Cryptid Vault
Tahoe Tessie

Tahoe Tessie

Also known as: Tessie

A serpentine lake dweller hiding in the frigid depths of Lake Tahoe since Washoe legend.

First Reported

Pre-colonial (Washoe tradition)

Origin Area

Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada, USA

Size

10-80 ft long (varies by report)

Temperament

Shy, deep-dwelling

Status

Unconfirmed

Eyewitness reportsLow DangerNorth AmericaLake

The Lore

Tahoe Tessie is a large aquatic creature reported in Lake Tahoe, straddling the California-Nevada border. The Washoe people have long spoken of a creature inhabiting the lake's deep waters. Modern sightings describe a serpentine or sturgeon-like animal 10-80 feet long, usually dark in color, surfacing briefly before diving. Lake Tahoe's extreme depth of 1,645 feet and cold temperatures make it theoretically capable of supporting a large undiscovered species.

Body Type

SerpentineAquatic

Folklore Origin

Indigenous traditionRegional folklore

Similar Real Animals

Lake sturgeonLarge trout