The Legend of the Lizard Man in Sumter, South Carolina

It is always interesting when legend and lore strike close to home. Sumter, South Carolina has been my home now for six years. I believe that a person should embrace their new home and learn about the culture, lifestyle or just to know the local history; being a fan of ghost stories, mysteries and cryptozoology I naturally looked up these topics when researching Sumter (both the county and the city). I remember then reading about some giant lizard that walks upright and haunts the swamps of this southern state. Oral reports go as far back as 1972 but written documentation does not take place until 1988. This creature, if he does indeed exist, is a fairly young monster as far as legendary beasts go.

Eventually, life took over in the form of family and jobs and I had forgotten about the legendary Lizard Man. But apparently the Lizard Man had not forgotten about us. In 2008, after an apparent hiatus of twenty years, the Lizard Man has returned and caused havoc to cars and livestock.

The Lizard Man is reported to be approximately 7-8 feet tall, bipedal, covered in green scaly skin and nocturnal. His eyes glow red at night and his head and face are like a cross between human and snake. He has a center ridge that comes from the top of his head to his snout. He is described as well-built and has only 3 digits on each of his hands or feet. His claws are reported to be black and ranging anywhere from 2-4 inches long. No odors or sounds have been reported in connection with the Lizard Man but, when you have 4 inch long talons, who really needs add an offensive odor? He seems to reside in the Scape Ore Swamp of the Pee Dee River region including Sumter, Florence, Darlington and Lee Counties. Predominantly he hangs about Lee County nearest to the town of Bishopville, which has approximately a population of 4000.