Skeptoid

Skeptoid #1024: The Van Meter Visitors

January 20, 2026

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  • The core subject of Skeptoid #1024: The Van Meter Visitors is the 1903 sighting of a winged, horned creature in Iowa, which the episode frames as a century-old hoax that has recently resurfaced. 
  • The evolution of the Van Meter story demonstrates how early 20th-century journalism repackaged sensational claims, often editing them to sound more authoritative while stripping away colorful, less journalistic details. 
  • The implausibility of the Van Meter monster's anatomy (a hexapod with both four limbs and wings, plus a bioluminescent horn) aligns with pre-Darwinian popular culture narratives involving 'American dragons' and the contemporary fascination with airships. 

Segments

Introduction to Van Meter Visitors
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(00:00:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The initial 1903 report described a large creature with a glowing horn, four limbs, and bat-like wings attacking citizens of Van Meter, Iowa.
  • Summary: In late 1903, citizens of Van Meter, Iowa, encountered a large creature featuring a glowing horn, four limbs, and bat-like wings that was impervious to firearms. The episode Skeptoid #1024: The Van Meter Visitors seeks to make sense of this chilling tale a century later. Premium members receive extended content discussing the creation of implausible mass media stories.
Skeptoid Funding and Membership Pitch
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(00:00:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Skeptoid relies almost entirely on listener donations, which directly fund the free distribution of science and critical thinking programming.
  • Summary: Skeptoid is funded almost entirely by listener donations, enabling the free distribution of high-quality science and critical thinking programming worldwide. Premium membership, starting at $5 a month, provides ad-free episodes and extended content. Contributions qualify as a charitable donation, and listeners can join at skeptoid.com/go premium.
Warby Parker Advertisement
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(00:01:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Warby Parker offers expertly crafted prescription eyewear starting at $95, including lenses, by designing glasses in-house and selling directly to consumers.
  • Summary: Warby Parker addresses the high cost of glasses by designing eyewear in-house and selling directly to customers. Their glasses use premium materials like impact-resistant polycarbonate and custom acetate. The starting price for prescription eyewear is $95, including lenses.
Episode Context and History
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(00:02:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The Van Meter story gained prominence in Van Meter, Iowa, starting in 2013, despite only minor mentions in 1950s and 2009 publications since its 1903 origin.
  • Summary: Blake Smith is guest hosting Skeptoid #1024: The Van Meter Visitors, which focuses on a story that has been dormant since its initial 1903 newspaper run, except for brief mentions in Fate magazine and Fortian Times. The episode will analyze the story’s evolution and how such narratives resurface. The show separates fact from fiction, science from pseudoscience, and real history from fake history.
Evolution of the 1903 Narrative
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(00:04:12)
  • Key Takeaway: The initial report in the Des Moines Daily News on October 4, 1903, detailed sightings of a light, a half-human/half-animal creature with a horn, and a climax involving two bioluminescent monsters emerging from a coal mine.
  • Summary: The events began on September 28, 1903, with reports of a light, escalating to a confrontation with a winged creature emitting light from a horn, which survived gunfire. Witnesses reported strange three-toed tracks and a creature descending a pole like a parrot using its beak. The climax involved multiple witnesses firing on two bioluminescent monsters emerging from a mine shaft.
Journalistic Editing and Story Change
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(00:06:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Subsequent newspaper retellings, such as the St. Paul Globe’s version, edited the original colorful narrative into a more emotionally detached, journalistic style, demonstrating how editing changes a story’s tenor.
  • Summary: The original story was not written by a seasoned reporter, featuring colorful language and unquoted citizen names. Storytelling is subject to natural selection where editors sand off parts that don’t work and patch in bits that do, causing the narrative to change. The St. Paul Globe’s retelling, a week later, focused on a foreman investigating a sound, resulting in a less dramatic account of the confrontation.
Van Meter Town Reaction to Hoax
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(00:08:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Shortly after the story spread in 1903, citizens of Van Meter actively fought back against the narrative, asserting in letters to other papers that the story was a pure fabrication likely manufactured by the Des Moines Daily News.
  • Summary: The citizens of Van Meter were highly indignant over the articles appearing in the Des Moines Daily News, calling the affair a pure fabrication. Letters to the Des Moines Capital suggested the newspaper corporation manufactured the story from minor incidents and then investigated its own creation. This reaction shows local pushback against sensationalized reporting, even in 1903.
Skeptoid Mediterranean Sailing Adventure
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(00:08:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Skeptoid is hosting a sailing adventure in April 2026 aboard the SV Royal Clipper from Málaga to Nice, featuring archaeologist Dr. Flint Dibble as the onboard expert.
  • Summary: A sailing adventure is scheduled from April 18th to April 25th, 2026, traveling from Málaga, Spain, to Nice, France, on the SV Royal Clipper. The trip includes a skeptical mini-conference at sea and expert commentary on archaeology and history from Dr. Flint Dibble. Details and booking are available at skeptoid.com/adventures.
Plausibility Testing and Modern Research
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(00:11:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Applying psychologist Ray Hyman’s categorical imperative requires first checking if an outlandish claim has any basis in reality before investigating its details.
  • Summary: Skeptics can test plausibility using Ray Hyman’s categorical imperative: determine if anything actually happened before investigating further. Modern research on the story, such as the 2013 book by Lewis, Voss, and Nelson, aggregates details but largely dismisses the hoax possibility based on the misconception that too many people would have needed to be involved. The book credits Harry H. Phillips, a Van Meter local, as the likely original author.
Historical Narrative Currents
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(00:12:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The Van Meter monster narrative converges two historical currents: the American dragon tradition featuring biologically implausible winged reptiles, and the 1896-97 airship mystery.
  • Summary: The story fits the American dragon tradition, where newspapers reported on winged reptiles across the Midwest when the public lacked a firm understanding of evolutionary constraints. The creature’s anatomy, specifically possessing four functional legs and two functional wings (making it a hexapod), is biologically impossible for large terrestrial animals. The narrative also taps into the public imagination primed by airship reports from the late 1890s.
Resurgence and Modern Skepticism
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(00:15:44)
  • Key Takeaway: After a century of dormancy, the Van Meter story was revived by a 2013 book, leading to a massive proliferation of credulous media coverage, highlighting that modern defense against implausible stories remains basic skepticism.
  • Summary: Following the initial 1903 flurry, the story went dormant until the 2013 book put the monster back on the map, resulting in numerous credulous podcasts and videos. Despite technological advancements, the best defense against implausible flying subterranean monsters remains well-honed skepticism and critical thinking, the same tools available in 1903. Extended content on how these stories achieve cultural immortality is available to premium supporters.
Skeptoid Production Credits and Support
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(00:17:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Skeptoid Media is supported by premium members and features production roles including Executive Producer Brian Dunning and Research/Writing by Blake Smith.
  • Summary: Premium supporters are thanked for powering the content, and information is provided on tax-friendly stock donations via skeptoid.com/giving. The production team includes Brian Dunning (Executive Producer), Kathy Reitmeyer (Director of Operations), and Blake Smith (Researched and written). The program is available for free on major podcast platforms.
Hal Bidlak Endorsement
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(00:18:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Hal Bidlak, former Master of Ceremonies for the James Randy Educational Foundation, endorses Brian Dunning’s work and Skeptoid Media, noting he has joined the board of directors.
  • Summary: Hal Bidlak, a friend and mentee of James Randy, has returned to skepticism due to the important work done by Brian Dunning’s Skeptoid Media. He encourages listeners to support the organization, noting that he has joined the board of directors. Skeptoid’s work spans podcasts and full-length movies.