The legend of Pepie derives from the numerous sightings of an unexplained creature or creatures surfacing from the depths of Lake Pepin. These sightings have taken place from both ship and shore. To date, none of these sightings have confirmed the existence of a new biological species. Hopefully that fact will change in the next few years as many people try to obtain undisbutable evidence of Pepie's existence!
Like most legends, Pepie is also a mythological creature. The myths are even more colorful and fantastic than the legend! Local mythology claims that Pepie is a shy, gentle, and playful creature. He (or is it a "she") especially loves to play on the surface of Lake Pepin when the waters are very, very calm and reflect the skyline of the beautiful forested bluffs that surround the Lake. When a full moon rises over the Lake, it is transormed into a magical playground that no aquatic creature can resist!
Lake Pepin is also the home to many fresh water mussels, more commonly called "clams". These clams were once the source of a major industry on the upper Mississippi River, "Mother of Pearl" clothing buttons. Many factories employed thousands of people to make buttons cut from the clam shells. These beautiful buttons were made until the advent of plastic buttons in the 1930's. Often times a clam fisherman would find pearls in his catch. You can still purchase fresh water "Lake Pepin Pearls" online and at certain Jewlery stores. To learn more about Mississippi River pearls and the pearl button industry, go to www.karipearls.com/pearl-buttons.html
Local mythology claims that one huge clam was the "Mother of all Lake Pepin Clams".
Not only did all of the other clams decend from her, she also makes the largest pearls seen anywhere in the world! She is commonly referred to as "Clara the Clam". Clara is a friend of Pepies. Clara and Pepie love to engage in her favorite watersport on those magical moonlit nights that occur on Lake Pepin. Since Pepie is a very, very fast swimmer, Clara ties a rope to him, straps on some waterskis and has Pepie pull her around the Lake as she skims across the surface of Lake Pepin on her waterskis. Rumor has it that late one night a young lad by the name of Ralph Samualson was standing on the shoreline when he observed this rarest of sights. Young Ralph thought to himself; "If a clam can ski on the water, why can't a human?". The rest is history as Ralph later became famous as the inventor of watersking (for more info search "Lake City, Birthplace of Watersking").
We are not saying that you will always (or ever) catch a glimpse of Pepie or Clara when you visit Lake Pepin, but we do gurantee that you will always enjoy breathtaking scenery and sights that you will cherish forever! 