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THE HISTORY OF OUR BIGFOOT

Bigfoot was carved right here in our parking lot in 1978.  When we first bought the store, customers came in often asking if we knew where bigfoot was and if we were bringing him back.  We found out   The owners Jim and Helen Kerscher, owners of the Strawberry Store from 1977 to 1994, hired chainsaw carver John Roberts to create the original Bigfoot in the parking lot in front of the store one summer. “It was my husband’s and my idea to have him carve a Bigfoot,” Helen said in an interview with the Union Democrat newspaper. “We paid him probably $1,000 or more. It was not cheap. He got a piece of cedar from a local logger.”

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You can read the full article written by Guy McCarthy for the Union Democrat on September 9, 2022

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Reports of Bigfoot incidents in Tuolumne County from January 1963 to June 2008. Source: Bigfoot Field Researchers Association:

  • June 2007-2008 (Class A) - Road crossing sighting just after sundown on Highway 108 between Strawberry and Beardsley Lake.

  • August 2007 (Class B) - Son and father hear possible sasquatch vocalizations in the Emigrant Wilderness.

  • March 2007 (Class B) - Possible road-crossing sighting in daylight near Strawberry.

  • November 2006 (Class B) - Possible vocalizations heard by resident near Twain Harte.

  • October 2006 (Class B) - Camping couple report possible vocalizations outside Long Barn around 6:30 a.m.

  • December 2003 (Class A) - Man has late night sighting near Twain Harte.

  • September 2003 (Class B) - Possible nighttime encounter, food taken from hunters camping near Tuolumne.

  • July 2002 (Class B) - Campers find stacked rocks and hear unusual rock banging near Strawberry.

  • September 2001 (Class B) - Possible vocalizations awaken campers in Clark Fork Campground.

  • September 2001 (Class B) - Women hear late night vocalizations at Sand Bar Flat Campground.

  • May 2001 (Class B) - Couple hear strange nighttime screams near Twain Harte.

  • April 2001 (Class B) - Man see large prints outside of Long Barn.

  • March 2001 (Class B) - BFRO Investigators detail activity around Twain Harte.

  • August 1999 (Class B) - Hiker has strange late night experience in Emigrant Wilderness.

  • August 1998 (Class A) - Late night sighting by motorists travelling through Tioga Pass (Yosemite), a few miles beyond Crane Flat Campground.

  • November 1997 (Class A) - Sighting by woman in Eagle Meadow, above Strawberry.

  • August 1994 (Class B) - Man hears late night howl in the Emigrant Wilderness.

  • June 1994,1995 (Class A) - Campers have sighting above Pinecrest.

  • November 1993 (Class B) - Two hikers have interesting experience near Strawberry.

  • August 1993 (Class A) - Man remembers seeing an animal move through a ravine near Yosemite.

  • June 1993 (Class A) - A wildlife biologist observes a large upright walking animal near Pinecrest.

  • September 1988 (Class B) - Family hears late night screams near Long Barn.

  • Summer 1985 (Class B) - Camper experiences strange night time visitor near Groveland.

  • October 1983 (Class A) - Friends have night sighting above Sonora.

  • September 1978 (Class B) - Hunters have strange night experiences near Groundhog Meadow.

  • August 1978/79 (Class A) - Girl has daytime sighting near Twain Harte.

  • July 1978 (Class A) - Three witnesses have daytime sighting near Strawberry.

  • Winter 1977 (Class B) - Loud, high-pitched animal screams heard outside a cabin late at night.

  • October 1977 (Class B) - Witness reports loud screaming near Strawberry.

  • January 1977 (Class B) - Campers hear late night vocalizations at Carlon Station.

  • August 1971 (Class B) - Brothers have strange experience above Strawberry.

  • December 1963 (Class B) - Deputy sheriff sees strange footprints above Strawberry.

  • January 1963 (Class B) - Large prints found below Cold Springs.

  • January 1963 (Class B) - Ten-foot shrieking monster reported near Cold Springs.

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