Texas Bigfoot: History, Legends, and Modern Encounters in the Lone Star State

by Lyle Blackburn

When most people think of Texas, Bigfoot is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Tales of the Alamo, cowboys, oil tycoons, and legendary football games are more likely to crop up in conversation than what most would consider a mystery best suited for the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Yet Texas is a vast place full of strange anomalies that are often as big as its ten-gallon reputation, and that includes sightings of ape-like creatures fitting the description of Bigfoot.

For nearly two hundred years, residents of the Lone Star State have reported dramatic encounters with elusive wildmen and hair-covered beasts that surely rival those from any part of the world. Texas may be known for its western landscapes yet its true geography is incredibly diverse, offering miles upon miles of piney woods, dense thickets, creeks, and even swamps where mysterious creatures may indeed roam and flourish. Is Sasquatch among them? Find out as I offer a thrilling journey across the wilds of the Lone Star State where true tales of the Texas Bigfoot may surprise and even shock you. They say “everything’s bigger in Texas,” and if so, this may well be the state’s biggest and most unexpected mystery of all.

Genres: Cryptids

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2022

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who do not live in Texas, what comes to mind when it’s mentioned? Deserts, plateaus, maybe the southern edge of the Great Plains and its prairies? All places one doesn’t associate with Sasquatch/Bigfoot, but all those locations are in the western part of the state and the eastern part of the state is very wet and woody. Texas Bigfoot by Lyle Blackburn sees the author tackle the legendary stories and modern-day encounters of the Lone Star state.

In roughly 230 pages, Blackburn covers many encounters of Texas residents coming across evidence of some other bipedal inhabitant of their state. While most of the book focuses on the eastern portion of the state, which sees almost a dozen rivers either flow into the Gulf of Mexico or eventually into the Mississippi, Blackburn surprises with a few reported sightings in the far west of the state that are hard to explain away. Blackburn, a Texas native, had only touched a little of the state’s history of Sasquatch encounters in a previous publication and lightly into the northeast corner of the state when discussing Boggy Creek in his first book. While Blackburn retreads some territory, he overall focuses on incidents he had never written about before to keep this book unique and doesn’t overdue the drive-by sightings like in another publication. Given the author’s easy to read prose plus all the informative encounters, this was another great read.

Texas Bigfoot explores the history of Sasquatch in the Lone Star State that Lyle Blackburn brought together from old news reports, Bigfoot research groups, and personal investigations to allow readers to come to their own conclusions.

[Shawn Small · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blackburn never disappoints his crypto-fans.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you see Lyle Blackburn's name as author, just buy the book. He is a noted cryptid researcher who has written several excellent books with a focus on research and history. He turns his attention to the state of Texas, which has a long history of Bigfoot sightings. He focuses on the sections of Texas, ie, Piney Woods, Big Thicket Preserve, etc. and gives a bit of history regarding sightings that have been going on for many years, not just recently. He has visited the locations himself and shares tales of early days as well as with fellow researchers. The sightings experienced by many are noted. This is a great book that covers settings many are not familiar with. Bigfoot has been a fixture in the state far longer than many realize. Enjoy your cryptid tour of the Lone Star State.

[Amanda M. Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at Texas Frightmare last May. I saw a presentation by Lyle on the Beast of Bray Road at my first Frightmare and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to read about a cryptid so close to home.

When you think of Bigfoot, you think of the Pacific Northwest or the southern swamps of Boggy Creek. Turns out Texas has one of the older accounts of a Bigfoot sighting in Davy freaking Crockett, although it seems more like a dream. Still, strangely specific dream.

Lyle doesn't dwell in the realm of evidence. TEXAS BIGFOOT is more a compilation of anecdotes all over the state, far more than you'd think, and also more compelling. Whether you believe in Bigfoot or not, you might finish the book thinking there's *something* weird out there.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quality bigfoot book from Blackburn, as expected; well written and professionally edited.

Blackburn includes a good selection of stories, with some over a hundred years old but most from mid-1900s to present. He doesn't hide from some high-publicity, but very suspicious, 'encounters' and 'evidence' either. As is usual for his books, Blackburn doesn't really speculate on what bigfoot is (ape, relict hominid, alien, etc.) but lets the stories stand alone.

I liked his organization using geography and different regions. That is useful for any survey like this, but especially so for Texas given its size and ecological diversity.

[Jeremy Doherty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm game for a good Sasquatch book (and enjoyed a couple of Blackburn's other volumes), but this one is a real slog through some very repetitive and not entirely convincing "I seen it with my own eyes" witness accounts. Most of the alleged sightings check the same boxes: only lasting a few seconds, in low or nonexistent light, and in rural environs where visibility is already an issue. Toss in the fact that most of the alleged encounters occurred in a post-Boggy Creek culture and not terribly far from Fouke, Arkansas, and skepticism is definitely justified on whether a race of "wood apes" is running amok in Texas.

[jj Grilliette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I believe. I found this book fascinating. Had trouble putting it down. Now to read the authors other books