Full Version: A Home in Bigfoot Country
If you could build a cabin to live in full time in hopes of increasing your chance of having a bigfoot encounter where would it be? My husband and I are thinking of selling our home and going into semi-retirement. He is not into the bigfoot subject at all but luckily for me he wants to move somewhere in the pacific northwest and build a cabin. There are so many gorgeous places to choose from. He was talking about the Grants Pass area in Oregon. This area is gorgeous and I have read about the sightings in the area, but wonder what other places would be good for a bigfoot researcher to live. Any ideas would be welcomed.
I envy you! I'm afraid i cant make any suggestions as I'm on the other side of the pond but I wish you and your husband well in this venture 
Sod's Law would suggest that wherever you choose, if you want to see bigfoot, you're guaranteed that they won't come within 50 miles of the place. So I'd choose somewhere solely for how happy you'd be there.
Having said that, is somewhere near Mt St. Helen's out of the question?
But wherever you choose, to up the odds I'd get an outside freezer stocked with deer, keep chickens, cook a lot of venison chili outside, invite some children, ideally little girls over to play outside most nights and make piles of apples in the woods within a wide radius. And avoid putting up cameras or inviting any BF researchers to come over!
Ludo
(Best of luck. I'm envious too.)
Having said that, is somewhere near Mt St. Helen's out of the question?
But wherever you choose, to up the odds I'd get an outside freezer stocked with deer, keep chickens, cook a lot of venison chili outside, invite some children, ideally little girls over to play outside most nights and make piles of apples in the woods within a wide radius. And avoid putting up cameras or inviting any BF researchers to come over!
Ludo
(Best of luck. I'm envious too.)
I am not a big believer in Bigfoot in Florida (Give it maybe a 50-50 chance) But the wife and I will be closing on a place inside of Ocala NF next month. A lot of sightings have happened close by over the years.
Boy did you come to the right place and welcome to the coolest forum on Earth!
There are so many places to choose from I really don't envy the decision process you face.
As for location, it seems that ludo is quite correct about the fifty mile thing. And certainly as soon as you put up any cameras your chances of an encounter seem to deteriorate catastrophically.
I would build somewhere near a Native community, one with a rich and respectful history of this creature. That should narrow it down a little without taking away any of the more beautiful areas to live.
Chop your own wood, BF has answered this with wood knocking and you get excellent excersize.
And this above all ... do not allow any researchers on the property unless you are absolutely sure they are not Tom Biscardi. Sure he looks and sounds normal at first ....
I am no expert but it seems that most of the sightings occur to people that don't even believe the damn things exist. So live your life, read every word you can about this creature, and go for long walks.
This is going to be a great thread, by this time tomorrow you will have some pretty serious areas to consider.
Good luck!
There are so many places to choose from I really don't envy the decision process you face.
As for location, it seems that ludo is quite correct about the fifty mile thing. And certainly as soon as you put up any cameras your chances of an encounter seem to deteriorate catastrophically.
I would build somewhere near a Native community, one with a rich and respectful history of this creature. That should narrow it down a little without taking away any of the more beautiful areas to live.
Chop your own wood, BF has answered this with wood knocking and you get excellent excersize.
And this above all ... do not allow any researchers on the property unless you are absolutely sure they are not Tom Biscardi. Sure he looks and sounds normal at first ....
I am no expert but it seems that most of the sightings occur to people that don't even believe the damn things exist. So live your life, read every word you can about this creature, and go for long walks.
This is going to be a great thread, by this time tomorrow you will have some pretty serious areas to consider.
Good luck!
There's nothing wrong with the Grants Pass area. I use to live in the Medford area, which is approximately 30 miles ESE of Grants Pass. Not only would you be in a county with a history of bigfoot sightings, 22 Reports at www.oregonbigfoot.com and 15 at the BFRO. You're also right on I-5 for easy travel north and south to a number of spots from Northern California to Washington and beyond. You'd be right on Hwy 199 which will take you to the Redwoods of Northern California. Also an easy drive from the California counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, and Siskiyou which all have a previous history of significant sighting reports.
While bigfoot would be a consideration, you might also want to look at the economy (currently Oregon's unemployment rate is 12.2%,) tax laws, schools if you have kids, and other such information before moving. Due to the economy, it is a buyers market right now so you would have that to your advantage. You would also want to look at the rules and regs for building cabins/homes in the area of interest. Some counties have much tighter controls than others.
That said, if you are retired or have the means of buying property and building your dream cabin, then go for it. Oregon is a beautiful state and even if you don't find bigfoot, there is plenty to see and do here.
Redwolf
That said, if you are retired or have the means of buying property and building your dream cabin, then go for it. Oregon is a beautiful state and even if you don't find bigfoot, there is plenty to see and do here.
Redwolf
Grants Pass is a city of course so a cabin would be out of place 
However, Merlin, Applegate, Ruch, Williams, Murphy, Cave Junction would all be in that area and a little more rural. 'twere me, and it isn't, I'd likely find some rural property around Cave Junction, like Selma, O'Brien, Gasquet. It's off I-5 by a half hour or so, maybe a little more, so you'll be close to "jetting" up or down the Interstate. As mentioned before unemployment is crazy in Oregon and Cave Junction doesn't have anything to offer employment-wise (or very little). Grants Pass will get you a more "city" environment and you'll be thirty to sixty minutes from prime locations, if you'd rather have city police, city water, etc. By the way, city services in Josephine County are kind of tight as well, for example, in the past the Sheriff has asked those comfortable to obtain a concealed handgun license because they don't have the resources to patrol all areas as well as some people would expect. So, it's kind of a depressed area, but it's pretty, and you're likely to get some decent deals on real estate.
However, Merlin, Applegate, Ruch, Williams, Murphy, Cave Junction would all be in that area and a little more rural. 'twere me, and it isn't, I'd likely find some rural property around Cave Junction, like Selma, O'Brien, Gasquet. It's off I-5 by a half hour or so, maybe a little more, so you'll be close to "jetting" up or down the Interstate. As mentioned before unemployment is crazy in Oregon and Cave Junction doesn't have anything to offer employment-wise (or very little). Grants Pass will get you a more "city" environment and you'll be thirty to sixty minutes from prime locations, if you'd rather have city police, city water, etc. By the way, city services in Josephine County are kind of tight as well, for example, in the past the Sheriff has asked those comfortable to obtain a concealed handgun license because they don't have the resources to patrol all areas as well as some people would expect. So, it's kind of a depressed area, but it's pretty, and you're likely to get some decent deals on real estate.
How about Washington State? No state income tax, plenty of sightings, beautiful state, very relaxed gun laws and unemployment slightly below the national average.
I might even convince myself to move!
I might even convince myself to move!
If you move, you'll have to change your forum name. 
......... Is Georgia out of the question?
......... Is Georgia out of the question?
Grants Pass eh?
QUOTE
http://www.katu.com/news/52001292.html
By Associated Press
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - Everett Skinner says when a bear broke into his home, he grabbed his shotgun and killed it.
The animal ripped off a screen and climbed in through a window late Saturday, Skinner said. The man told the Daily Courier he hadn't killed a bear before or even hunted in awhile, but makes it a point to keep the shotgun handy.
"In this case, I'm glad I did," he said. Bear and man saw each other at about the same time. Skinner said the animal stood up and headed toward him, so he fired.
"It didn't even faze him," Skinner said. In all, he said he fired four times.
The Skinners say they don't know why the bear invaded their home, about eight miles from Grants Pass.
Daughter Nicole Skinner, who awoke around 11:30 p.m. Saturday to a strange shuffling sound, was the first to spot the bear. She quickly retreated to her parents' room to get help.
"In hindsight, you start thinking of all that could have gone wrong," she said. "We were very blessed that this didn't go badly."
After the bear was dead, Skinner said, he called the Josephine County sheriff's non-emergency number but no one was working late at night. He said he also tried the Oregon State Police.
Skinner said he tried to donate the carcass to a wildlife rehabilitation center that takes road-killed deer, but apparently none of the animals there eat bear meat. Eventually he used his tractor to bury the bear.
Family members have done what they can to clean up the den, but Skinner notes they're probably going to have to replace the carpet.
"It was a rather bloody mess," he said.
And the Skinners won't be leaving the window open at night anymore.
"That's the last fresh air we're going to get at night," he said.
---
Information from: Daily Courier, http://www.thedailycourier.com
By Associated Press
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - Everett Skinner says when a bear broke into his home, he grabbed his shotgun and killed it.
The animal ripped off a screen and climbed in through a window late Saturday, Skinner said. The man told the Daily Courier he hadn't killed a bear before or even hunted in awhile, but makes it a point to keep the shotgun handy.
"In this case, I'm glad I did," he said. Bear and man saw each other at about the same time. Skinner said the animal stood up and headed toward him, so he fired.
"It didn't even faze him," Skinner said. In all, he said he fired four times.
The Skinners say they don't know why the bear invaded their home, about eight miles from Grants Pass.
Daughter Nicole Skinner, who awoke around 11:30 p.m. Saturday to a strange shuffling sound, was the first to spot the bear. She quickly retreated to her parents' room to get help.
"In hindsight, you start thinking of all that could have gone wrong," she said. "We were very blessed that this didn't go badly."
After the bear was dead, Skinner said, he called the Josephine County sheriff's non-emergency number but no one was working late at night. He said he also tried the Oregon State Police.
Skinner said he tried to donate the carcass to a wildlife rehabilitation center that takes road-killed deer, but apparently none of the animals there eat bear meat. Eventually he used his tractor to bury the bear.
Family members have done what they can to clean up the den, but Skinner notes they're probably going to have to replace the carpet.
"It was a rather bloody mess," he said.
And the Skinners won't be leaving the window open at night anymore.
"That's the last fresh air we're going to get at night," he said.
---
Information from: Daily Courier, http://www.thedailycourier.com
Probably trying to bust in to get a game cam, see the TBRC site regarding the smell of plastics and bears on game cams......I can vouch for it, they like to chew on them and can make an impact. 
damn it's a good thing that guy was armed!
damn it's a good thing that guy was armed!
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I won't be putting up cameras or having researchers over. I realize that I will probably never see a bigfoot in my lifetime but living in a beautiful place close to reported sightings will be a dream come true. I was reading about another town call Skamania in WA and it is gorgeous. It is close to the Columbia River gorge and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Anyone live in this area?
You're very fortunate. The northwest is a fine region for many reasons though there are parts of the northwest where weather is a consideration. There have been some excellent reports from the drier, less coastal parts of the northwest, and in an area where the landscape affords views of distant hillsides and mountains maybe from your cabin's deck (or living room) if sighted with that in mind. There is a kind of clarity to the air in the west, particularly when you're at elevation to see out onto distant hills and mountainsides. If your viewing location has been really well selected you could conceivably look into a good number of likely spots for animals, in several diffent distant locations, using a good telescope. Elk, deer, sheep or goats, as well as eagles, bears, cougars,wolves, wolverines are all out on open view from time to time, if you know where to look, so the more places you can spot from your primary location, the better the chance of seeing wildlife undisturbed. I suspect the occasional BF, if they exist, would be visible from time to time as well.
Oh, and Grants Pass (or just outside it actually as the town itself is fairly well developed) is a marvelous area in a fantastic coastal/cascadian type environment with an exhilirating climate, with lots of fun things to do when you want it, and it's not too far from either the fleshpots of San Francisco or the Quintessential Northwest culture of Portland and Seattle and beyond, with Ashland's just up the road, renown music and shakespear events...sweet.
Don't know if you know the story of how Oregon got to be the way it is,...
During the gold rush, when the first stampeders were just making it through the wilderness they got to a spot just to the west of the Rockies contential-divide and it became obvious that the trail would have to split, the northern trail would take those following to Oregon and the southern fork would take them to California.
Since so many of the stampeders and farmers in their wagons were illiterate the signmakers came upon a solution. They put up a sign that said "Oregon to the right" and then on they ground they laid out an arrow pointing to the southen trail and painted the rocks gold.
Those that could read went to Oregon.
Oh, and Grants Pass (or just outside it actually as the town itself is fairly well developed) is a marvelous area in a fantastic coastal/cascadian type environment with an exhilirating climate, with lots of fun things to do when you want it, and it's not too far from either the fleshpots of San Francisco or the Quintessential Northwest culture of Portland and Seattle and beyond, with Ashland's just up the road, renown music and shakespear events...sweet.
Don't know if you know the story of how Oregon got to be the way it is,...
During the gold rush, when the first stampeders were just making it through the wilderness they got to a spot just to the west of the Rockies contential-divide and it became obvious that the trail would have to split, the northern trail would take those following to Oregon and the southern fork would take them to California.
Since so many of the stampeders and farmers in their wagons were illiterate the signmakers came upon a solution. They put up a sign that said "Oregon to the right" and then on they ground they laid out an arrow pointing to the southen trail and painted the rocks gold.
Those that could read went to Oregon.
QUOTE
Those that could read went to Oregon.
Funny!
QUOTE(tucson4ever @ Jul 30 2009, 12:44 AM) 
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I won't be putting up cameras or having researchers over. I realize that I will probably never see a bigfoot in my lifetime but living in a beautiful place close to reported sightings will be a dream come true. I was reading about another town call Skamania in WA and it is gorgeous. It is close to the Columbia River gorge and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Anyone live in this area?
I lived in Washington State for my first 40 years. That was split half between Spokane in eastern Washington and half in Seattle in western Washington. Hope to get back there someday soon. Of course during that time I spent a lot of time exploring Idaho and Oregon, plus a bit of western Montana, Alberta and British Columbia which are close by.
Something to consider is the vast array of microclimates. You can have a very rainy place 20 miles away from a fairly dry climate due to all the mountains and valleys. As you drive over the Cascades you'll see how green mossy and wet it is on the west side and dry and open on the east side. It's all great but you want to find the microclimate you like that is nearby areas you want to explore. Moregon mentioned Medford OR which is a nice valley with a good microclimate. Spokane WA and Coeur D'alene ID are also in a valley with a nice 4 seasons but not too cold climate.
One place I always really loved and did a lot of backpacking in was the Blue Mountains They span across eastern Washington and Oregon and are very remote. Not a good climate in the winter, but really cool and out in the middle of nowhere which I like
It's a great place to live and I'm like a kid in a candy store deciding where I want to move back to someday.
QUOTE(BCSasqwatcher @ Jul 29 2009, 05:30 AM)
And this above all ... do not allow any researchers on the property unless you are absolutely sure they are not Tom Biscardi. Sure he looks and sounds normal at first ....
Don't forget Matt Moneymaker, Matthew Whitton, and Rick Dyer... I mean... come on they look normal at first too....
I've lived my whole life in Skamania County. It's a great place to live, but unfortunately, unless you are able to afford a large parcel (10-20 acres), you will need to buy in one of the communities or cities, thanks to the Senic Area. You can still get smaller parcels near the edge of town.
Wherever you decide to locate, consider a piece of property that butts up to a National Forest.
QUOTE(tugboatwa @ Jul 31 2009, 10:37 PM)
Wherever you decide to locate, consider a piece of property that butts up to a National Forest.
Right! You don't want to wake up some morning a couple of years down the road and find out your are surrounded by subdivisions...
I'd tell you to try northern Michigan, which is stunningly beautiful from spring through fall, but unless you like getting yards and yards of snow in the winter, sub-zero temperatures, no jobs, high taxes, and can buy your own heavy-duty snow removal equipment, it might not be a wonderful idea.
Gee Stacy, sounds like my place in Oregon! lol. The only difference is that we usually stay above zero.
wow the idea of getting a cabin sounds great! I hope it works out for you...and I wouldn't be so negative about getting a sighting...
I'm still young and have seen the creatures twice Once by chance, once by choice.....repetitive searching and faith will come through.
My vote goes to the southern states, eastern ohio (cheap to live and a lot of sightings), and the west coast...
I'm still young and have seen the creatures twice Once by chance, once by choice.....repetitive searching and faith will come through.
My vote goes to the southern states, eastern ohio (cheap to live and a lot of sightings), and the west coast...
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.