In American folklore, the hodag is a fearsome critter resembling a large bull-horned carnivore with a row of thick curved spines down its back. The hodag was said to be born from the ashes of cremated oxen, as the incarnation of the accumulation of abuse the animals had suffered at the hands of their masters. [1]

Today, the Hodag has become the official symbol of Rhinelander–it’s even the mascot for the local high school–and can be seen pretty much anywhere visitors go in Rhinelander. Learn all about this fascinating creature and plan your trip to Hodag Country today!

A festival the magnitude of the Hodag Country Festival is pulled together due in great part to the efforts of our sponsors:

The Hodag is a mythical creature invented by Gene Shepard in the 1890's. It inhabits the woods around Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and its preferred food is white bulldogs. Rhinelander has adopted it as a mascot; the high school sports teams are "The Hodags." This is an entry in the contest known as "Hodags on Parade."

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2024年5月21日 · RHINELANDER – The fourth annual Hodag Heritage Fest took place Saturday, May 18 at Pioneer Park. The event is hosted by the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce and included events throughout the day, such as live music, free kids activities, food and beverages for purchase and a Hodag Historical City Bus Tour.

2018年10月2日 · Rhinelander's mythical hodag has become a symbol for the city in northern Wisconsin. Hodag statue Located in front of the Rhindelander, WI Visitors Bureau. Kay Recker of Milwaukee, wears a...

2,319 Followers, 64 Following, 381 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from The Hodag (@therealhodag)

2018年2月22日 · The "Chamber Hodag"—this fiberglass sculpture, created by a local artist—is perhaps the largest representation of the monster, but there are over a dozen throughout the area.

A large group of men armed with guns, pitchforks and rakes hold a beast at bay on top of a log. Below the log is the victim of the beast. The beast is a Hodag, a creature made-up as a hoax by Eugene Shepard of Northern Wisconsin in 1893. Since then, the Hodag has become the official symbol of Rhinelander.