MAKE TRACKS TO BORING’S NEW BIGFOOT MUSEUM

Nothing is boring about Boring’s bigfoot museum.

Owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Cliff and Melissa Barackman, the new North American Bigfoot Center is the first center of its kind to open in Oregon. The center opened in early August, and two weeks ago, unveiled its main hall, an exhibit dedicated to the sightings, bigfoot casts, and history surrounding bigfoots.

On the sign that wraps around the balcony above the center’s entrance, it says, “Explore the mystery, discover the legend.” The center is a museum for all things bigfoot. Visitors will find inside the front room a gift shop, as well as an information center about bigfoot. There are all kinds of bigfoot related merchandise: hats, hoodies, keychains, books, posters, hand-crafted sculptures of bigfoot footprint molds, and more.

There are many displays set up around the room, each giving a little information on certain topics relating to bigfoot, also known in our region as “Sasquatch.”

The Barackmans actually met while working on Animal Planet’s television show, “Finding Bigfoot.” Cliff was one of the series’ hosts and Melissa worked as a production crew member for a few episodes. Both are happy to answer any questions guests have at the center. During a recent visit, Cliff was very accommodating with his eager fans, taking photos in front of a large bigfoot statue the couple affectionately refers to as “Murphy.”

The information center and gift shop in the front room are free for any guest to roam, but the real attraction is the exhibit halls in the back.

For a modest fee ($8), guests can further explore the mystery that is the elusive bigfoot. On display are handprints, footprints, native American knowledge, historical evidence, photos and video footage, and much more.

There’s also a viewing room for guests to watch short films created by Cliff and others about bigfoot and/or other cryptid sightings and stories. It is these exhibits that are the real draw for bigfoot enthusiasts and people curious about bigfoot.

Cliff Barackman has been a “bigfooter” – a bigfoot researcher – for 25 years, but he wouldn’t classify himself as an expert, he said.

“I am still a learner. We’re all still learning,” he said. But he does have what he says is the second-largest bigfoot cast collection in the world. This includes casts and molds of bigfoot footprints, handprints, and other parts of the body. Only a portion of his collection is currently on display.

In the coming year, the couple plans to start a lecture series held at Nuts on Sports Pizza, conveniently located just across the parking lot. “They have a larger space then we do here, and it would be perfect to hold speaking events there,” Cliff said.

This Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 2-3), for the Halloween weekend, any guest that comes into the center in costume (but no masks, please)can enter the exhibit halls at the reduced price of $5. Next year, the Barackmans are hoping to convert their exhibit halls into a Halloween haunt for guests to come in and experience.

The North American Bigfoot Center is a fun and informative place that families, individuals, enthusiasts, skeptics, and curious-about-bigfoot people can all enjoy. It’s at the Oregon Highway 212/Compton Road exit off U.S. Highway 26, on the east side of the freeway.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday-Wednesday).

Advocate Staff