Upstate New York is no stranger to spooky stories. From Bigfoot sightings in the Adirondacks to ghostly figures in Saratoga’s old hotels, our region’s endless woods, lakes, and mountains seem to attract the unexplained.
But one urban legend that’s been whispered about for decades in the Catskills might be the eeriest of them all.
The Legend of the Kinderhook Creature
Ever heard of the Kinderhook Creature? I hadn’t either, until I fell down a rabbit hole of old news clippings, local interviews, and grainy audio recordings — and now, you don’t have to.
Legend has it that back in the 1980s, a massive, Bigfoot-like beast terrorized families across Columbia County and beyond. Locals described it as a hulking, red-eyed creature that roamed the woods near Kinderhook, leaving behind strange footprints, bone-chilling noises, and terrified residents who swore it was no bear.
The Book That Rekindled the Fear
Author Bruce Hallenbeck, who grew up in the area, revisited the stories in his book “The Kinderhook Creature and Beyond.” He writes:…