The Boggy Creek Monster

As a lifelong resident of Arkansas, I have been told a lot of different stories about the state. I have heard the stories of Bonnie and Clyde having coffee with my great uncle, stories about the "Hanging Judge" (and if you've ever seen Rooster Cogburn, you know who I'm talking about), so basically I've heard just about every story that came out of the old west and the depression era from the state.

However, there is one story that to this day fascinates me. The Legend of Boggy Creek.

Yes, the same one that had the horrible movie made about it in the early 70's. The same movie that was immortalized in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. As bad as that three film series was (only made watchable by the appearance of the late, yet always cute Dana Plato in the second film), the stories behind the films are as much a part of local folklore as Ted Williams and Babe Ruth in Boston.

During the early 1870's in the town of Fouke, Arkansas the Ford family was attacked by an unknown creature. During the same time period, the same creature was blamed for the death of local livestock. This creature is said to be from seven to ten feet tall, weigh anywhere from 250 to 800 pounds, has a chest 3 feet wide, long dark fur and bright red eyes the size of silver dollars.

Tracks have been found that give the creature a 17 inch foot that is 7 inches wide. However, unlike any other creature of it's type, it is claimed to only have three toes.

Since the 1970's there has been sporadic reports of the creature. In 1991, it was seen jumping from a bridge and in 1998 it was again reported in a dry creek bed. The biggest year for sightings was 1997 where there were 40 reported sightings.

As usual, with any type of creature that can't be labeled definitively, there is speculation that it is a bear or a mountain lion. Some claim that it is some type of unknown hominid. While others say it is a part of the Bigfoot family. Whatever it is, with the amount of wooded areas that are prevalent through the state, there are plenty of places for it to hide so we may never know and the naysayers can always claim hoax.