Hocking Hills is known for its hiking trails and scenic views. But, according to some, it has some un-natural sights as well. The region is marketing itself as Ohio鈥檚 Bigfoot home 鈥� and this weekend marks the second annual Bigfoot Festival in Logan.
Bea Mills, the organizer of the festival, said the celebration will give Bigfoot enthusiasts and skeptics alike the opportunity to go outside and enjoy the Appalachian landscape.
鈥淲hy not celebrate Bigfoot and get more people outdoors to go find this big hairy hide-and-seek World Champion right here in the Hocking region of Ohio?鈥� she said.
The festival, Aug. 4 and 5, will feature live music, a Sasquatch howling contest, and, of course, a moonlit hike in search of the fabled furry creature.
Ohio鈥檚 cryptid connection
Ohio is a hotbed for Sasquatch sightings. The state ranked 4th nationally in alleged encounters, reporting more than 300 reported Bigfoot spottings since the 1940s, according to data from . The most recent one was just this year in Warren County.
The local lore has led to conferences, investigations and youth camps. Last year, Mills decided to make an even bigger spectacle out of the mysterious creature through a free, two-day festival.
鈥淚t also helps support local business. So those ma鈥� and pa鈥� shops, your crafters, everyone can get involved with Bigfoot,鈥� she said.
More than 10,000 people showed up for the inaugural event, more than doubling Logan鈥檚 for the weekend. Mills said she鈥檚 expecting an even bigger turnout this year. She hopes the flocks of Bigfoot believers not only boost tourism in the area, but also connect with the local community.
鈥淓very single person that I spoke to locally commented on how nice these Bigfoot enthusiasts were,鈥� Mills said. 鈥淲e might be a little kooky or a little nerdy, but we鈥檙e nice people.鈥�
Urban legend in Appalachia
Bigfoot is just one urban legend that鈥檚 taken hold in the Ohio River Valley. There鈥檚 also the in Point Pleasant, West Virginia and thein Kelly, Kentucky.
The region鈥檚 natural features make it ripe for these kinds of stories, Mills said. The expansive waterways and woods lend themselves well to mystery 鈥� especially Sasquatch, whose legend has been harbored in the hills for decades.
鈥淣ature plays a huge component in Bigfoot reports,鈥� Mills said. 鈥淵our original historical written records come from Portsmouth, Marietta, Gallipolis, right there along the Ohio River.鈥�
Mills said, most importantly, the search for Bigfoot brings people together to explore Ohio鈥檚 natural landscape 鈥� and that鈥檚 no small feat.
鈥淓veryone has just as good a shot to see a Sasquatch as the next person,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, keeping it fun and light-hearted is just paramount. And it's actually absolutely fantastic to watch.鈥�