
Richard stood up, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. That’s when he realized his friend had arrived and was standing next to him—both of them watching the same unsettling figure. Suddenly, they heard the sound of branches snapping in the woods. Without hesitation, they ran toward the noise. As they reached the edge of the woods, they heard it: heavy footsteps crashing through the trees, heading straight for them. Fear took over. They turned and ran as fast as they could, never looking back. Richard told me the memory still gives him goosebumps to this day.
And Richard wasn’t alone. Over the years, other Bryn Athyn residents have reported similar sightings—specifically, a large, dog-like figure prowling the area, often near the edge of the forest. Some described it standing upright, walking like a man; others saw it on all fours, moving with a predator’s speed and agility. One particular detail was consistent among all witnesses; nearly all of them described the creature’s gliding movement.
I knew we had to investigate. In September 2023, my team set out to explore Bryn Athyn under the cover of darkness. Alongside me were Tom Carey, Richard Show, USA Today reporter JD Mullane, and my trusted teammate and spirit medium, Dominic Sattele. We followed the reports to a location near the Bryn Athyn Cathedral known for strange activity.
Armed with night-vision cameras and audio equipment, we ventured into the woods off Quarry Road. The air was thick with moisture, and the silence was unnerving. Suddenly, Dominic froze. “Something’s here,” he whispered. He pulled out our magnetometer, which detects electromagnetic energy, and the readings were off the charts. Rich immediately got chills and said he knew this was going to happen. This was the same spot where another witness claimed to have seen the creature emerge from a light portal, followed by flashes of light moving through the field before vanishing. (Sidenote: Upon reviewing the footage of the investigation that night, we heard two disembodied voices coming from the field. See the video the Beast of Bryn Athyn on our YouTube channel.) That description reminded me of what Dominic and I encountered in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, in October 2021—but that’s a story for another time.
After several hours investigating, we captured no other activity. Later, we spoke to more locals, and the stories kept coming. Some residents had heard bone-chilling howls and screams at night that didn’t match any known animal. Others had found large, canine-like footprints near their homes. One man even claimed the creature had been inside his house.
So what is the Beast of Bryn Athyn? Is it an undiscovered species? A supernatural entity? Or perhaps something for which we don’t yet have a name? The consistency of the sightings and the fascination felt by the witnesses suggest that something real is lurking in the woods of Bryn Athyn.
Our investigation left us with more questions than answers. But one thing is certain: The Beast of Bryn Athyn is no myth. It’s out there, waiting in the shadows. And sooner or later, it will be seen again. When that happens, we’ll be ready.
Eric Mintel is an acclaimed jazz musician and author of Eric Mintel Investigates Casebook Investigations. The Eric Mintel Investigates TV show can be seen on various cable channels and on YouTube at Eric Mintel Investigates. For more information, visit ericmintelinvestigates.org.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, March 2025.
