Kentucky After Dark

Stories of the Dogman of Land Between the Lakes trace back to the 1980s. While details are scarce, the scares can be real. Late night hikers and campers still its howl in the distance on calm nights.

But if you’re looking to learn more, keep reading. And if you still need more, visit Lyon County on Nov. 13 & 14 in 2026 for the first ever Lake Barkley Beast Fest. More information on the event can be found here.

According to reports, locals claim a family of four was stalked and attacked by “The Beast of LBL” in the 1980s, claiming their lives. Interest has spiked in recent years as several documentaries and booked have been published on the account.

Witnesses who claim to have seen the creature describe it as around 7 ft tall and covered in thick, dark fur. Several witnesses have seen him lurking around the area referred to as Hotel California, but the only evidence found has been large paw prints in fresh mud and broken branches made from a large bipedal animal. Reports on location vary from the shores of Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake to along Forest Service roads and back country hiking trails. If you’re planning on searching for the Dogman, expect to spend a considerable amount of time exploring LBL.

To get to the Hotel California area, after entering Land Between the Lakes through the northern entrance,  drive south on the Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway for 4.9-miles. Turn LEFT onto Forest Service Road (FSR) 112. Drive 1.7-miles down FSR 112 until you see FSR-120 on your left. Turn left onto FSR-120. We saw no signs for FSR-120 but the number “120” was painted on trees in red paint at the intersection of the road. Note: FSR-120 is kind of a rough road and while most vehicles should make it during normal conditions, you should use caution and drive slowly as the road narrows in many spots and large potholes and erosion areas exist. It is unlikely the road will be treated during wintry conditions. Drive 1.3-miles until you see a trail on your right with some large rocks covered in graffiti. There are areas on the sides of the road where you could pull off and park. This is the start of the Hotel California Trail. 

To get to the structure (half a mile there, half a mile back), take the trail by the graffiti painted rocks (west side of road) and stay RIGHT when there are junctions and forks in the trail. After crossing a very small creek, you should see the structure. The GPS coordinates of the structure is 36.98716’N / 88.142’W. 

If you’re going to search for Dogman after dark by backwoods camping, don’t forget to file for your permit with the forestry service.  You can do that by clicking here. There are also a variety of campgrounds scattered throughout Land Between the Lakes and Lyon County.  For more information on staying in Lyon County, visit our page here.

For other state and regional paranormal adventures, be sure to pick up your KAD passport at one of the participating cities, for a list of all the unknown, upside downs of Kentucky.  It is Kentucky After Dark after all…