'Gargoyles' in Florida? Winged humanoid sightings haunt Zephyrhills and beyond

In recent years, a series of chilling sightings in Pasco County, Florida, have raised disturbing questions about what lurks in the skies above Zephyrhills and its surrounding towns. From delivery drivers nearly running off the road to terrified families confronted at their own homes, multiple witnesses describe encounters with a winged, gargoyle-like being that recalls the infamous 'Mothman' of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and, more recently, the Chicagoland region. Could Florida be the site of a new wave of winged humanoid manifestations?

Introduction: A Growing Florida Mystery

Since 2017, reports of gargoyle-like winged humanoids have surfaced from Zephyrhills, Brandon, and other parts of Pasco County, Florida. These accounts share unsettling similarities with the Chicago-area Mothman encounters, suggesting a larger nationwide pattern. The witnesses, diverse in background, consistently describe a dark, humanoid entity with massive bat-like wings, often in proximity to deer carcasses or areas of heightened animal activity. What follows is a compilation of four key reports gathered between 2017 and 2018, stitched together to reveal a disturbing narrative of intrusion, predation, and high strangeness.

Case #1 – The Skinny Gargoyle of Route 98/US-301 (Zephyrhills, September 2017)

A Clearwater delivery driver covering a late-night route near Zephyrhills encountered something impossible. While approaching a tree-lined stretch of Route 98/US-301 around 3:30 AM, he spotted a dark, humanoid 'cannonball' shape hovering 15 feet above the ground as he drew closer, the form unfurled, with human-like legs dangling beneath giant bat wings that spanned 12 feet. The creature launched itself toward his truck at fighter-jet speed, nearly causing him to wreck in fear. Earlier, he had passed two separate piles of deer carcasses. His colleague 'AP' later described the witness as pale, shaken, and convinced he had encountered a 'skinny gargoyle.'

Case #2 – Segmented-Body Humanoid on US-301 (Zephyrhills, Update 2017)

Weeks later, AP reported a second driver on the same route had also witnessed the entity. This time, the being was described as tall (~6 ft), dark gray, and insect-like, with a segmented body resembling a thorax and abdomen. It flew across US-301 at terrifying speed, again in the same deer-rich corridor. AP began speculating whether the creature hunted deer and whether lunar phases might influence its appearances. This account reinforced the idea of a cluster hotspot in Pasco County, with multiple credible witnesses reporting nearly identical encounters.

Case #3 – The Zephyrhills Residential Intrusion (February 2018)

Perhaps the most unnerving case came from a family in Zephyrhills, who reported ongoing disturbances at their home. They heard scratching in the walls, heavy footsteps on the roof, and fluttering wing noises, paired with the displacement of a cement block at the house’s foundation. One night, the witness’s son shouted from the bathroom window. Looking out, the mother saw a massive black wing rising past the glass, accompanied by the back of a dark, humanoid head. The being spread two enormous wings and launched into the night sky. The family was left terrified for their safety, unsure whether they or even their cat were in danger.

Case #4 – Gargoyle Above Brandon (Approx. Late 2017)

Expanding the geographic scope of these encounters, a witness named Surago reported seeing a human-sized gargoyle flying 200–300 ft above an intersection in Brandon, about 15–20 miles south of Zephyrhills. The sighting occurred around 6:40 a.m. while the witness was sitting at a red light. He watched the entity glide across the sky before disappearing behind trees and a building. Although brief, the account adds weight to the idea that Florida’s winged humanoid phenomenon was not confined to a single neighborhood but was active across the region.

Comparative Analysis

- Physical Traits: All cases describe humanoid proportions, bat-like wings (often 12 ft+ span), dark coloration, and varying details (segmented body, gargoyle-like features).

- Behavioral Patterns: Hovering before rapid flight; sudden, aggressive approaches; presence near deer carcasses or heavy animal activity.

- Geographic Spread: Concentrated in Zephyrhills/US-301 corridor, with expansion south toward Brandon.

- High Strangeness: Residential intrusion, roof-walking, scratching inside walls, and darting sky-lights connect the phenomenon to broader paranormal activity beyond simple cryptid sightings.

Closing Reflection

What exactly is haunting the skies of Pasco County? Are these gargoyle-like beings simply another extension of the winged humanoid phenomenon seen in Chicago, Point Pleasant, and elsewhere, or are they something unique to Florida’s landscape and energy? With multiple independent witnesses and a rising number of reports, it may only be a matter of time before further encounters shed light on whether these entities are predators, omens, or something far stranger.

Summary

The Pasco County, Florida, gargoyle sightings form one of the most compelling clusters of winged humanoid encounters outside Chicago. From roadside horrors to a family besieged in their own home, the reports point toward a phenomenon that is not only real to those who experience it but is also expanding geographically. The question remains: what is truly flying over Zephyrhills and beyond?

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By Lon Strickler / Author Fortean Researcher

Lon Strickler is a Fortean researcher, author, and publisher of the syndicated 'Phantoms and Monsters' blog. He began the blog in 2005, which has steadily grown in popularity and is read daily by tens of thousands of paranormal enthusiasts, investigators and those seeking the truth. His research and reports have been featured on hundreds of online media sources. Several of these published reports have been presented on various television segments, including The History Channel's 'Ancient Aliens,' Syfy's 'Paranormal Witness', 'Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files,' and Destination America's 'Monsters and Mysteries in America.'

He has been interviewed on hundreds of radio & online broadcasts, including multiple guest appearances on 'Coast to Coast AM.' He was also featured on Destination America's 'Monsters and Mysteries in America' television show for 'The Sykesville Monster' episode. Lon has written 9 books and is currently the host of Phantoms & Monsters Radio on YouTube.

If you would like to support the newsletter, blog and my work, you can use one of the donation buttons on the blog or newsletter, or go to Paypal.com and use my email [email protected] as the payee. Thanks again. Lon

(Source: phantomsandmonsters.com; October 7, 2025; https://tinyurl.com/2agx6b39)
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