Monster Hunt Photography | Returning to the Lair of the Fouke Monster | Exploring Arkansas

 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey

Earlier this month, my travels took me back to the rural town of Fouke, Arkansas - home of the legendary Fouke Monster (also known as the Boggy Creek Monster). This marked the two-year (almost to the day) anniversary of my first pilgrimage to the area, when I had a rather strange experience down where County Road 9 crosses Boggy Creek.

On that previous visit, I heard what most Bigfoot investigators refer to as "wood knocking" - a method these creatures use to communicate over long distances by hitting a log against a tree. While standing on the roadway by the creek, I heard three distinct "knocks" about 100 yards away, followed several seconds later by three more knocks farther off in the distance. As I was about to head to my car (feeling uneasy at the moment), the sounds repeated - three nearby, followed moments later by three in the distance.

I drove around the area, but couldn't find the source of the sounds. I had expected to find someone hammering on something, which would have explained what I heard, but there was no one around. It was then that I realized I had experienced a possible, if distant, encounter with the creatures believed to live in the Fouke area. Needless to say, this experience only fueled my interest in the legend, and I vowed to return one day. This latest trip was my chance to make good on that vow.

The banks of the Sulphur River are the ideal starting point for any monster hunting expedition. Over the years, most reported sightings of the Fouke Monster have occurred in the vicinity of this waterway, either in Arkansas or the nearby regions of Texas. On the day of my visit, heavy rain forced me to take shelter under the Highway 71 bridge. Despite the downpour, I was able to capture a few shots of the river. As the eerie, secluded setting suggests, this is precisely the kind of place where one might expect to encounter a strange, lurking creature.

Venturing further up Highway 71 towards Fouke, you soon reach the infamous Boggy Creek, a location known for numerous sightings of the creature over the years. Travelers along the old highway have reported encountering the elusive entity as they passed through the area between Shreveport and Texarkana. Undeterred by the rainy weather, I braved the elements that day, determined to capture photographic evidence of the fabled monster. After all, no self-respecting cryptid would be caught out in such inclement conditions - only the most dedicated monster enthusiasts would be foolhardy enough to venture forth in this weather.

I traveled down Highway 71 into Fouke, then turned onto Main Street, which transitioned into County Road 9 as I headed south of town. After around a ten-minute drive, I arrived at the spot where the road crosses Boggy Creek - the location of my strange experience from two years prior. This time, the area looked much nicer. On my previous visit, the creek had been clogged with green algae, giving the place an eerie, unsettling vibe. But today, the creek was flowing freely, likely due to recent rains.

As the surroundings attested, this was a genuinely eerie part of the country. My research into the Fouke Monster legend had revealed that more Bigfoot sightings and encounters had occurred here than anywhere else in the United States. Several of these incidents were featured in the 1972 film "The Legend of Boggy Creek," which initially sparked my fascination with this local folklore.

However, on this particular day, the uneasy feeling that had lingered during my first visit was absent. There were no strange noises - just a calm morning on the banks of Boggy Creek.

Traveling north from Fouke, I came upon a property that was once owned by the Ford family. In May 1971, the family had been literally run out of town by the Fouke Monster. This was the location I had been searching for, though locals were reluctant to discuss it, understandably so. Small-town residents tend to avoid gawkers roaming their private property.

I would not have found this site at all if not for an Instagram post by the renowned monster researcher and author Lyle Blackburn. His photo showed a gate with a no trespassing sign, a ragged tree, and a structure in the background. With these limited visual cues, I carefully examined several properties before spotting the exact location on the left side of the highway.

Here is a summary of the events that happened here:

In late April 1971, two families - the Fords and the Taylors - moved into a rental home just off Highway 71 north of the rural farming town of Fouke, Arkansas. The men, Don Ford and Charles Taylor, had both been hired at a local ranch, and the families decided to share the home to save on expenses.

At first, the small town of Fouke seemed like a peaceful place for the families to settle down. However, the events of the next few days would prove to be so terrifying that they would hastily pack up and flee the town forever.

The strange occurrences started almost immediately after the families moved in. On the night of April 28th, the families were enjoying a quiet evening when they began to hear large sounds coming from the front porch. Someone or something was trying to get into the house and go after the family dog. Frightened, the families snuck out the back door and fled to a neighbor's house, but found no sign of the mysterious visitor when they returned.

The following night, despite the prior incidents, Elizabeth Taylor opened a living room window to let in the cool breeze as she read on the couch. Suddenly, her cousin Bobby, who was staying with the family, saw the face of a giant, hairy creature peering in through the window. The creature then reached a massive, hairy arm through the window, startling the family dog. Elizabeth thought it might be a bear, and also noticed two glowing red eyes behind the curtains.

Alarmed, the men - Don Ford and Charles Taylor - grabbed a shotgun and flashlights and went outside to investigate. They spotted the creature running around the back of the house and fired a few shots at it, but missed. As the men began to calm down, the creature returned, crashing towards the back door. The men opened fire again, and one of their shots appeared to hit the creature, causing it to retreat back into the woods.

But the ordeal was not over. As Don and Charles continued searching, the women yelled that the creature had returned. The men rushed back to find it had attacked Bobby before he reached the porch. After a brief struggle, Bobby was able to break free and run inside. The men again fired at the creature as it fled into the woods.

Shaken and fearing for their safety, the families piled into a car and went to the local constable's house. He sent them to a hospital Texarkana while he returned to the home to investigate. The next morning, the area was swarming with authorities, reporters, and onlookers as the Fords and Taylors hurriedly packed up and left, never to return.

The events featured in Pierce's movie "The Legend of Boggy Creek" sparked national interest in the Fouke Monster. A newspaper article about the Ford family's encounter with the creature was widely circulated, inspiring Pierce to make a film about it.

Standing on the actual property where these events took place felt surreal, though there is little left to see. The house has long been demolished, with only the barn still standing amidst the overgrown landscape.

Respecting the "No Trespassing" sign, I simply stood by the fence, trying to imagine how the original incident may have unfolded. The eerie atmosphere soon had me feeling uneasy, prompting me to return to my truck and depart.

Despite the lack of visible remnants, I know I will likely revisit this site in the future, drawn by the nostalgia and possibility that the legendary Fouke Monster may still lurk somewhere nearby.

I've captured a few more eerie photographs around the mysterious Boggy Creek.

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