Did you know Sasquatch sightings are super common in Colorado? There are reports of this mofo throughout the world, but for this post I am focusing on Colorado. Even more specifically, Bailey, Colorado. Bailey is about a one-hour drive west of Denver. It is not a large or well-known town. Locally it’s famous for a hot dog stand in the shape of a hot dog. I could end here—I just gave you a damn good reason to make the trip. But wait, there’s more. Bailey, Colorado, also has The Sasquatch Outpost and Sasquatch Encounter Discovery Museum.
The Sasquatch Outpost Origins
The Sasquatch Outpost started as a general store off Highway 285. In 2014, owner Jim Myers, after hearing numerous stories and alleged Bigfoot sightings in the area, slowly transformed the business into a shrine for Sasquatch.
Up front it’s a gift shop selling all kinds of crap you don’t need. For example, the Sasquatch plushy I bought and am chilling with as I write this. In 2016, the Sasquatch Encounter Discovery Museum opened. It costs eight bucks and gives the lowdown on who, what, and where Bigfoot is. The gift shop is free, but you have to drop the eight bucks to get into the museum. But what else are you going to do in Bailey, Colorado—eat a hot dog?
Unpopular Opinion
I spent like an hour or two in the Sasquatch Outpost. The first thing I learned is, and before I say it don’t kill the messenger, I’m relaying information I heard from the dude working there. This is not my opinion. The first thing I learned is that—are you sitting down?—the state of Colorado has—seriously, stay calm—the most sightings of Bigfoot anywhere in North America. CHILL OUT! I’m not trying to start an internet nerd war, it’s what the dude said. Relax, I can feel your blood pressure rising through my screen. Go there yourself. Tell the dude that something that may not even exist doesn’t maybe exist as much in Colorado.
Caught On Camera
Are you still reading? You haven’t broken your computer? Or switched to Reddit to cancel me for telling you what the dude told me? OK, cool, let’s keep going. Alfred Bouvier shot the first possible video evidence of a Sasquatch in 1962, not the iconic Patterson-Gimlin film from 1967. I know, I’m a terrible person—over here telling you something that contradicts your timeline and understanding of what may be completely made up.
But a Boy Scout filmed a video on an 8mm camera during a trip to the Rocky Mountains. The museum plays it on repeat. Experts still consider the Patterson-Gimlin film one of the most iconic videos of all time. It still provides the largest piece of evidence pointing to the existence of Sasquatch. You can also watch it in the museum. It even explains why the video is such a compelling piece of evidence.
Sasquatch Through Out Time And Space
Another compelling and often-cited piece of evidence is the fact that many First Nation tribes throughout the US have their own word for Bigfoot. Sasquatch is a Salish word, and I don’t know why or how that one stuck. Interestingly, a couple of these terms seem pretty negative. Chinook tribes called them Skookum, meaning “evil god of the woods,” while Cherokee tribes had the term Kecleh-Kudleh, meaning “Hairy Savage.” I like to think Bigfoot is misunderstood, like me, and we could be friends and hang out. So the best interpretation IMO comes from the Hoopa tribes. They called Bigfoot Oh-Mah, which means “Boss of the Woods.” Dope.
The Sasquatch Outpost Has Odd Evidence
My favorite piece of evidence in the museum is a really long piece of poop. Think like a dog turd, but about three feet long. I’m not sure how someone preserved it, transported it, or got it into the museum. And what maniac saw a pile of crap and felt he must—simply must—get this to the people? Legend. But the museum uses it as evidence of Sasquatch’s existence.
Maybe Bigfoot Is Just Misunderstood
Another odd piece of evidence is clippings of horse hair that people braided. The braids are pretty sloppy—even a child can do a decent job braiding hair. Ranchers throughout the US go to their horse stables first thing in the morning and notice that some of the horses’ manes have been braided. This is common in remote areas and points to Bigfoot. Super weird, but again, Bigfoot is misunderstood, like me. And like me, he has trouble styling his own hair. So maybe this is just how a misunderstood creature copes with the everyday existentialism of being Bigfoot.
It’s also interesting how believers of Bigfoot view their existence. Some believe Sasquatch is a reclusive species of ape, one we’ve not contacted. Others believe they can fade into and out of our realm, bleeding into and out of our dimension.
Put The Sasquatch Outpost On Your Road Trip Itinerary
I love cryptids—they are some of my favorite folklore throughout humanity. They come from all across time. Even now, people “discover” new cryptids. But Sasquatch is different. They’re special to so many people. As someone from Colorado, now living in Seattle, Bigfoot has always been there. He’s a point of pride, a mascot of the places I have called home. So I want you—nay, need you—to visit the Sasquatch Outpost. Something about this particular cryptid is oddly beautiful. People all over the world love this fuzzy creature. Even if you don’t believe, it’s still a fun roadside attraction to check out. Also the hot dog stand.
Happy Hunting.
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