In the 1995 June 20th edition of the Crookston Daily Times, a story appeared with a large headline saying: Bigfoot sighted?
The media wire services eventually picked up the Bigfoot story, and the rest, as they say, is history.
To sum it up, in the next few weeks, hundreds of newspapers nationwide ran the story and dozens of radio stations made inquiries. From Los Angeles to New York City, people wanted to know what was up with Bigfoot in Crookston.
And that wasn't all. Television shows followed, and one in particular, "Sightings" set up shop to tape a segment for their show.
It was Bigfoot mania in Crookston. Folks who had had a "close encounter" with something out there on the prairie came forward with their stories, no longer in fear of ridicule. The documentation of tracks found along the Red Lake River east of town took on new meaning. Thousands of Baby Bigfoot dolls went on sale, and the annual Ox Cart Days parade featured two Bigfoot floats. A local convenience store sold bumper stickers that said: "Crookston, Minnesota: The Bigfoot Capitol of the World."
And one local eating establishment, RBJ's Family Restaurant, got in on the fun with Bigfoot burgers and cookies.
Crookston now has a nine-foot tall, replica of the Prairie Bigfoot constructed by a former taxidermist in Wisconsin.
Bigfoot will call RBJ's Restaurant home for the time being, but Kim Samuelson (proprietor of the restaurant) hopes that in the future, the portable replica will visit other spots in town and throughout the area.
When he's not running with the moose east of town, Bigfoot has plenty of time for pictures, and he has a soft spot in his heart for kids.
So take some shots, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy your time in Crookston: The Bigfoot Capitol of the World.
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