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Community News
CHAUTAUQUA STAR
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2014
Bigfoot Believers Continue Their Quests
We Wan Chu Cottages hosting expedition weekends in Chautauqua County
because there is a strong
interest throughout Western
New York and other parts
of the country, including in
A new format is being impleOhio and Pennsylvania.”
mented this year for anyone
interested in attending an
The available weekends for
expedition to look for “bigthe expeditions are May
foot” creatures that some
9-10, October 10-11, Occlaim are lurking throughout
tober 17-18 and October
Chautauqua County.
24-25. Guests will need their
own transportation and are
Organizers are busy preparasked to bring hiking gear
ing to host "Bigfoot Expedi(“muck boots” are required),
tion Weekends” at We Wan
rain gear and their own food
Chu Cottages in Chautauqua
and water. A video/audio/
County, which will consist of
photographic and liability
two days focused on Bigfoot
waiver will need to be signed
research and watching. In
by everyone who attends a
addition to time for leisure
Bigfoot expedition, includactivities, the weekend will
ing minors. Only those who
feature opportunities to obare officially signed in will
tain interesting information
be allowed to proceed to an
about reported Bigfoot sightundisclosed location with a
ings throughout the world,
35-minute drive of We Wan
including in our region.
Chu Cottages.
After two years of hostVarious reported sightings of
ing what was known as the
Bigfoot creatures have been
Chautauqua Lake Bigfoot
documented over the years,
Expo, organizers have made
including the past two years
some changes to provide opsince the bigfoot expeditions
portunities to participate in
were held here.
Bigfoot expeditions both in
the spring and fall.
“Since I started this, I have
had 16 eyewitness accounts
“What we have done is we
from Chautauqua County,
have decided to give folks
the past few years thanks to
the only bigfoot convention
search for bigfoots, including five from Cattaraugus
who stay at the cottages the
information obtained from
County and more than half
opportunity to attend a free the success the "Finding Big- held in New York State.
foot" television program on
For those who remain skepti- nationally known bigfoot re- a dozen from Warren Counexpedition as we look for
cal, Wiemer is not shy about searchers that include Larry ty,” said Wiemer. “None of
Bigfoots here in Chautauqua Animal Planet has enjoyed.
According to one study, nearly sharing his passion and beBattson, Billy Willard, Steve these people were necesCounty,” said Peter Wiemer,
30 percent of Americans
sarily looking for a Bigfoot,
lief in the alleged creatures. Kulls and Melissa Hovey.
who served in the past as
believe "bigfoot" creatures do
but they actually saw one.
A 1976 graduate of Chaudirector of the Chautauqua
"Bigfoots are not a paranorexist, with passionate fans of
tauqua Central High School, One boy from Cattaraugus
Lake Bigfoot Expo. “Guests
mal because they are real,"
the supposed beings possessWiemer said the evidence is County saw one at age six
staying with us as We Wan
said Wiemer. "I invite anying documentation that they
and then again last year as a
Chu Cottages will be invited
one who does not believe to out there that bigfoots leave 14-year-old.”
say proves their interest in
in this region as well as other
to come along on a late
attend one of these weekends
parts of the state.
afternoon into early evening the subject should be taken
For more information about
so that they can interact
seriously.
expedition. It is a really
with people like myself and
“There are bigfoots who live the Bigfoot Expedition
Organizers were pleased
unique opportunity to try
openly talk and learn about in total peace and harmony Weekends, including how
and encounter a Bigfoot and with the attendance of the
to make reservations and
bigfoots."
right here in Chautauqua
also learn more about these 2012 and 2013 Chautauqua
obtain rates for staying at
County," said Wiemer.
Wiemer said each weekend
Lake Bigfoot Expos, which
creatures.”
We Wan Chu Cottages, visit
"They really are fascinatattracted hundreds of people will provide tips and advice ing creatures. I feel this is
www.wewanchu.com or call
Bigfoot research and watching
on what skills are needed to
to what was believed to be
very popular and successful 716-789-3383.
has grown in popularity over
By Daniel Meyer
Star News Writer
www.classifiedsonus.com
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