The Ultimate Bigfoot & Sasquatch Guide for Whitehall and the Adirondacks
Tracking the Legend: History, Events & More
Whether you call it Bigfoot or Sasquatch, the Glens Falls and Adirondack region (and Whitehall in particular) is rife with Bigfoot sightings, history, and lore. Locals and visitors today can enjoy Glens Falls area Bigfoot events, life-size statues, and merch. Use this Bigfoot & Sasquatch Guide to make the most of one of the region's most elusive creatures!
Jump to:
- Bigfoot VS Sasquatch - Definitions
- Local Bigfoot History & Research
- Bigfoot Festival & Events
- Photo Ops: Bigfoot Statues
- Bigfoot Merch - Bring Bigfoot Home
- Further Sources to Check Out
- Frequently Asked Questions
Bigfoot & Sasquatch: The Same Hairy Creature
Bigfoot and Sasquatch are one and the same, with the terms being used interchangeably. They each describe a hairy, smelly, ape-like creature that is about 7 to 10 feet tall with a distinctive cry.
Sasquatch is an older term meaning "wild man" or "hairy man" and dates back to indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot is a term that was coined in the 1950s.
Bigfoot is known to inhabit remote forests throughout North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, and also in our neck of the woods, here in the Northeast.
Bigfoot/Sasquatch is a cryptid - an animal or being that is believed to exist or have existed, but has never been proven to exist by modern science. The study of such creatures is called cryptozoology.
Bigfoot History in Whitehall & Surrounding Area
Dozens of Observances Over 100s of Years
Over 40 documented Bigfoot encounters have been reported over the years across Washington and Warren Counties, and Whitehall is considered the Bigfoot Capital of New York State.
Tales dates back to Native American times. French explorer Samuel de Champlain reportedly recorded notes referencing a giant, hairy beast in the early 1600s. (Side note: Champ, the famous cryptid monster of Lake Champlain, is named after the lake itself, which is named after Champlain; Champlain is also credited with the first written account of this water-dwelling creature.)
Famous 1976 Sightings
Upstate New York newspapers occasionally ran articles about a "wild man" in the mountains throughout the 1800s. Fast forwarding ahead, the most sensational local Bigfoot story took place in August of 1976.
Three teenagers were driving on Abair Road in Whitehall and came across a Bigfoot. They reported it to police, several of whom saw the beast themselves over the next few days, most notably Officer Brian Gosselin. A couple of weeks later, another woman reported seeing the creature. Plaster casts of footprints were taken.
Bigfoot Encounters Through the Early 2000s
Clifford Sparks, owner of the Skene Valley Country Club, saw Bigfoot by the first golf course hole, also around 1976. More stories continue throughout the 80s, 90s, and beyond, particularly of hikers in the area encountering Bigfoot.
In 1996, campers near Mt. Ampersand reported seeing a Bigfoot while fishing from a canoe. Other stories involve rocks being thrown at hikers. In 2000, there were two Buck Mountain sightings.
Local Bigfoot Researchers & Artist
Paul Bartholomew is the primary face of Bigfoot researchers in the region. He’s been investigating Sasquatch sightings across New York and New England for decades, has written books on the topic, and is considered the go-to authority locally.
Other local researchers include Bruce Hallenbeck, who has worked with Bartholomew, and Charles “Snake the Bigfoot Hunter” Stuart, who discovered an 8-foot-tall Bigfoot specimen in the mountains north of Old Forge in 2024.
We’d be remiss not to shoutout Steve Mestyan, Sr., who is not a researcher but a sculptor, responsible for certain Bigfoot statues around the region, as well as other local art.
Bigfoot & Sasquatch Events: Find Your Community
Gather with local bigfoot enthusiasts at the Sasquatch Calling Festival that takes place every year on the last Saturday in September in Whitehall. The event started out in 2016 with about half a dozen vendors, and has grown to over 125, taking over two parks. Guests enjoy Bigfoot merch, researchers, a Sasquatch Calling Contest for adults and kids, food trucks, a Beer Garden, and more festival fun.
Although Whitehall leads with the biggest annual Bigfoot event, others have popped up in recent years, including but not limited to:
- Sasquatch Express Train Ride with the Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway
- Adirondack Bigfoot Cruise with the Lake George Steamboat Company
- Bigfoot Meetup at Moreau Lake State Park
You can always keep an eye on the events calendar for upcoming events, Bigfoot related or otherwise!
There used to be a Sasquatch 5K/Half Marathon in Whitehall that last took place in 2019. We’d love to see a resurgence of this event in the future! Would you be able to run a 5K in a Bigfoot costume?
Photo Ops: Where to See Bigfoot Statues
There are at least four Bigfoot statues you can check out in the region:
- At Skeneseborough Park in Whitehall, where the Sasquatch Calling Festival takes place
- At the Skene Valley Country Club in Whitehall, where there was a real Bigfoot sighting in the 1970s
- In front of Vermont Marble, Granite, Slate & Soapstone Co. in Whitehall, which now has a baby Bigfoot riding on the back of the parent
- At Great Escape in Queensbury, by the Sasquatch ride
If you can’t get a selfie with the real thing, an exquisitely crafted Bigfoot statue is the next best plan. Let us know if you find any more Bigfoot statues we can add to the list!
Bigfoot Merch: Take the Legend Home With You
Bigfoot merch continues to be spotted all over the Glens Falls, Lake George, and Adirondack area. You’re likely to find the cryptid in souvenir or gift shops like Indian Tepee Gift Shop in Bolton Landing, or Live Love Laugh in Lake George Village.
However, we have seen some Bigfoot merch pop up in a few other places as well:
- Bigfoot pens at Artie’s Camping & More in the Lake George Outlets
- Mini Bigfoot yoga figurines at Rude Betty’s in Glens Falls
- Bigfoot blanket at Hicks Orchard in Granville
Vermont Marble, Granite, Slate & Soapstone Co. in Whitehall, where one of the statues is located, also has Bigfoot souvenirs with tee-shirts, mugs, and more.
Further Resources to Expand Your Local Bigfoot Knowledge
For those who want to dive further into Bigfoot lore and legend, here are some groups to check out or follow on social media:
- Adirondack Bigfoot
- Northern Sasquatch Research Society
- Bigfoot Researchers of the Hudson Valley
- Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization - New York Chapter
Enjoy embracing everything Bigfoot!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Bigfoot
What's the difference between Bigfoot and Sasquatch?
There isn't one - they're one and the same! The two terms can be used interchangeably. The term Sasquatch was used first, but Bigfoot is more common to say today.
Why is Whitehall considered a "Bigfoot Sanctuary?"
In 2004, the Whitehall Town Board passed a historic municipal ordinance officially declaring the town a protective habitat and Bigfoot Sanctuary. The local law makes it a municipal offense to hunt, carry out violence against, or harass a Sasquatch within the town limits.
What happened during the famous 1976 Abair Road incident?
In August 1976, three teenagers spotted a 7-to-8-foot creature on Abair Road in Whitehall. Local police officers and state troopers investigated and encountered the creature themselves. It remains one of the most famous sightings in the country due to the number of law enforcement witnesses.
When and where is the Sasquatch Calling Festival held?
The Whitehall Sasquatch Calling Festival takes place every year on the last Saturday in September. The festivities take over Skenesborough Park and Riverside Park in downtown Whitehall, NY, and admission is free.
Where can I find Bigfoot merch?
Local gift and souvenir shops are rife with Bigfoot merch like pens, mugs, tee-shirts, magnets, picture frames, and more. Think gift shops in Lake George Village and the Outlets, plus stores like Rude Betty in Glens Falls and the Indian Tepee Gift Shop in Bolton Landing.
I believe I saw Bigfoot! Where do I report the sighting?
The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization is the gold standard for reporting a sighting. You can submit a report at BFRO.net. However, other local organizations like Adirondack Bigfoot would undoubtedly like to hear about your experience as well!
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