In the Portland suburb of Milwaukie, Oregon, an anonymous complaint in a local Facebook group produced a completely unexpected result. Milwaukie is a small, relatively quiet city about 6 miles south of downtown Portland, with suburban characteristics, its own historic downtown and parks along the Willamette River. Rather than forcing the owners to remove a large homemade Loch Ness–style monster statue from their yard, the post made the sculpture a local sensation and an unofficial mascot around which the whole town rallied.
The statue, affectionately nicknamed "Messie, the Milwaukie monster," is a three-segment turquoise creature with green spikes along its back and a goofy smile. The complainer demanded that "this eyesore" be removed, but commenters unanimously defended the "good boy," calling him "majestic." That kicked off a true pilgrimage to the house.
The wave of popularity quickly spilled beyond social media. The local shop Made in Milwaukie, a specialty outlet promoting goods from local artisans and small businesses, had already released T-shirts, stickers and pins featuring Messie by Friday — items that sold out instantly. Shop owner Rob Campbell noted that for a town tired of online arguments, the monster became something that unites everyone.
Funny enough, the statue’s owners, Bruce Jankas and Lisa Shepard, didn’t even realize it had become famous until a reporter knocked on their door. They moved to Milwaukie in the fall and installed the sculpture, which they bought from the artist and named "Ned," in October, hoping it would decorate their tall fence — which had previously drawn complaints from neighbors.
The work’s creator, artist Cassie Lopez from the nearby cozy, family-oriented Sellwood neighborhood of Portland, made Messie (originally "Nessie") out of mortar as a playful art project. She sold the sea serpent to the new owners and is already working on the next sculpture — a pink-and-purple dragon named "Mystery." Each of her creations lives in a yard for about a year, delighting passersby before making way for the next one.
Lopez believes the power of such art lies in its imperfection and its ability to make people smile. Her pieces spark conversations and bring strangers together. The story of Messie is a vivid example of how simple creativity can foster a sense of community.
The story continues: Cassie Lopez is already discussing new collaborations with Made in Milwaukie, and soon miniature replicas of the famous monster may appear on store shelves. The artist is thrilled that her creation continues to bring joy to people far beyond her own yard.
Based on: A complaint went viral, now Oregon town can’t get enough of ‘Messie’