There is no doubt about it — New Jersey has plenty of weird things going on. The state is rife with local legends, like the Jersey Devil who roams the Pine Barrens and the many mysterious happenings on Clinton Road. One of our favorite New Jersey legends has to do with a different kind of monster — a friendly one, sure, but a creepy-looking thing nonetheless. Here’s what you should know about New Jersey’s very own lake monster.

Lake Hopatcong is the largest lake in New Jersey. People in the state love to come here for swimming, boating, and more.
Tomwsulcer/Wikimedia
It looks so peaceful and beautiful, right?
But not so fast — rumor has it Lake Hopatcong has its own Loch Ness Monster roaming underneath the surface.
Ballista/Wikimedia Commons
The Loch Ness Monster, pictured above, is the legendary cryptid sea serpent rumored to lurk in the lake in Scotland.
The local legend originated way back in the late 1800s, when a fisherman spotted a strange creature out in the water.
Aleron235 /Wikimedia Commons
He described the creature as a sea serpent that was over 40 feet long with the head of a dog.

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As you might expect, such a disturbing sighting caused an uproar.
John Brennan / FOAP via Getty Images
Multiple sightings of a massive sea snake have been reported over the years.
Others have claimed to feel something sinister slide past them while swimming in the lake.
John Brennan / FOAP via Getty Images
Of course, many theories abound — from mass hysteria to a particularly long snake to a floating piece of debris.
These days, the monster is nicknamed "Hoppie" by the locals.
andykazie via Getty Images
Maybe he exists. Maybe he doesn't. Either way, you'll want to keep an eye out for him while swimming in Lake Hopatcong!

 

Have you ever heard of anyone seeing Hoppie? Or anything else strange in Jersey’s biggest lake?

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Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, USA