Is There a Creature Lurking in Michigan’s Deepest Inland Lake?

Michigan is not just known for the hundreds of hauntings, but also for the legends of many types of creatures and monsters, lurking deep in the woods or in lakes.

For example, the Torch Lake Monster in Antrim County, northeast of Traverse City.

Even though Houghton Lake is Michigan's largest inland lake, Torch Lake is Michigan's longest and deepest inland lake, stretching out over 19 miles and 285 feet deep. The water is unbelievably crystal clear with a turquoise tint. A perfect lake to breed some sort of monster, and it does...so the rumors say.

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Kids at the nearby Camp Hayo-Went-Ha believe the rumors. According to past campers and “witnesses”, the monster has been intriguing and scaring visitors and tourists for decades. What does it look like? There are various descriptions:

1) One of the tales states the monster is called a 'sea panther', with a lizard's body and head of a cat, or mountain lion. Almost sounds like some kind of anime’ creation.

2) A song was written with lyrics that say the monster has one brown eye, one blue eye, and slimy green skin.

This ‘sea panther’ is said to live at the very bottom of the deepest part of the lake and rises to the surface at night, searching for late-night boaters or fishermen, swimmers, and campers to chase away from his lair or possibly devour. Stories of people who ended up drowning in the lake persist. Bodies were said to have been found washed up on shore, but no explanation of what happened.

Were these victims of overturned boats?
Were they drunk and fell overboard?
Held underwater by something?
It is well-known that Torch Lake is stocked to the 'gills' with fish, including some monster muskies that weigh up to 50 pounds and possibly more. These muskies could be the source of the legend, as well as the possibility of a creature that was trapped inland and began breeding when Grand Traverse Bay became closed off from Torch Lake.

Some feel the legend was created by a camp counselor who was at the camp from the 1960s - 1970s. If you travel to Torch Lake for the legend, you may or may not uncover any further information, but at least it’s a beautiful place to visit...