In 1903, something strange descended on Van Meter, Iowa—a winged creature, part bat, part machine, with a blinding light on its head.
It terrorized the town for five nights… and then disappeared.
In this episode, Robert Barber unravels one of America’s most chilling and little-known paranormal stories—a case where folklore, fear, and eyewitness accounts collide.
🎧 Was it a cryptid, mass panic, or something we still can’t name?
State of the Unknown is a documentary-style podcast exploring America’s unexplained stories, including reported hauntings, UFO encounters, cryptid sightings, folklore, and modern paranormal cases. Each episode combines careful research, atmospheric storytelling, and reflection on the human questions behind the mystery.
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Some stories don’t stay buried.
We go looking anyway.