Name: The St. Louis Colossus (a.k.a. the Giant Capybara)
Height: 150 feet
Weight: Estimated 400 tons
Sounds Like:
Habitat: Urban and river-adjacent zones of St. Louis, primarily active near the Mississippi River and Forest Park
First Sighting: February 2023, during a dense fog near the Chain of Rocks Bridge
Status: Unknown
The St. Louis Colossus is a towering cryptid resembling a capybara, yet magnified to mythic proportions. Standing at 150 feet tall, this gentle giant has become a modern urban legend and an unofficial symbol of surreal Midwestern mystery. With copper-toned fur, solemn black eyes, and a presence that blends awe with serenity, the Colossus has been witnessed navigating the cityscape with a strange, almost respectful grace, carefully avoiding structures and seldom interacting with humans. It appears drawn to water, especially the Mississippi River, where it's frequently seen partially submerged, almost as if it's remembering something ancient.
Though peaceful in demeanor, the creature's origin is hotly debated. Some folklorists say it's a guardian spirit awakened by ecological imbalance, while others believe it's the result of a failed government experiment deep beneath the Gateway Arch. Scientists remain skeptical, but blurry footage and enormous footprints tell a different story. Whether a supernatural sentinel or a secret from a forgotten age, the St. Louis Colossus has firmly rooted itself in the mythos of the Midwest, an icon of wonder, strangeness, and the wild unknown lurking just beyond the edge of reason.
