Loveland Frogman could become Ohio's official state cryptid

The Loveland Frogman is a 4-foot-tall, bipedal frog turning up in Ohio folklore since the 1950s. And if a bill recently introduced to the legislature there passes, he'll become Ohio's official state cryptid. But if there is doubt as to the creature's materiality, House Bill 821, sponsored by Ohio legislators Tristan Rader and Jean Schmidt, is verifiably real.

The legendary and beloved amphibious creature known as the Loveland Frog, or Loveland Frogman, first reported in the 1950s and said to inhabit the banks of the Little Miami river near Loveland, Ohio, described as a frog-like, bipedal creature standing approximately four feet tall, which has inspired books, documentaries, local festivals, artwork, merchandise, local tourism, and cryptid enthusiasts and researchers, and has contributed to the local economy, creative culture, and unique cultural identity and oral history of this state, is adopted as the official state cryptid.

"This bill is about showcasing our communities," Rader wrote in a press release. "The Loveland Frog is uniquely Ohio. It reflects the stories we tell, the places we're proud of and the creativity that makes our state worth celebrating."

Notable "sightings" in 1972 and 2016 describe a scaly or leathery creature with a wand-like device, and it's since become a kind of local mascot, with various fun legends feeding local festivals and even a race.

From Wikipedia.

"According to various legends, the creature was first sighted by a businessman or a traveling salesman driving along an unnamed road late at night in 1955, with some versions of the story specifying the month of May. In one story, the driver was heading out of the Branch Hill neighborhood when he spotted three figures standing on their hind legs along the side of the road, each 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.22 m) in height, with leathery skin and frog faces.[3] In other versions of the story, the creatures were spotted under or over a poorly lit bridge, and one held a wand over its head that fired a spray of sparks"

WCPO's Felicia Jordan and Sam Harasimowicz found locals pleased by the bill.

I think it's really exciting, because we all love myths," Nora Stanger, a local resident, said. Mile 42, a downtown Loveland coffee shop, has made the mythical amphibian a big part of their branding and is even featured on their logo.

"We're all in on for the Loveland frog," Mile 42 owner Tim Butler said.

Not all Frogman media is quite so cosy. Recently, a found-footage horror movie, Frogman, was described by Collider's Rachael Blair Severino as "One of This Year's Most Underrated and Terrifying" creature features. Here's the trailer:

No U.S. state has yet designated an official cryptid or mythical entity, but Ohio isn't the first to contemplate doing so. Wyoming bills have sought to make the Jackalope official, if not real, since 2005. And Californian lawmakers last year introduced a bill to designate Bigfoot the state's official cryptid, following Washington's "Sasquatch" bill in 2019. Neither passed.

Here's the rest of the press release:

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood) and Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) this week introduced bipartisan legislation, House Bill (HB) 821, to designate the Loveland Frog as Ohio's official state cryptid, celebrating a legend that has captured imaginations and drawn visitors for generations.

"This bill is about showcasing our communities," said Rep. Rader. "The Loveland Frog is uniquely Ohio. It reflects the stories we tell, the places we're proud of, and the creativity that makes our state worth celebrating."

Whether or not cryptids exist, their impact is real. Across the country, folklore fuels tourism, builds local identity, and gives communities something uniquely their own to rally around.

Ohio has its own entry in this strange, wonderful tradition. The Loveland Frog, often called the Frogman, is said to be a four-foot-tall amphibian walking upright along the Little Miami River. First reported in 1955, sightings have surfaced over decades, adding to the mystery and the myth. The City of Loveland has embraced it fully, hosting an annual Frogman Festival and leaning into the quirky charm that makes Ohio stand out.

HB 821 has already drawn bipartisan support and now awaits committee assignment.