A listener writes “I had an experience in my early teens on my grandparents’ farm in Central Illinois. I would stay at their home often, spending nearly every summer and some holidays (this was in the mid to late 80’s and well into the 90’s).
They lived in rural Argenta, Illinois on several acres of property near a branch of Friends Creek which ran behind the property at the bottom of their property.
My grandparents are both deceased now. The home and surrounding property now belong to a new owner.
While playing outside during the day, I happened to look up into the dense trees that grew over the creek bed at the bottom of the field.
I saw what I described at the time to be a “black man sitting in the tree”.
It looked similar to a gorilla. I distinctly recall the way it was positioned on the tree limb it was sitting on. It was crouched in the branch close to the trunk of the tree. I know it saw me. I recall it sticking its tongue out before it grimaced and showed its teeth.
I remember feeling incredibly afraid. To this day, I have the occasional dream about this experience and wake up feeling terrified.
My grandfather used to talk about Bigfoot like it was no big deal and would often tease me and tell me that Bigfoot was going to get me if I didn’t behave.
Over the years I spent there on the farm, I would become tasked with doing yard work. My grandfather saw to it that I used the push mower while he would use the tractor. I would mow along the tree line and on the ridges near the farming fields. I was absolutely terrified to do this because I didn’t like being alone even during the day near the tree line or the corn and soybean fields. Anytime I was outside alone I would make as much noise as possible thinking that would scare off anything nearby, whether that would be singing loudly or banging things together like sticks or rakes.
I laugh now knowing that these creatures use knocks and sounds to communicate their location.
I have also heard several unexplainable sounds including mumbles and what sounded like a someone speaking in tongues (I grew up Pentecostal) while staying out there.
These sounds were heard at night and were often close to the house.
My brother who is twelve years younger than me described the same accounts when he used to stay on the farm during the summer after I had started working and couldn’t visit.
These were not the various sounds made by panther, coyotes, raccoons, deer, squirrels, owls, etc. I am well acquainted with those sounds since childhood, having had an interest in many animals since then; watching nature documentaries; camping. I used to go camping often from March through November nearly every year in various parts of the country (including the Appalachian and Smoky Mountains).
We would burn garbage out by the creek and I’d always have to take the garbage down whenever I was staying there. I hated it because it was always after dinner. Several times, I would sometimes feel like I was being followed along the tree line by something big.
Sometimes, I would throw the garbage into the woods closer to the house because I was afraid to be out by myself. The canopy over the creek was dense so it was often darker even during the day.
I am now inclined to think that the creature, or even creatures, may have been habituated because of the garbage being thrown out near the creek.
It’s good to know that there are serious folks who speak out against those accounts.”
Brandon G
when is this being aired?
Linda B
Tomorrow night , I start peeking at the podcast around 6 pm , but as Wes is a busy guy and he gets it posted for us as soon as he can, sometimes it’s later.
I love this encounter, it will make for a very fun evening tomorrow, Wes! Thanks!!!
Chad W
Looking forward to hearing this account! It’s really something how so many people have encounters when they’re young, and it sticks with them for life, and often deeply affects them.
Sam B
This is my account.
I’ve had nightmares about it as a kid and still do to this day — though not as common as they once were.
My mom once told me that I was screaming in my sleep “it’s going to get me!”.
I make it a point to “face my fear” by reading as much as I can about these creatures and search for as many credible accounts as I can.
Charles R
I too am inclined think some kind of garbage habituation, and surely from other farms in this rural farm country. I look at aerial maps of this area and the only cover is along these creeks and more to the south along the Sangamon River ( I have read several encounters along this river in the past) and to the north at Friends Creek County Park. It may just go to show that they do not need as much cover and forest as is the norm I would think. Apparently your Grandfather (got to love Grandparents) had some kind of knowledge and probably interactions with the Bigfoot.
m99
There’s more than bears in the Smokies. I recall walking back to the campsite and being overcome by a feeling someone or something
then)watching me. I wasn’t a scary kinda girl, loving to be alone in the woods, but I was literally terrified for a few minutes. I felt a great weight come off of me when I saw the camp site as I was rounding a bend out of the deep woods. I thought it must’ve been fear of bears or something. I’d felt something similar, but being a kid I didn’t put events together as I would now. I think, it coulda have been a bear, but don’t believe so now. Now. That was know Sasquatch is the true boss of the woods.
m99
Now that we Know Sasquatch is…