August 5, 2008, 9:53 pm : Montauk Monster – Latest in a Long History of East End Weirdness
Filed Under: NewsDiscussion: C[0]mments
Editors note- This is the first of a series chronicling the varied strange and obtuse occurrences that have taken place in Montauk. As someone who grew up surfing there and exploring every inch of the place, I’ll reveal through personal experience, some interesting things about this place that will help you draw your own conclusion. I will make no definitive claims that any particular story is anything more than sensationalism.
By now most people have heard or read about the Montauk Monster, the unidentified and inexplicable beast that was stumbled upon by three Montauk residents, allegedly photographed and reviewed by biological experts who could not provide a definitive answer as to what this thing was.
This tale is not unprecedented for Montauk; it’s just the latest in a long line of questionable and possibly dubious stories that at the very least give this picturesque place an air of the preturnatural. That’s right, before the world became enamored with this bizarre creature, several other noteworthy tales have drifted out of this place people refer to as “The End”.
First some interesting facts, in short order: Lots of stars and characters have graced these shores. The Rolling Stones frequented the place for two consecutive summers, hanging at Andy Warhol’s palatial domicile on the bluffs, writing at least one album while there, and befriending some of the locals. This is when they wrote the song “Memory Motel”.
Super heroes @ Memory Motel (the pic is a story unto itself)
Dick Cavett lost his historic house on the bluffs east of Ditch Plains to a fire, then rebuilt it and is now selling. Bon Vivant Peter Beard still calls Montauk home today.
Montauk-based fishing captain Frank Mundus owns the world record for the largest White Shark caught on rod and reel, and is generally considered to be the model for the character “Quint” in the movie Jaws.
The U.S. Armed forces bought a majority of the property east of Montauk Village, using it for various purposes, including quarantining soldiers returning from the Spanish American war; placing 16 inch guns at Camp Hero to protect New York Shipping Lanes. Later, a large radar dish was installed, its exact purpose never truly identified.
Coming in the next post on this topic I will delve into the weird and wild of Montauk, but I’ll state this now: The Montauk Monster is REAL. You’ll know why I believe this to be so if you hang in there til the end. You will also get some clues as to where the Montauk Monster is hidden. Witch hunt anyone?