CHARLESTON, W.Va – The West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is paying tribute to the state’s folklore traditions with a cryptid-themed license plate releasing on Monday.
The plate features nine different cryptids with stories tied to the Mountain State.
“It’s really neat. Some of the characters on it are the Flatwoods Monster, Braxie, Bigfoot, and, of course, the always-popular Mothman,” DMV Commissioner Everett Frazier said.
Other creatures displayed include the Sheepsquatch, Batboy, Veggie Man, the Webster County Werewolf, the Ogua, and the Grafton Monster. Frazier believes that many West Virginians will relate to stories behind the plate’s art.
“I remember sitting on the porch with my grandmother and her talking about the West Virginia myths, the legends, and the folklore, and things a lot like that. I’m sure other people have heard their grandparents and great grandparents talk about these things,” he said.
The plate also serves as a tribute to the late graphic artist Jesse Corlis, who initially developed the cryptid-themed designs. After Corlis died in 2023, Frazier and the team at the DMV worked to make his vision come to fruition.
“He started working on it back in 2022. He tragically passed away in 2023, and it’s taken us a couple years to get this up and running,” Frazier said.
Now, the designs are ready to hit the road with plates becoming available around the state on Monday. Frazier hopes to see all kinds of monsters on the highways soon.
“You can go into any DMV on Monday and put one of these right on the back of your car and showcase West Virginia,” he said.
Additional information is available at dmv.wv.gov.