Indiana Bigfoot sightings have captivated the Hoosier State, with over 90 documented reports weaving tales of a mysterious, hairy creature lurking in its forests and fields.
Described as a towering, ape-like Sasquatch, this elusive figure is often spotted in southern Indiana’s dense woodlands, leaving behind stories of glowing eyes, eerie howls, and massive footprints.
This article explores the rich history, detailed investigations, and broader context of Bigfoot sightings in Indiana, delving into their place within the state’s vibrant folklore.
Table of Contents
Indiana Bigfoot Sightings
Bigfoot sightings in Indiana number over 90, according to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO), making the state a Midwest hotspot for cryptid encounters. Witnesses describe a creature 6-9 feet tall, covered in dark, reddish, or gray fur, often emitting a musky odor or strange vocalizations like screeches, moans, or wood knocks.
These sightings span rural farmlands, suburban edges, and forested areas like Hoosier National Forest, with Monroe, Brown, and Washington Counties reporting the highest activity.
The 1974 Mill Race Monster sightings in Columbus sparked widespread interest, drawing hundreds to search for the creature. Reports often occur near rivers or lakes, suggesting a connection to water-rich environments.
Below is a comprehensive table of documented sightings from BFRO and historical records, organized chronologically from the earliest to 2025, with verified witness names where available and precise details.
Table of Reported Bigfoot Sightings in Indiana
Date | Witness | Location | Description |
---|---|---|---|
July 1973 | Children | Near Westfield, Hamilton County | Children saw an ape-like creature in a wooded area, moving swiftly at dusk. |
September 1973 | Youth | Cornfield near Sheridan, Hamilton County | Youth saw a 7 ft, hairy figure in a cornfield, standing still before retreating. |
November 1, 1974 | Four teenage girls | Mill Race Park, Columbus, Bartholomew County | Girls saw a 7 ft, green-faced, hairy creature with long arms near the boat ramp. |
November 2, 1974 | Two couples | Mill Race Park, Columbus, Bartholomew County | Creature jumped on car hood, clawing at windshield before fleeing into woods. |
November 3, 1974 | Dogcatcher | Mill Race Park, Columbus, Bartholomew County | Dogcatcher saw a figure resembling a man in blankets with a mask, moving swiftly. |
July 1975 | Resident | Near Marion, Grant County | Resident reported a large, hairy creature near a rural property at night. |
December 1977 | Motorist | Near Lebanon, Boone County | Motorist saw a tall figure crossing a rural road, illuminated by headlights. |
August 1978 | Resident | Near Sullivan, Sullivan County | High-pitched screeches heard near a forested area at night. |
September 1979 | Farmer | Near Hartford City, Blackford County | Farmer saw a 7 ft creature near a rural road, leaving 15-inch footprints. |
November 1979 | Caver | West of Lake Monroe, Monroe County | Caver saw a tall, hairy figure in daylight, moving through dense woods. |
June 1981 | Camper | Near Tell City, Perry County | Camper heard vocalizations and found 15-inch footprints near a campsite. |
December 1981 | Hunters | Near South Boston, Washington County | Hunters heard a loud scream at night, unlike any known animal, in a wooded area. |
May 1982 | Fishermen | Near Lake Monroe, Monroe County | Three fishermen felt watched, hearing rustling in bushes at dusk. |
September 1982 | Three teens | Near Martinsville, Morgan County | Teens using a coyote call attracted a 7 ft creature that approached their vehicle. |
November 1988 | Hunter | Morgan-Monroe State Forest, Monroe County | Hunter saw a muscular, fur-covered creature with long arms crossing a road at dusk. |
October 1989 | Two sisters | Near Unionville, Monroe County | Sisters saw a 4.5-5 ft, fur-covered creature resembling an orangutan crossing a road. |
Summer 1991 | Resident | Near Corydon, Harrison County | Resident heard howls and saw a 7 ft creature; footprints found nearby. |
Winter 1992 | Motorists | Youth Camp Road, Bartholomew County | Motorists saw a white, furry figure crossing the road at night, moving quickly. |
May 1995 | Two campers | Near Nashville, Brown County | Campers heard strange sounds and saw an 8 ft, upright creature near their tent. |
March 1998 | Backpacker | Hoosier National Forest, Brown County | Backpacker saw a 7 ft, hairy creature with dark eyes and a conical head at dusk. |
April 1998 | Resident | Near Corydon, Harrison County | Resident reported loud vocalizations and a strong odor near a rural property. |
June 1999 | Youth | Near New Pekin, Washington County | Youth saw a 6 ft creature in daylight near a forest, moving silently. |
October 1999 | Logan Hunter | 14 miles west of Salt Creek, Nashville, Monroe County | Hunter and friend were chased by a 7 ft creature while driving an Oldsmobile. |
April 2001 | Resident | Near Columbus, Bartholomew County | Resident heard a vocalization and saw a 7 ft creature near a rural area at night. |
July 2001 | Sister | Near Elizabeth, Harrison County | Sister saw a creature while trying to scare her brother, described as tall and hairy. |
July 2002 | Resident | Near Huntington, Huntington County | Resident saw a 7 ft creature near a wooded area, moving through trees. |
July 2004 | Farmer | Near Marengo, Crawford County | Farmer saw a 7 ft creature near a rural property, leaving large tracks. |
May 2006 | Resident | Near Fredericksburg, Washington County | Resident heard moans, described as eerie, in a forested area at night. |
July 2006 | Soldier | Near Camp Atterbury Military Reservation, Bartholomew County | Soldier heard wood knocks near a military area at dusk. |
Fall 2006 | Backpacker | Hoosier National Forest, Monroe County | Backpacker reported a possible encounter with a tall figure at dusk. |
November 2007 | Hunter | Near Versailles, Ripley County | Hunter saw a 7 ft creature watching from a distance in a wooded area. |
May 2008 | Motorist | Near Vevay, Switzerland County | Motorist saw a hairy creature running across a field, illuminated by headlights. |
March 2009 | Resident | Outside Bloomington, Monroe County | Resident heard moans and saw a 6 ft, gray creature near their home. |
October 2009 | Duck hunters | Near Lake Monroe, Monroe County | Hunters heard loud, early morning vocalizations, unlike known animals. |
July 2011 | Family | Prather Lake, Morgan County | Family heard rustling and moans while fishing, sensing a presence. |
May 2012 | Couple | Near Martinsville, Morgan County | Couple saw a tall figure while camping at night, hearing heavy footsteps. |
August 2015 | Campers | Yellowwood Lake, Brown County | Campers heard high-pitched screeches at night, feeling watched. |
October 2015 | Hunter | State forest in Martinsville, Morgan County | Hunter heard a loud howl, distinct from any known animal, in dense woods. |
August 2018 | Resident | Near Shoals, Martin County | Resident saw a 7 ft creature near a rural road, moving silently. |
May 2020 | Father & daughter | Yellowwood State Forest, Brown County | Father and daughter saw a 6 ft, gray, strong-looking creature; footprints found. |
June 2020 | Hikers | Near Spurgeon Hollow Lake, Washington County | Hikers heard knocks resembling a baseball hitting a bat in daylight. |
February 2021 | Camper | Near Paoli, Orange County | Camper reported a 7 ft creature with glowing eyes near a campsite at night. |
June 2022 | Resident | Near Bedford, Lawrence County | Resident saw a 7 ft creature near a wooded area, per local news reports. |
January 2025 | Hunter | Near Salem, Washington County | Hunter saw a 7 ft creature near a creek, leaving 16-inch tracks. |
October 1976 | Farmer | Near Greencastle, Putnam County | Farmer reported a 6 ft, reddish-brown creature stealing crops from a field at night. |
June 1983 | Campers | Near Seymour, Jackson County | Campers heard loud screams and saw a tall, dark figure near a river at night. |
April 1990 | Motorist | Near Madison, Jefferson County | Motorist saw a 7 ft creature crossing a rural road, illuminated by headlights. |
September 1993 | Hikers | Near French Lick, Orange County | Hikers reported a 7 ft creature watching them from a ridge in daylight. |
July 1997 | Resident | Near Jasper, Dubois County | Resident heard wood knocks and saw a tall figure near a rural property. |
August 2000 | Fisherman | Near Brookville, Franklin County | Fisherman saw a 6 ft creature near a lake, moving silently through trees. |
May 2003 | Hunter | Near Salem, Washington County | Hunter reported a 7 ft creature with reddish fur near a forested trail. |
October 2013 | Campers | Near Brownstown, Jackson County | Campers heard vocalizations and found large footprints near their campsite. |
June 2017 | Motorist | Near Scottsburg, Scott County | Motorist saw a 7 ft creature crossing a road at dusk, moving swiftly. |
April 2023 | Hikers | Near Nashville, Brown County | Hikers reported a 6 ft creature with glowing eyes watching them from a distance. |
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Investigation Efforts in Indiana
Investigations into Indiana Bigfoot sightings are robust, driven by a mix of dedicated organizations, independent researchers, and community efforts seeking to uncover the truth behind the Sasquatch legend. The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) leads the charge, maintaining a database of over 90 sightings since 1973.
BFRO investigator Eric Lester, based in southern Indiana, has conducted extensive fieldwork, particularly in Monroe County, where he investigated the 2009 Lake Monroe vocalizations. Lester interviewed duck hunters who described “loud, guttural moans” at 4 a.m., and he searched for physical evidence, finding disturbed vegetation but no footprints due to rocky terrain.
In 2011, BFRO president Matt Moneymaker hosted a town hall in Bloomington, where nine witnesses, including Logan Hunter, shared Class A (visual) sightings, reinforcing Monroe County’s status as a hotspot.
The Indiana Bigfoot Research Organization (IBRO), led by LeRoy and Nancy Nail, is a key local group. Based in Martinsville, IBRO organizes expeditions in Morgan-Monroe State Forest, using trail cameras, audio recorders, and bait stations with fruit or meat to attract potential creatures.
Their October 2023 campout drew 40 participants, who reported hearing wood knocks and finding possible tree structures—bent or twisted branches often associated with Bigfoot activity. Greg “Squatchman” Yost, an IBRO member, has displayed alleged Sasquatch hair and 16-inch footprint casts at community events, claiming they suggest a large primate’s presence.
IBRO’s Facebook page, with over 3,000 followers, shares real-time sighting reports and coordinates field research, fostering a tight-knit community of “squatchers.”
Independent researchers also contribute significantly. Thom Powell, a cryptozoologist, investigated the 1999 Salt Creek sighting, interviewing a government employee who reported a 7.5 ft creature with burn-like injuries. Powell’s findings, though speculative, suggest possible government cover-ups and emphasize witness credibility, noting the employee’s reluctance to go public.
Charlie Raymond, founder of the Indiana Cryptozoological Society, leads expeditions in Hoosier National Forest, employing night-vision goggles and thermal imaging.
In 2020, Raymond’s team investigated the Yellowwood Lake sighting, finding broken branches and a faint odor but no definitive evidence. He described the effort: “We set up cameras for three nights, hoping to catch movement, but the creature, if real, is incredibly elusive.”
Academic involvement adds depth. Indiana University folklorist Robert Dobler has studied Bigfoot as a cultural phenomenon, interviewing witnesses like hunters and park rangers.
Dobler’s 2018 study noted that 60% of Monroe County witnesses reported ongoing fear after sightings, with some avoiding forests. Community-driven efforts include the Indiana Bigfoot Conference, held annually in Nashville, where hundreds gather to hear from BFRO members, view plaster casts, and discuss theories like Bigfoot’s nocturnal habits or migratory patterns.
In 2022, the conference featured a panel on the Mill Race Monster, with retired police officer Robert Newsom sharing original 1974 case files.
Local groups like the Southern Indiana Sasquatch Society, founded by Mike Baker, focus on Washington County, conducting monthly night hikes since 2015. Baker’s team uses drones to survey remote areas, reporting possible vocalizations in 2023 near Spurgeon Hollow Lake.
The Columbus Historical Society preserves Mill Race Monster records, including police logs and witness sketches, and hosts annual talks to keep the legend alive. Despite these efforts, no conclusive proof—such as DNA or clear video—has emerged, leaving skeptics to argue misidentification of bears or hoaxes, while believers point to consistent witness accounts and physical traces like footprints.
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Detailed Case Studies
The Mill Race Monster (1974)
The Mill Race Monster sightings of November 1974 in Columbus, Bartholomew County, are Indiana’s most iconic Bigfoot sighting. On November 1, four teenage girls, whose identities were withheld due to their age, were driving through Mill Race Park at dusk when one exclaimed, “There’s something out there!”
They described a 7 ft, hairy creature with a pale green face, long arms, and a muscular build standing near the boat ramp. “It was green, hairy, and large,” they told Columbus police, noting its intense stare and slow retreat into the woods. The girls, terrified, sped away and reported the incident, sparking a wave of public interest.
On November 2, two couples parked in the same park faced a more aggressive encounter. As they sat in their car, a creature matching the earlier description leaped onto the hood, clawing at the windshield with large, hairy hands. “It was trying to get in,” one witness told police, describing its matted fur, glowing eyes, and a musky odor like “wet dog and swamp.”
The creature jumped off after seconds and vanished into the trees, leaving scratches on the car’s hood. On November 3, a dogcatcher reported a figure resembling a man in blankets with a mask, moving swiftly through the park, adding to the confusion.
The Columbus Police Department, led by Chief Robert Newsom, received hundreds of calls, prompting increased patrols and a temporary park closure. Over eight days, four sightings were reported, drawing crowds of locals armed with bats, shotguns, and cameras.
Former Republic newspaper editor Harry McCawly recalled, “People were walking through the woods with baseball bats and shotguns, hoping to catch it.” Paranormal investigator Chris McDaniel later noted, “The chaos was unprecedented; it was the largest monster hunt in U.S. history.”
No physical evidence was found, and theories included a prankster in a costume or a genuine cryptid. The event’s legacy endures, with a 2024 exhibit at Columbus’ 411 Gallery showcasing artwork inspired by the creature.
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The Salt Creek Chase (1999)
The October 1999 sighting near Salt Creek, 14 miles west of Nashville in Monroe County, is a gripping Indiana Bigfoot sighting. Logan Hunter, a local resident, and a family friend were driving a 1972 Oldsmobile at night when they encountered a 7 ft creature. Hunter shared at a 2011 BFRO town hall: “We were driving down a rural road when this thing stepped out from the trees.
It was tall, covered in dark fur, and started running after us.” The creature chased the vehicle for several seconds, keeping pace with long, powerful strides before veering into the woods. Hunter noted its “massive shoulders,” “ape-like face,” and estimated its weight at 400-500 lbs.
The family friend, who remained anonymous, corroborated the account, stating, “It wasn’t human. No one could run that fast in a suit.” BFRO investigators classified the sighting as Class A due to its clarity and multiple witnesses. They visited the site, finding no footprints on the paved road but noting broken branches consistent with a large creature’s passage.
The area’s proximity to Morgan-Monroe State Forest, with eight reported sightings, bolstered its credibility. The intensity of the chase and the witnesses’ detailed descriptions make this a cornerstone of Indiana’s Bigfoot lore.
The Yellowwood Lake Encounter (2020)
The May 2020 sighting at Yellowwood State Forest in Brown County is a notable Bigfoot sighting in Indiana due to its detailed account and physical evidence.
A father and daughter, camping near Yellowwood Lake, reported seeing a 6 ft, gray, muscular creature at dusk. The father told BFRO investigators, “We were setting up our tent when we heard heavy footsteps. I looked up and saw this gray, hairy thing, strong-looking, staring at us from about 50 feet away.” The creature, with dark eyes and a conical head, stood motionless for nearly a minute before retreating into the forest.
The next morning, the pair found 14-inch footprints with a distinct arch, unlike bear tracks, near their campsite. BFRO investigator Eric Lester examined the site, photographing the prints and noting a faint musky odor.
The Indiana Cryptozoological Society followed up, using trail cameras for three nights but capturing no clear images. The sighting’s credibility, enhanced by the footprints and the witnesses’ calm demeanor, makes it a significant case. Brown County’s history of six sightings, often near water, adds context to this encounter.
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Bigfoot Sightings vs Other Cryptid Sightings in Indiana
Indiana’s cryptid landscape is rich, with creatures beyond Bigfoot sightings adding to the state’s mysterious allure. The Crosley Monster, reported in the Crosley Fish and Wildlife Area since the 1950s, is a 7-8 ft, hairy creature with glowing red eyes.
In July 2006, four teens camping near Vernon reported, “We shone our flashlight into the woods and saw an 8 ft creature with glowing eyes, shaking tree limbs.” The creature chased them on all fours, cementing its aggressive reputation.
The Beast of Busco, seen in Churubusco in 1949, is a giant snapping turtle-like creature, though some accounts describe a hairy humanoid. Farmer Gale Harris claimed, “It was 500 lbs, thrashing in my lake,” prompting a national hunt.
The Crawfordsville Monster, reported in Montgomery County in 1891 by John Hornbeck and Abe Hernley, was a tall, thin entity with glowing eyes, dubbed a “headless horror.” The Cable Line Monster near Elkhart, linked to a haunted tree since the 1970s, involves tales of a dismembered head or creature spooking drivers.
Paranormal activity abounds, with a 1973 UFO wave in Columbus coinciding with the Mill Race Monster sightings, reporting triangular lights in the sky. Haunted sites like Edna Collings Bridge in Putnam County, tied to a ghostly girl, and Stepp Cemetery in Morgan County, known for spectral figures, add to the mystique.
Shared traits, such as glowing eyes and forested settings, suggest possible misidentifications or cultural storytelling amplifying Bigfoot sightings in Indiana. Indiana’s dense woodlands, rivers, and oral traditions may foster these reports, creating a vibrant tapestry of the unexplained.
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Conclusion
Indiana Bigfoot sightings weave a compelling narrative of mystery, with over 90 reports from the 1970s to 2025 documenting encounters across the Hoosier State. Iconic cases like the Mill Race Monster, Salt Creek Chase, and Yellowwood Lake Encounter highlight the emotional and cultural impact of these events.
Investigations by the BFRO, IBRO, and local researchers, using trail cameras, drones, and footprint casts, keep the search alive, though definitive proof remains elusive. Connections to cryptids like the Crosley Monster and paranormal phenomena suggest a broader context rooted in Indiana’s wild landscapes and folklore.
Whether Sasquatch is a real creature or a product of imagination, its legend endures, inviting Hoosiers to explore the shadows of their forests.