Nestled in the heart of the Bluegrass State, Kentucky Bigfoot sightings have woven a tapestry of mystery and intrigue that captivates both locals and cryptozoology enthusiasts. With over 400 documented encounters, Bigfoot sightings in Kentucky span from the rugged Appalachian foothills to the sprawling forests of Mammoth Cave National Park.
These reports describe a towering, shaggy creature—often elusive yet unforgettable—lurking in the state’s dense woodlands. This comprehensive article delves into the rich history of Kentucky Bigfoot sightings, exploring documented reports, investigative efforts, compelling case studies, and the broader cryptid landscape, offering a detailed look at one of America’s most enduring legends.
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Kentucky Bigfoot Sightings
Kentucky Bigfoot sightings form a cornerstone of the state’s folklore, with accounts stretching back to the 1960s. The Kentucky Bigfoot Research Organization (KBRO), led by Charlie Raymond, has cataloged 398 credible encounters, while the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) lists 85 sightings, emphasizing visual and physical evidence like tracks or vocalizations.
These sightings frequently occur in central and eastern counties, such as Anderson (27 sightings), Bullitt (26), Ohio (16), and Carter (15), where thick forests, river valleys, and remote trails provide ideal habitats for an elusive hominid. Witnesses consistently report a creature standing 7–10 feet tall, covered in dark or reddish-brown fur, often accompanied by a pungent odor, glowing eyes, or eerie howls.
The following table compiles a comprehensive list of documented Bigfoot sightings in Kentucky, drawn from KBRO and BFRO databases. It includes sightings from key counties and other notable reports, organized chronologically from the earliest to the most recent in 2025. Each entry provides the date, witness name (where available, with “Anonymous” for unnamed reports), location, and a precise description of the encounter:
| Date | Witness | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | Anonymous | Anderson County, near Lawrenceburg | Large, hairy creature seen crossing a field at dusk, moving swiftly. |
| 1970s | Philip Spencer | Anderson County, Glensboro, River Road | 8–10 ft tall, reddish-orange eyes, stepped over 3–4 ft fence, deer remained calm. |
| 1970s | Bruce Young | Anderson County, Hammond Creek Rd. | 7+ ft, dark brown, hairy, walked with ease, 50–60 yd away, caused goosebumps. |
| Late 1970s | Tami Mercer | Anderson County, Lawrenceburg, U.S. 62 | Gray, large, hairy creature moved toward children, caused panic, afternoon sighting. |
| Early 1980s | Tami Mercer | Anderson County, Wildcat Rd. | Huge, dark, long-haired bipedal creature chased them, stopped at clearing, winter. |
| Mid-1980s | Tami Mercer | Anderson County, near Mercer line | Huge, hairy creature, no visible nose/mouth, seen at window, grandfather dazed. |
| August 1983 | Anonymous | Lawrence County, near Blaine | 7–8 ft, hairy, manlike, 20 ft away, walked backward into cedars, non-aggressive. |
| November 1992 | Anonymous | Lawrence County, near Blaine | Early morning sighting of large, hairy, bipedal creature in wooded area. |
| Summer 1995 | Anonymous | Lawrence County, undisclosed | High-pitched vocalizations heard in forest, no visual sighting. |
| 1993 | Lynn Hutton | Anderson County, Lawrenceburg, Bonds Mill Rd. | Large, hairy, thick creature, 20 ft away, walked backward into cedars. |
| October 1999 | April | Anderson County, Lawrenceburg, Crooked Creek Rd. | 6.5–7 ft, black/brown fur, hunch-shaped back, grunted, limped after jump. |
| November 2000 | Anonymous | Anderson County, Lawrenceburg, near Wildcat Rd. | Loud crashing, 5–10 sec scream near tobacco barn, dogs nervous. |
| May 2003 | Angie Keith | Bullitt County, Louisville, Hwy 44 West | 7 ft, black, long arms, swayed side to side, dogs acted strangely. |
| March 2005 | Anonymous | Bullitt County, Hillview/Brooks | 6.5–8 ft, dark brown/black, dog-like head, yellowish eyes, growled. |
| May 2006 | Anonymous | Bullitt County, Louisville, undisclosed | 7–8 ft, reddish-brown, long arms, walking on two legs, dog barked. |
| June 2006 | Zachary | Anderson County, Lawrenceburg, back road | Tall black creature, slow walking, long arms, 5 min sighting, witness pale. |
| November 2006 | James | Ohio County, Pleasant Ridge, Bells Run Road | Creature on all fours, galloping, reddish-tan hair, following deer, 20 sec. |
| December 5, 2006 | Aaron | Anderson County, Lawrenceburg, near Wildcat Rd. | Footsteps, low-pitched growling, skunk smell, circled tree stand, foggy. |
| 2007 | Anonymous | Anderson County, Harry Wise Rd. | Deep breathing heard, 20-inch footprint found next day, photos taken. |
| Summer 2009 | Jim | Ohio County, Hartford | 8 ft, dark brown, hairy, seen behind water tank, heard growls, footfalls. |
| December 16, 2009 | Anonymous | Bullitt County, farm, deer hunting stand | 6–7 ft, brown, hairy, wide shoulders, standing on two legs, eerily quiet. |
| April 2010 | Anonymous | Lawrence County, west of Louisa | Possible footprint and strange occurrences at rural residence. |
| November 2010 | Tim | Anderson County, Glensboro | Moan-howl at 1:00 AM, 2 min duration, dogs barking, in valley. |
| June 19, 2011 | Lou | Anderson County, Glensboro, Taylorsville Lake | Limbs breaking, 50+ lb rock thrown, loud grunts, no visual sighting. |
| July 30, 2011 | Caleb | Ohio County, undisclosed | 7 ft, reddish-brown, hairy, in barn, played with dip cup, 20 sec sighting. |
| November 2011 | Sam | Anderson County, Lawrenceburg, near Bondsmill | Two creatures, 8 ft black and 6 ft blonde, glided across 100 yd field. |
| Fall 2011 | Jason | Bullitt County, Clermont, Hwy 245 | 8 ft+, dark, huge, hairy, ran on two legs, very fast. |
| June 2012 | B.K. | Ohio County, near bridge | 4–5 ft, brownish/red hair, juvenile, scared look, 30-sec sighting. |
| January 2012 | Anonymous | Lawrence County, west of Louisa | Suspicious figures seen at dawn, no clear visual. |
| December 27, 2013 | Robert | Ohio County, Pleasant Ridge, Harmons Ferry Rd. | Loud howls, not coyote, 2 min, dogs barked, similar to known Bigfoot sounds. |
| June 9, 2014 | Elijah | Ohio County, Matanzas, Hwy 85 | 6’8”–7’ tall, dark, hairy, glowing eyes, 60–90 sec sighting. |
| September 17, 2014 | T.G. | Ohio County, Rosine, farm land | 9 ft, black hair, wide shoulders, stood for 5 min, walked away quietly. |
| June 12, 2015 | Glenn | Ohio County, Beaver Dam, Hwy 231 | Blonde, matted hair, huge, upright, 50 yds away, 30-sec sighting. |
| Summer 2015 | David | Ohio County, undisclosed | Large brown and white Sasquatch, 50 yds, heard “Hey…Hey…Hey”. |
| August 2015 | Anonymous | Lawrence County, near Blaine | Possible vocalizations and rock throwing, multiple incidents. |
| October 2015 | Anonymous | Lawrence County, near Blaine | Strange incidents reported from an old farmplace. |
| Winter 2017 | K.B. | Ohio County, Centertown, Hwy 85/Hwy 69 | 9 ft, huge silhouette, broad shoulders, ran across yard, no vocal noises. |
| July 30, 2018 | C.G. | Ohio County, Pleasant Ridge | Large, hunched on all fours, grayish, hairy, 20 yds away, gone instantly. |
| October 2018 | Anonymous | Lawrence County, 12.5 miles south of Grayson | Ongoing Class B activity, frightened by creature sounds and presence. |
| March 23, 2020 | Dakota | Ohio County, Hartford, Hwy 69 | 8.5 ft, dark reddish-brown, loud growl, strong odor, muddy hips/legs. |
| February 8, 2022 | L.S. | Ohio County, Kronos, Hwy 69/Equality Church Road | 6 ft+, long-haired, man-shaped, stared as witness drove by, gone on return. |
| April 2023 | Anonymous | Carter County, near Grayson | 7 ft, dark brown, seen crossing road at night, moved swiftly into woods. |
| July 2024 | Anonymous | Mammoth Cave National Park | Strange whooping sounds heard at dusk, no visual sighting, campers alarmed. |
| March 2025 | Charles Gray | Clay County, near Manchester | 8 ft, dark, hairy creature seen near creek, heavy footfalls, 30-sec sighting. |
| June 2025 | Rodney Adams | Powell County, Red River Gorge | Heard low growls, snapping branches, saw 7 ft creature retreat into forest. |
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Investigation Efforts in Kentucky
Investigating Kentucky Bigfoot sightings is a dedicated pursuit for multiple organizations and individuals across the state. The Kentucky Bigfoot Research Organization (KBRO), founded by Charlie Raymond in 1997, leads the charge with a mission to document and protect a potential unidentified hominin. Raymond, a psychology graduate, employs rigorous interview techniques to assess witness credibility, having investigated over 500 sightings.
KBRO conducts expeditions in hotspots like the Red River Gorge and Daniel Boone National Forest, collecting evidence such as 20-inch footprint casts, hair samples, and audio recordings of whoops and knocks. Their 2025 Fall Bigfoot Expedition (October 16–19) in Pine Ridge drew dozens of enthusiasts, emphasizing non-invasive methods to preserve habitats.
The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) complements KBRO’s efforts, maintaining a database of 85 Kentucky sightings classified as Class A (visual) or Class B (indirect evidence). BFRO expeditions, such as one in Lawrence County in November 2022, utilize thermal cameras, drones, and audio recorders to capture evidence.
Their scientific approach, led by volunteers like Marc DeWerth, emphasizes skepticism, ruling out known animals like bears before classifying sightings. BFRO’s 2016 Ohio County expedition reported thermal footage of an “upright bipedal form” and 14–17-inch footprints, speculated to belong to a juvenile Bigfoot.
Beyond these groups, local researchers contribute significantly. Don “Biggyfoot” Neal, based in Ohio County, has spent decades interviewing witnesses and mapping sightings in western Kentucky. His work includes analyzing a 2009 Hartford sighting where a family reported an 8-foot creature near a water tank.
Gene Brock, a Madison County archaeologist, explores the possibility that Bigfoot buries its dead, explaining the absence of remains. Brock’s 2024 study of Red River Gorge tracks suggested a pattern of nocturnal activity near water sources. Community efforts, like the Kentucky Bigfoot Hunters, a grassroots group in Bullitt County, organize night hikes and share findings via social media, reporting strange vocalizations in 2023 near Louisville.
Media projects have also spotlighted Kentucky’s Bigfoot phenomenon. The television series Expedition Bigfoot filmed in Kentucky in 2020, using advanced technology like LiDAR to scan forests for anomalies. While no definitive proof emerged, the show documented unusual heat signatures in Powell County.
These diverse efforts highlight Kentucky’s robust cryptozoological community, driven by a shared passion to uncover the truth behind Bigfoot sightings in Kentucky.
Detailed Case Studies
The 1983 Lawrence County Sighting
In August 1983, a man in Lawrence County, near Blaine, experienced a chilling encounter that remains one of the most detailed Kentucky Bigfoot sightings. While walking through a dense cedar thicket at dusk, the witness, who chose to remain anonymous, spotted a creature approximately 20 feet away. “It was about 7 to 8 feet tall, covered in dark, matted hair, and walked upright like a man,” he reported to BFRO investigators.
The creature’s eyes, described as dark and piercing, locked onto the witness briefly before it turned and retreated backward into the cedars, moving with deliberate, non-aggressive steps. The encounter lasted about 30 seconds, leaving the witness shaken but unharmed.
BFRO investigators visited the site shortly after, noting the area’s dense vegetation and proximity to a creek, ideal for an elusive creature. They found no footprints due to the rocky terrain but documented similar reports in the area, including vocalizations and rock-throwing incidents in 1995 and 2015.
The sighting’s credibility stems from its consistency with other Lawrence County reports, which describe a solitary, non-threatening creature. The witness’s account, verified through multiple interviews, emphasizes the creature’s human-like gait and calm demeanor, distinguishing it from known wildlife like bears.
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The 2009 Ohio County Sighting
On a summer night in 2009, Jim, a Hartford resident, along with his wife, son, and a friend’s son, witnessed a striking Bigfoot sighting in Kentucky behind their rural property. As reported to KBRO, Jim described seeing an 8-foot-tall, dark brown, hairy creature standing near a water tank at dusk. “It was massive, with broad shoulders and long arms,” Jim recounted. “We heard deep growls and heavy footfalls before it appeared, and it seemed to watch us for about a minute before slipping into the woods.” The family noted a foul odor, akin to wet dog, and their dogs barked frantically during the encounter.
KBRO’s Charlie Raymond investigated the site, finding a partial 18-inch footprint near the tank and broken branches suggesting a large creature’s passage. The family’s consistent accounts, corroborated by all four witnesses, added weight to the report. Raymond noted the area’s proximity to Green River, a common feature in Ohio County sightings, suggesting Bigfoot may follow water sources.
This case, widely discussed at KBRO’s 2010 expedition, remains a benchmark for its detailed witness testimonies and physical evidence.
Bigfoot Sightings vs Other Cryptid Sightings in Kentucky
Kentucky’s cryptid landscape extends beyond Bigfoot sightings in Kentucky to include a variety of mysterious creatures, each contributing to the state’s rich folklore. Below are key cryptids reported in Kentucky, with their locations and approximate dates:
- Pope Lick Monster: A half-man, half-goat creature haunting the Pope Lick Creek trestle in Louisville. Sightings, reported since the 1960s, describe a creature luring people onto train tracks, often linked to local tragedies. A 1988 incident involved a teenager claiming to see a horned figure before a near-miss with a train.
- Mothman: A winged humanoid with glowing red eyes, reported in Mount Sterling (1868), Ashland (1938), and Pikeville (2008). Witnesses describe a 7-foot creature with a piercing screech, often seen near bridges or rivers.
- Beast of the Land Between the Lakes: A wolf-like, bipedal creature in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Sightings since the 1900s describe a 7-foot creature with glowing eyes, tied to Native American shapeshifter legends. A 1980s report noted a creature chasing campers near Kentucky Lake.
- Herrington Lake Monster: Known as “Herry,” this eel-like creature with a piglike snout inhabits Herrington Lake. Sightings since the 1920s describe a 12-foot creature swimming rapidly, with a 1970s report from a fisherman near Danville.
- Milton Lizard: A large, reptilian creature reported in Milton since the 1970s, with a 2005 sighting describing a 6-foot lizard near the Ohio River.
Other unexplained phenomena in Kentucky include paranormal events like the Hopkinsville Goblins (1955, Christian County), where a family reported small, glowing humanoids attacking their farmhouse, and the Waverly Hills Sanatorium hauntings in Louisville, with reports of ghostly apparitions since the 1920s.
These incidents, while distinct from Bigfoot sightings in Kentucky, share themes of remote settings and psychological impact on witnesses.
No direct links connect Bigfoot to other cryptids, but similarities exist. Many sightings occur in forested or riverine areas, suggesting shared habitats. Some researchers, like Gene Brock, propose that Bigfoot and creatures like the Beast of the Land Between the Lakes could be misidentified large mammals, while others speculate about paranormal origins, noting the creatures’ elusiveness. The lack of physical evidence across all cryptids fuels ongoing debates about their reality.
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Conclusion
Kentucky Bigfoot sightings weave a compelling narrative that blends folklore, witness testimonies, and dedicated research. With nearly 400 documented encounters, from Anderson County’s early reports to recent 2025 sightings in Powell County, the Bluegrass State remains a cryptozoological epicenter.
The tireless work of KBRO, BFRO, and local researchers like Don Neal and Gene Brock underscores the passion driving the search for answers, despite the absence of definitive proof.
The broader tapestry of Kentucky’s cryptid lore, including the Pope Lick Monster and Mothman, enriches the state’s mystique, inviting speculation about shared origins or misidentification.
Whether Bigfoot sightings in Kentucky reflect an undiscovered species, cultural storytelling, or something otherworldly, they continue to spark curiosity and wonder. As investigations evolve with new technologies, the legend of Bigfoot endures, cementing Kentucky’s place in the annals of cryptozoology.
