By Sharon Ginsburg 

Sasquatch is just another Indian tribal name for Bigfoot depending upon which North American tradition you follow. Same description of this folklore creature, same elusive sightings, same adamant enthusiastic believers. The staff at the Greenbrier State Forest are among these enthusiastic followers and use the name Bigfoot. They made three huge well-done plywood full frontal silhouettes seven feet tall that are visible from various hiking trails. The staff says they move them around for fun, theirs I assume. I feel stalked by these creatures as they are also all over the town of Ronceverte where I live. These are side profiles probably bought online. There is even an entire family, a small child Bigfoot, a much larger dad with a slightly smaller mom Bigfoot all visible in a flower bed right in town as you drive by. The child can be seen spotlit at night and is so cute with the flower bed plants kept trimmed to enhance its delightful visibility. Just admire from the road as this is a private residence. There actually was a Bigfoot Festival hosted by a Bigfoot Museum in Sutton, Braxton County WV this past June. Amazing, a Bigfoot Festival and Museum even here in WV?! Their Facebook page shows plans for next year’s festival and stickers with quotes and Bigfoot photos that would make anyone smile: “Bigfoot saw me but nobody believed him.” “Don’t worry…Bigfoot doesn’t believe in you either.” From the former Hashtag editor’s hot tip, I saw a plywood Bigfoot installed at the Greenbrier State Forest near Caldwell on the trail right across Harts Run Creek from the cabin area. The following flier was on its back and is posted on trail head signs and left as information in cabin rentals. Notice the park staff creative writing and drawing of “Oakey.”. Keep alert for their painted black plywood silhouettes as another could be anywhere.

 WARNING: Due to encounters with a wooden creature resembling Bigfoot, we are encouraging all forest visitors to be vigilant and to watch alongside the trails for this mysterious creature. Three of these creatures have been observed along the forest trails. Based on scientific data, these creatures will be here until at least Labor Day weekend. 

Approach the Creature: Report your sighting with a selfie of yourself to the park office/gift shop and receive 10% off gift shop items. Post sightings on social media! Find all three and receive a Greenbrier State Forest sticker. 

In 1938 Civilian Conservation Corp Workers reported strange occurrences surrounding the construction of the forest cabins. Pre-cut whole logs would go missing and would often times be found floating in Harts Run. Countless weeks on end screams and loud knocking could be heard at night. In the fall of that same year a large hairy creature was witnessed by CCC workers feeding upon acorns. The workers named the creature “Oakey.”