Scotland
has the Loch Ness Monster, the Pacific Northwest has Bigfoot, the Himalayan
Mountain range in Asia has the Yeti, and here in Arkansas, we have the Fouke Monster.
What
exactly is the Fouke Monster? Honestly, I had never heard about it until my
father-in-law, who grew up near Fouke, Arkansas told me about it a few years
ago. According to those who have claimed to have seen it, the monster resembles
a large ape-like creature, similar to the many descriptions of Bigfoot. It is
said to be about 7 feet tall and weighing 250-300 pounds. The creature has also
been described as having a terrible skunk-like odor and radiant red eyes about
the size of silver dollars. The Fouke Monster is also known as the “Boggy Creek
Monster” after the creek where several sightings of the creature have taken
place.
The
first sighting of the monster came around 1964, though some local residents
claim it was spotted in 1946. The Fouke Monster made local and state news when
it supposedly attacked the home of Bobby and Elizabeth Ford in May 1971. After
this incident, the Little Rock radio station KAAY 1090 AM offered a bounty of
$1,090 for the creature. The Fouke Monster was purportedly seen again later
that month, when three locals reported seeing an ape-like being walking across
U.S. Hwy 71. Several other reports were made in subsequent weeks and months by
Miller County residents and curious tourists who claimed to have found footprints
of the creature.
The
Fouke Monster gained national attention in 1973 when director and screenwriter
Charles B. Pierce released a horror flick about the creature entitled "The
Legend of Boggy Creek." The movie was shot on location in Fouke,
Texarkana, Arkansas, and nearby Shreveport, Louisiana. Many residents of Fouke
and Texarkana were cast in minor roles. The movie premiere was held at the
Paramount Theater in Texarkana, Texas, in August 1972. Reportedly, the
docudrama cost about $160,000 to make, but grossed $20 million at the box
office. Four sequels have been made of the original film with the final one
released in 2011.
Several
years ago, my mother-in-law took my wife and I to Fouke for some sightseeing.
While we didn’t spot the Fouke Monster, we did spot a few stores selling Fouke
Monster wares including one called Monster Mart, which had a large collection
of Fouke Monster artifacts and souvenirs for sale. Monster Mart also had a
large wooden statue of the creature, with which you can take a free
photo.
Of
course yours truly had to get one. As my family and friends will attest, I
never pass up the opportunity for a good Arkansas photo-op — especially
with the legendary monster who calls The Natural State home.
A proud sixth-generation Arkansan,
Darrell W. Brown is a lover of all things Arkansas. He served several years
with the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, and worked in all
three divisions. He lives in Saline County with his wife and two beloved Boston
Terriers.
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