Much like Roswell embraced its reputation as a UFO capital after the famous 1947 incident, so did Willow Creek swell with Bigfoot pride after the release of the Patterson–Gimlin film and the dozens of other sightings that happened before and since. Bigfoot track casings (aka.Bigfootprints) | Gary Crabbe/Enlightened Images/Alamy Stock Photo Here’s what to do if you find yourself passing through Bigfoot’s very own hometown. And though few have succeeded, those who have are forever changed.Īlthough you won’t find the trappings of a traditional tourist destination here (just a handful of bars, restaurants, and shops lining the main strip), you’ll find that what Willow Creek lacks in big-city amenities, it makes up for in big nature-not to mention big secrets. In the time since the tape was released, researchers, journalists, and serious believers alike (not to mention brave and curious tourists) have come here in hopes of coming face-to-face with Bigfoot. Though rumors about unusual, giant, humanoid creatures in the area have circulated for centuries, it was the Patterson–Gimlin film-a 59 second, yet-disproven clip of a massive figure walking along the banks of nearby Bluff Creek-that put Willow Creek on the map and established its reputation as the Bigfoot Capital of the World. This is, after all, the beating heart of Bigfoot Country.

This is not a place you “accidentally end up” or “go on a whim.” More likely than not, if you’re headed to Willow Creek, you know exactly what-and who-you’re after: Sasquatch.

Located about an hour southeast of Redwood National Park’s ancient giants, the town sits surrounded by the dense forests and rugged mountains of Northern California, an outdoorsperson’s haven to boot and a far cry from the usual Golden State weekend trips. The tales are as tall as the trees in the tiny town of Willow Creek, California.

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