Fouke Monster

In Arkansas folklore, the Fouke Monster /ˈfk/, also known as the Boggy Creek Monster and the Swamp Stalker, is purported to be an ape-like creature, similar to descriptions of Bigfoot, that was allegedly sighted in the rural town of Fouke, Arkansas during the early 1970s. The creature was alleged to have attacked a local family.[1] It has since become a part of Arkansas folklore.[2] It has also influenced local culture in Fouke, with some businesses capitalizing on the local lore.[3] Stories of the creature influenced the 1972 docudrama horror film The Legend of Boggy Creek, which became the 11th highest-grossing film of 1972[4] and is today considered to be a cult classic.[5]

The creature was named by journalist Jim Powell, who reported on it for the Texarkana Gazette and the Texarkana Daily News.[6]

  1. ^ Thompson, Amy (28 February 2017). "Fouke Monster". encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Fouke". arkansas.com. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Monster Mart". arkansas.com. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Top Grossing Films of 1972". Listal.com.
  5. ^ Gavis, Karen (7 January 2020). "Dallas Horror Fans Will Be Able to See The Legend of Boggy Creek for the First Time in 50 Years". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  6. ^ Thibodeau, Sunni (24 June 2001). "The Fouke Monster 30 Years Later: Ex-journalists recall sifting fact from Fouke fiction after sighting". Texarkana Gazette. Archived from the original on 3 August 2003. Retrieved 1 October 2006.