This past weekend I had the great pleasure of going to Louisiana to gamble (won $90.00! Go me!) and as we were driving through Orange, Texas (right on the Texas/LA border) I pass "American Airboats" where they build those cool airboats and what should I see standing at the edge of the parking lot next to the feeder road? A big ass Sasquatch carving. It looked to be about 10 ft tall. Unfortunately my father in law was driving and we were running late and so we couldnt get a pic.

The area is prime habitat..bayous, swamp, heavy woods etc. I did some checking and there doesnt seem to be any reported sightings on either the GCBRO or BFRO for Orange, Texas or the adjoining Parish in LA. Kind of mystery as to why they would have this thing there. I planned on calling them today, but didnt get a chance as I was busy. Anyone know anything about this statue and how it came to be there?

I have family in Orange. I was just out there about three weeks ago and dammit I missed that one. I will call my father as he knows everyone around there it seems and see if I can 1 get him to see where it came from 2 who made it it and why 3 get a good digital photo of it. I lived in Beaumont just outside of Orange for over a decade and I knew of alot of people who had some type of ''encounter'' out in the swamps and the big thicket areas. Pine Island Bayou had a few encounters or sighting between 80-90 while I was there. Also up around Sour Lake and Lumberton. There is a small lake just outside of Vidor that is a pay to swim area at least it was years ago. It had diving platforms and we used to scuba there for money watches etc. The old man that ran it was a character and he used to swear that he had seen something several times there. Vidor is right next to Orange. Actually between Beaumont and Orange near a lil town called Rose City

Manufacturer: American Airboats Corporation

Location: Orange, Texas near the Louisiana border on I-10

Toll Free: 800-241-6390 Fax: 409-883-010

Found their website and emailed Stan. He is the owner of American. They got some amazing boats. I never knew they had airboats with 502 chevy bigblocks lol. 100 mph in a aluminium boat. Now thats got to be exciting. He holds the world record for land speed in an airboat at right at 50 mph. Thats a 1600 pound boat with a 200 lb man running down the drag strip in Houston. Three words

b*lls of Steel lol

They also have swamp tours which raises the question if maybe the statue was inspired by something they may or may not admit to. I also found out from my little brother that they filmed an episode of MTV Viva La Bam there and American was prominent in it as they were out in the swamp in the boats etc. I didnt catch that one and it was slated for viewing in March. If anyone catchs the episode you should see the carving if it was there. They spent considerable time there according to the newspaper the Orange Leader.

Bam! MTV hits town

By Amelia Feathers


The Orange Leader

People magazine's choice of handsome actor Jude Law as the Sexiest Man Alive this week is wrong - at least according to Bethany Dupuis.

Before Dupuis got a closeup picture snuggling up to Brandon "Bam" Margera, star of MTV's "Viva La Bam," she told him, "You are the sexiest man alive."

Dupuis - along with more than 50 Bam admirers, who included mothers, grandmothers, men and boys - star-gazed on Friday as the MTV star made an Orange appearance in front of American Airboat on Lutcher Drive.

Bam gave a mini-press conference Friday and talked about his experiences here before he was swarmed by fans asking for autographs and seeking pictures with him. As the crowd pushed and shoved closer to Bam, his handlers rushed him away to the back of the building.

The cast

Bam, his Uncle Don Vito, some cast members and behind-the-scenes crew from the show concluded filming Friday after a weeklong exercise of filming during the day and partying at night.

The crew filmed an episode featuring the area's natural resources - swamps, gators and frogs as a backdrop, explained Faron Floyd, American Airboat sales manager.

Some filming was done at The Horseman's Store, where Don Vito was dressed in cowboy boots, 10-gallon hat and other Western wear accessories, Floyd said.

He said a small scene also was shot at I-10 Auto Salvage.

Floyd said the idea to film an episode of the show here came about when they found American Airboat on the Internet and the producers called him.

He convinced the producers that Orange had everything they needed here to film an episode about airboats.

Floyd told the producers, "We have more here than you could find anywhere else," then invited them for a visit to the company where they make airboats.

Floyd gave a tour of the area to representatives from "Viva La Bam." He said they were so impressed that two weeks later they came back to film.

The shoot

After getting here, Bam and cast member Ryan worked in American Airboat's shop, Floyd said. He was impressed that a cast member could actually weld.

Floyd said tons of rumors had spread about the goings-on of the MTV stars' stay here. Probably 90 percent of the gossip is false, Floyd said.

He quashed rumors that the guys wrestled alligators.

"There was no gator wrestling. We did do a small scene with our gators in a pen - that's all that happened," Floyd explained, adding, "We never went to Wal-Mart."

Gossip that had some truth to it was they did make a mess in Bridge City, Floyd said.The Budget Inn in Bridge City became a popular place when Bam and the guys spent a night there. Floyd said people rented rooms at the hotel just to be near the "Viva La Bam" crew.

Throughout the crew's stay, they were followed and sought out by fans of the show, Floyd explained. He estimated about 200 youngsters, some from Louisiana and the local area, tagged along.

"We ate dinner a couple of times at Spanky's restaurant and had drinks after hours there," Floyd said. "They signed a lot of autographs."

Floyd pointed that not only did this film crew's visit here help his business, it was also good for the local economy and possibly future film work here.

"We tried to do as much as we could in town - we spent those dollars here. We rented at least 25 motel rooms at the Lexington (Inn)," Floyd remarked. "It could definitely lead to bigger and better things for my company. It could definitely lead to lead more photography-type scenes shot here in our swamp.

"We have great resources right here in our back door that are basically untapped."

The episode

Floyd and his chocolate lab, Jigs, will be in the "Viva La Bam" episode to be shown in March. Floyd's father, Stan, will also be in the show.

"Our dog hammed it up and is a major part of the show," Floyd said. He explained that he didn't know how much of the week's filming will be in the 30-minute show to air in March.

Bam and crew tried to keep a low profile while here, but the word got out fast - so they decided to have a press conference.

"Orange is the perfect definition of a small town," Bam said, explaining when they stopped for gas people around town knew about it.

Bam said that though he's used to a lot of attention, it was different here.

He laughed when he told about having bullfrogs jump on him while he slept Thursday night.

While at Budget Inn - which he described as a "ghetto hotel" - Bam said they put mattresses outside and somebody started an airboat. The mattresses flew into the wall, Bam said.

Bam said another highlight of Orange was, "I took my fat uncle's suitcase and tied chicken parts to it and fed it to the gators. I think the suitcase is still floating in the water."

His most memorable moment in Orange was drinking shots Thursday night.

Bam said his uncle especially wanted to eat Cajun food and they thought the catfish was delicious.

A girl waited to meet Bam at American Airboat at 5 a.m. Friday morning.

The wrap

Floyd gave the particulars about the filming of the show, then after several minutes of waiting, Bam came out to greet his fans.

Fans such as Felicity Hawkins, Kristi Hinds and Jason Faulk.

Faulk said he found out Bam was in town because his friend found the crew's van.

"My buddy was being stupid and he opened the door and it was unlocked. He found a schedule and called a number," Faulk said.

Hinds was more of a laid-back fan who just wanted an autograph and a picture but didn't push and shove the crowd to get it.

Standing by her black Hummer, Hinds said she could have driven the crew anywhere they wanted in her vehicle.

The guy groupies on Friday weren't in the crowd for Bam's eye appeal. Many were carrying skateboards to get them autographed.

"They are crazy," 10-year Josh Klinkhammer said, explaining why he likes watching "Viva La Bam

Thats fantastic, Dave! Im going to be in the Orange area again this coming week as Im on vacation and I planned to stop by and get a photo and try to talk to some folks about what, if anything, has happened in the area. Keep us posted on what you find out.

Received this in an email from American Airboats tonight

You will have to come see our Big Foot he stands est.. 12' tall in front of our shop. Sometimes he even waves as the passing crowds. It is not a carving but a robotic statue.
He has made all the local papers, won many prizes in floats, and always a favorite at halloween. I do have some pictures but not on my new computer. I will ask my secretary to see if she can find some.
Thanks,
Faron

I've seen the statue before on my way home from San Antonio

Hey, dude's name is 'Faron' !
From Texas !
He sounds cool to me already !

Im going to try to get out there this week if I can.. I put my vacation on hold due to things at work not going well (major project isnt doing as well as I expected and since its my project...) and the wife is dog sitting her sister's Pug. If someone is closer than San Antonio and feels up for a little drive, go get us a picture