Off again and this time north on 575 to Cherry Log where the three-year-old Big Foot Museum is located just off Hwy 515–our first stop. You enter through the front porch with eerie movie music playing–sort of like Indiana Jones music before he gets into big trouble or finds himself in a snake pit.  You know there’s something to watch out for.

THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!

After a brief intro, you pass by the impressive wall of Big Foot researchers.  There are a bunch of them and then you watch a short introductory “welcoming” film that asks if you’re a believer.  Tells you to use an open mind to see for yourself these life changing experiences people have had viewing the Sasquatch, or the Oh Mah, or the Wild Man, or the Wooly Booger, or the White Thang, or the Boojam, or BIG FOOT seen on every continent, a survivor of the extinct species:  Gigantopithicus.

There is no more compelling creature than the green-eyed, round shouldered, 6 to 10 foot, 300 to 1000 pound, long armed, large handed, black or silvery white or brown ape-man with the prominent brow and slits for a nose.  All Sasquatches have this in common–big feet, an intolerable stench,a piercing cry, and of course are really big and scary.

BIGFOOT:  THE MOVIE

We go to the theater to watch the 17 minute main feature film/documentary.  Above the screen you see this quote:  “It’s the glory of God to conceal a thing but the honor of kings to search out a matter.” – Proverbs 25-2.

We arrived before the next show started and were entertained with old fashioned movie ads telling us to visit the refreshment center where our thirst, taste, and hunger will be satisfied.  Pepsi is the taste that beats the others cold–except to Atlantans, who are died in the wool Coca-Cola drinkers.  We see flashes– the show starts in 3 minutes…2 minutes…1 minute.  Before the show starts for real, we have one reminder , “See you in church Sunday.”  Do we need to go to church to seal the deal that we are believers?

The movie is very well done, opening with a legend story of how Big Foot came to be and why he hides.  He befriended a young girl and told her “shadow stories” around the campfire.  Her parents forbade her to see the beast again. Lonely, he sought her out and took her away.  Members of the community followed.  The girl’s face was scratched by tree branches and she grew wet and cold as it started to rain.  The Big Foot could see how scared and cold she was, so he took her back to her family.  He was told to never come that way again.  As a result he had to hide from humans and never again share his shadow stories.  And that’s why humans rarely see a Big Foot.

We listen to stories of Big Foot sightings, mostly in Kentucky.  We are sitting next to a lady whose brother in law is a Big Foot researcher and has seen one.–for real.

THE EXHIBITS: THERE’S MORE TO COME

Then we’re off to the exhibits.  We read about the gold miners, Fred and Hank, who shot at a creature they thought was a Big Foot, then escaped to the safety of a cabin.  But of course it wasn’t safe.  Several Big Foots appeared (they travel in families) and threw rocks and boulders down upon the cabin.  Then they shook the cabin.  Then they tried to get inside, one managing to grab an ax above the door.  But the miners using all their strength forced the door on The Big Foot’s ax-holding arm and he was forced to drop it.  “Be gone, you mountain devils,” shouted one of the miners.  Then something told him to start singing and he did:  “Leave us along.  If you leave us alone, we’ll leave you alone and we’ll all go home in the morning.” Looping his song until it was morning and the Big Foots were gone (they are nocturnal creatures), but not the story.  It lived on.

There are more stories and exhibits and Big Foot searching equipment and hand and footprints, with dermal ridges that can not possibly be duplicated. We sign the guest book.  People have made comments like:  “Looks like my uncle.” or “We believe,” or “One of the greatest attractions in the state.”

We look at movie posters about Big Foot movies like THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK from a Big Foot sighting in Arkansas. It’s rated G.  I hold my hand up next to a big foot hand print found somewhere in Georgia. You can see the result in the image to the right.

FINDING OUT MORE:

When we’re ready to go, I talk to the ticket seller, who turns out to be the daughter of the owner/creator, Dave Bakara, who has been fascinated with Big Foots all his life and started this beautifully done museum about three years ago with his wife.  She was there and told me of their personal Big Foot sighting in Alva, FL. They were following a report from a guy whose backyard backed up to a swamp and had seen big creatures many times.  He left out fish guts to keep them from harming his family and animals.  David and his wife camped out in the backyard, leaving out smoked fish to attract the Big Foots and to keep them from getting aggressive. After midnight they heard sounds and saw several of them, shadowy creatures on two legs, eating the fish.  They left after 10 minutes or so and had no flashlights or lanterns to guide them.  They just disappeared.

My husband is not a believer.  But I think there is something out there . . . and we both agreed a trip to this museum is a must.
Google Expedition:  Bigfoot, 1934 Hwy 515, Blue Ridge, GA (but really closer to Cherry Log.) Open every day except Tuesday, 10-5 but hours may differ in the winter.  There is an admission charge of $8.00 but seniors get a discount.  Phone number:  706-946-2601.

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