"> LEGEND HUNTERS WELCOME Home About Us Purchase T-Shirts EXPEDITIONS 2000 Expedition 2001 Expedition 2006 Expedition 2009 Expedition 2023 Expedition FACT OR FICTION The Legend of Ogopogo Facts About Lake Okanagan SIGHTINGS Sightings Up to 1980 Sightings from 1981-2000 Sightings from 2001-2015 Sightings from 2016 to Present CONTACT US Report Sighting General Contact OLDEST REPORTED SIGHTINGS SIGHTINGS FROM 1981 TO 2000 FROM 2001 TO 2015 FROM 2016 TO PRESENT Lake Creature Sightings Here are but a few of the many reported sightings over the years. Although many people who believe they saw the creature have not come forward because of possible ridicule, "Legend Hunter" Bill Steciuk has received many reports from people who wanted to share their stories through this website, www.ogopogquest.com . There have also been many details of sightings over many years reported in a variety of publications, based on sightings by early area settlers going back to as early as 1873. Even previous to that, local Okanagan native tribes had many stories of sightings passed down from generation to generation over the years. Although the pronunciation of the original name as well as its meaning have differed over the years, Chief Byron Louis of the Okanagan Indian Band says that the creature was referred to as n ̓x̌ax̌aitkʷ in the the Syilx language — pronounced "n-ha-ha-it-koo" — meaning "something in the water". We thank everyone who has shared their stories, and appreciate the pictures shared with Bill through this website by some of those reporting sightings. If you have a sighting you would like to share, please click here to give details of what you saw. Drawing Found on Internet - Author Unknown Just a Few of the Earlier Recorded Sightings 1873 - The first recorded sighting by a caucasian was by Mrs. Susan Allison, a B.C. pioneer and author, near her home, Sunnyside Ranch, which is the location of today's Quail's Gate Winery in West Kelowna. Mrs. Allison was very specific in her description of seeing a snake-like creature, which closely mirrored the often repeated local native legend about the lake creature. 1926 - Occupants of about 30 cars along an Okanagan Mission beach reported seeing "Ogopogo". 1947 - A number of boaters all saw the creature at the same time. One of the witnesses, a Mr. Kray, gave a detailed description: "it had a long sinuous body, 30 feet in length, consisting of about five undulations, apparently separated from each other by about a two-foot space, in which that part of the undulations would have been underwater.There appeared to be a forked tail, of which only one-half came above the water. From time to time the whole thing submerged and came up again.". 1959 - Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Miller and Mr. and Mrs. Pat Marten reported seeing a "tremendous creature with a snake-like head and a blunt nose swimming some 250 feet behind their motor boat". The group watched the unknown animal for over three minutes, after which it submerged. 1964- A Parmenter family member was able to take a photo of what they saw in the lake. Year unknown - Geoffrey Tozer, the son-in-law of British Columbia Premier W.A.C. Bennett (B.C. Premier from 1953 to 1972), reported seeing the "creature". 1976- Ed Fletcher of North Vancouver reported being able to take a photo of what he saw in Lake Okanagan. 1978, 1979, 1981 - Photos taken by author Arlene Gaal. Bill Steciuk had his first sighting in 1978 and he vowed to one day find the elusive lake "monster".He established the www.ogopogoquest.com website in 2004, in the hopes of receiving reports from others who had also had "sightings". Little did he realize that over the next 20 years, there would be hundreds of reported sightings in the area, with many of those contacting him with their stories. In the days before the popularity of cell phones with cameras, sightings were mostly reported verbally. On the rare occasion that someone had a camera handy, the existence of "Ogopogo" was sometimes captured for all to see! Sighting 1978 Bill Steciuk's first sighting made a believer out of him! View More Bill Steciuk's First Sighting 1978- Bill Steciuk was crossing the bridge from the west side of Okanagan Lake in October of 1978 towards Kelowna. He caught a movement in the lake and immediately stopped his car. All the traffic behind him also stopped and he was soon joined at the rail by about 20 other onlookers. All 20 or so people saw what appeared to be a head with three black humps behind it perhaps 60 metres away protruding out of the water. Bill and the onlookers watched the creature swimming for nearly a minute, after which time it disappeared beneath the water's surface, leaving a substantial wake. This sighting made a believer out of Bill and he vowed to try to one day search for Ogopogo. Sighting circa 1978 Linda H. tells of her sighting about 50 years ago(circa 1978) View More Sighting around 1978 "It would have been 50 yrs ago. I was around 15 yrs old. The family went to Kelowna for summer holidays as my mother's aunt lived there. We camped at Jericho Beach and I was sitting on the beach when I saw 3 humps out in the water which looked like 3 half tires - I didn't see a head. It was not there long, then disappeared. I always tell people that there is an Ogopogo. Only saw this one time but I do believe. Sighting circa 1979 Scott B sent us his story about witnessing "Ogopogo" about 39 years ago(circa 1979) View More Scott B. sent us a very compelling story! "Subject: My account: I wanted to add my story to yours and you can do what you want with it. I'm 50 years old now, so I look back at this point in time and state what I have consistently stated since I was around 11 years old, that I saw the Ogopogo monster from a floating dock on the Okanagan. We were visiting family and friends and everybody had gone inside because of the rain. I loved the way the water was reflecting the drops so I sat on the dock for a good half hour. It was during this time that I noticed a black line forming in three spots on the horizon. Thinking about it, it looked like it was going against the wind and I watched it cross the lake for a good 5 minutes till finally a head exposed itself, very similar to the one that you took a picture of [referring to Bill Steciuk's picture of May 2015], and must have been above water for a good 20 seconds before it went back down. The three lines obviously were the body going above the waves. If this was just a quick sighting I would have dismissed it as something else, but as it lasted for so long there's no doubt in my mind that it was an animal moving across the water. I reported it as a child would to his parents and of course they made fun of it but over the years I've never changed my story that I am sure that I saw the creature that lives in the lake! Keep up the good work - one day you'll be proven right. Kindest regards, Scott
Here are but a few of the many reported sightings over the years. Although many people who believe they saw the creature have not come forward because of possible ridicule, "Legend Hunter" Bill Steciuk has received many reports from people who wanted to share their stories through this website, www.ogopogquest.com . There have also been many details of sightings over many years reported in a variety of publications, based on sightings by early area settlers going back to as early as 1873.
We thank everyone who has shared their stories, and appreciate the pictures shared with Bill through this website by some of those reporting sightings. If you have a sighting you would like to share, please click here to give details of what you saw.
Drawing Found on Internet - Author Unknown
Bill Steciuk had his first sighting in 1978 and he vowed to one day find the elusive lake "monster".He established the www.ogopogoquest.com website in 2004, in the hopes of receiving reports from others who had also had "sightings". Little did he realize that over the next 20 years, there would be hundreds of reported sightings in the area, with many of those contacting him with their stories. In the days before the popularity of cell phones with cameras, sightings were mostly reported verbally. On the rare occasion that someone had a camera handy, the existence of "Ogopogo" was sometimes captured for all to see!
Bill Steciuk's first sighting made a believer out of him!
1978- Bill Steciuk was crossing the bridge from the west side of Okanagan Lake in October of 1978 towards Kelowna. He caught a movement in the lake and immediately stopped his car. All the traffic behind him also stopped and he was soon joined at the rail by about 20 other onlookers. All 20 or so people saw what appeared to be a head with three black humps behind it perhaps 60 metres away protruding out of the water. Bill and the onlookers watched the creature swimming for nearly a minute, after which time it disappeared beneath the water's surface, leaving a substantial wake. This sighting made a believer out of Bill and he vowed to try to one day search for Ogopogo.
Linda H. tells of her sighting about 50 years ago(circa 1978)
"It would have been 50 yrs ago. I was around 15 yrs old. The family went to Kelowna for summer holidays as my mother's aunt lived there. We camped at Jericho Beach and I was sitting on the beach when I saw 3 humps out in the water which looked like 3 half tires - I didn't see a head. It was not there long, then disappeared. I always tell people that there is an Ogopogo. Only saw this one time but I do believe.
Scott B sent us his story about witnessing "Ogopogo" about 39 years ago(circa 1979)
"Subject: My account: I wanted to add my story to yours and you can do what you want with it. I'm 50 years old now, so I look back at this point in time and state what I have consistently stated since I was around 11 years old, that I saw the Ogopogo monster from a floating dock on the Okanagan. We were visiting family and friends and everybody had gone inside because of the rain. I loved the way the water was reflecting the drops so I sat on the dock for a good half hour. It was during this time that I noticed a black line forming in three spots on the horizon. Thinking about it, it looked like it was going against the wind and I watched it cross the lake for a good 5 minutes till finally a head exposed itself, very similar to the one that you took a picture of [referring to Bill Steciuk's picture of May 2015], and must have been above water for a good 20 seconds before it went back down. The three lines obviously were the body going above the waves. If this was just a quick sighting I would have dismissed it as something else, but as it lasted for so long there's no doubt in my mind that it was an animal moving across the water. I reported it as a child would to his parents and of course they made fun of it but over the years I've never changed my story that I am sure that I saw the creature that lives in the lake! Keep up the good work - one day you'll be proven right. Kindest regards, Scott
Keep up the good work - one day you'll be proven right. Kindest regards, Scott