The Legend of Boggy Creek: Fouke Monster Festival returns this weekend

FOUKE, Ark. (KTAL/KMSS)—According to local legend, something lurks in the dark in Fouke, Ark. This weekend, tourists will flock to the community, curious to tour the area and possibly catch a glimpse of the famed ‘Fouke Monster.’

Many people have claimed to have seen the monster over the years, and a movie about it brought the legend to national attention.

Each year, the town hosts the Fouke Monster Festival, where you can catch a showing of the movie, take guided bus tours, hear the legends from guest speakers, and find unique merchandise.

Although reports of the monster date back to 1946, the first news report on the creature came in May 1971, when Bobby Ford said he was attacked by a “large hairy creature” at his home in Fouke. He told officials the creature poked its paw through a hole in the window before he and three others chased it into the woods.

Ford claimed that when the animal appeared behind his home again, it knocked him down and he ran back to the house for safety.

Officials who searched the area reported finding several large tracks.

Over the following year, several other people reported sightings of the bigfoot-like creature or evidence that it existed.

A family in Texarkana reportedly spotted a 7′ tall hairy creature that ran into a wooded area a month after Ford’s sighting. However, police found no sign of it.

A farmer near Fouke, Yother Kennedy, claimed to hear strange noises while plowing late one night. When he went to search the field, Kennedy said he found several tracks 13.5 inches in length with three toes. Residents told the Shreveport Journal that similar tracks were found in 1963.

As the fervor around the Fouke Monster rose, a Texarkana man offered a reward for its capture. Raymond Scoggins said he would pay $200 to anyone who could bring the monster in alive by Dec. 31st.

“I believe in the monster. I want to preserve it in a zoo, or wherever it belongs,” he explained to the Hope Star. “I want to discourage the killing of it.”

KAAY Radio Station out of Little Rock later announced an award of $1,090, saying, “Insomuch as the creature known as the Fouke Monster has proven to be a source of mental anguish for the people of Arkansas, KAAY sees it as a public service to the state to do all it can to alleviate this problem.”

The legend inspired a 1972 horror film, “The Legend of Boggy Creek” which starred some of the eyewitnesses and residents of Fouke.

Since 2013, the city has hosted the Fouke Monster Festival, which is dedicated to the legend and information on its sightings. Proceeds from the event benefit the Fouke School District.

A popular stop is the Monster Mart, a convenience store that features gifts, displays, and information on the Fouke Monster and The Legend of Boggy Creek films. The festival offers guided bus tours, food, vendors, and presentations by Bigfoot researchers.

This year, speakers include Lyle Blackburn, Chester Moore, Marvin Leeper and Tex Wesson.

Join the fun from April 26-27 at Fouke Middle School on 403 Panther Dr. Tickets range from $29-$40 and are available online through Eventbrite. Check out the schedule of events below:

Friday April 26

7:00 pm – catered dinner at Fouke Community Center

8:30 pm – Screening The Legend of Boggy Creek (4K Blu-ray version)

Saturday April 27

9:00 – Doors open

10:00 – Lyle opening remarks

Fouke Mayor Terry Purvis welcomes guests to Fouke

10:15 – Ryan Edwards

11:15 – Break

11:30 – Marvin Leeper

12:30 – Lunch break

1:30 – Tex Wesson

2:30 – Break

2:45 – Chester Moore

3:45 – Break

4:00 – Lyle Blackburn

5:00 – Speaker Q&A

6:00 – Event ends

Bus tours

10:00 am

11:30 am

1:00 pm

2:30 pm

4:00 pm

5:30 pm