Here is a list of some of the creepiest ghost towns in Alaska. The pressure is 975.9 mb and the humidity is 92%. For an adrenaline-pumping excursion, look no further than tales of this now-abandoned town on the Alaska coast. Several residents who grew up there and moved out still talk about its beauty. This article is more than 6 years old. Is Portlock and Port Chatham the Same Thing? Peterson, Alaska "The Strangest Story Ever Told" by Virginia Colp 1900 to 1925 . Portlock first appeared on the 1940 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village of 31 residents. Portlock, Alaska Teacher and his wife at English Bay stated hunters from Portlock sometimes failed to return. Copyright 2008-2023. P0300 Code: What Causes It and Ways to Fix It! Well, it just so happens that Port Chatham on the Kenai Peninsula is the creepiest abandoned town in Alaska. Cahawba was at its best before the Civil War. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. It reads like a Scooby Doo plot. Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - Yesterday, an Anchorage grand jury returned an indictment charging 23-year-old Eric David Chaney, Jr. with one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, and one count of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the fourth degree for the murder of his girlfriend Stephanie Morales on Feb. 13 . Oral histories differentiate Nantinaq from the North American Sasquatch or Bigfoot through its abilities, which many believe to be . Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, wrote stories of his childhood that include an encounter with Bauman, a seasoned trapper in Idaho. Rumours A Net Inceptions project. After the gold rush, many booming small towns were abandoned as miners left to follow gold claims in other areas. A ghost town of sorts, but as the legend goes this one was abandoned because of violent attacks and murders perpetrated by a bipedal creature known locally as the Nantiinaq (Nan-tah-nuk). Alaskan Killer Bigfoot. Alaska is Sasquatch land - or Nantinaq, as Bigfoot is locally known around Portlock. But by 1951, he gave up too, and the Portlock post office was officially closed. However, they also suggest that many of the stories about their hometown exist to keep outsiders from discovering what a magical place it is. Occurrences like these began to show up regularly. An expedition to the area by Bigfoot researchers has been conducted. Tales of murder and mayhem rolled out of Portlock on a regular basis in the 1930's and 1940's, gaining steam during the World War II years. "A logger was out working and something or someone hit him over the head with a huge piece of logging equipment, something that one man couldn't have lifted. Beginning in the 1940's a number of mysterious disappearances and murders caused the population to flee en masse. Image courtesy of Extreme Expeditions Northwest LLC via YouTube. Planning a road trip? Attempts were made to revive it in the 50s. When the horribly disfigured bodies of townspeople who had hiked into the nearby slopes were found sliding down ripped to pieces in ways that a bear never would have done the signs of something sinister were there. Feels like a perfect followup to my story, ECHOES, and I've always been meaning to write something along these lines. It left large tracks which matched a humans foot of great size. Salmon was plentiful in the bay and a cannery operation was established, attracting seasonal workers and bringing in money. RoadSnacks is reader-supported. Download the Way app for all your travel and car related needs. What was out there? I knew her as a fellow artist with me, a hard worker at the interior decorators in Mountain City, an unusually mature 18 year old. Brewster, Jefferson Davis. Some people gave these creatures names such as the Mountain Apes or Hairy Men. Rushmore? The Aleuts inhabited the area for centuries. NAME: Portlock COUNTY: Kenai Peninsula ROADS: 4WD GRID: 1 CLIMATE: Heavy coastal rain in summer. Alaska is larger than life, with overwhelming landscapes offering adventure. Roosevelt also wrote an account of the finding of a trappers body. Credit: KREM. But the events at Portlock are not so easily explained. Snow-Ice in winter. It all began almost from its very start. Love Alaska? To be honest, notably if bigfoot is real, what makes everyone think that this giant among men doesn't have predisposed instincts to evade humans? One resident saw a huge, hairy man destroying fish wheels along the beach. The community of Portlock was first established in 1786, with the arrival of British captain Nathaniel Portlock, from which the town derived its name. At its peak, the town had a population of around 2000. Spokane is in South Dakotas Custer Country 16 miles south of Custer and 10 miles southeast of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. He was a good ten feet from the logging equipment, so it's not like he slipped, fell, and hit his head. In most cases the slow but inevitable decay of the population and the local businesses leaves a ghost town in its wake. After so many scary rumors, the population began dwindling in Portlock. No one has been back. The town began in the early 1900s as a cannery for salmon. Named after Nathaniel Portlock, the town was an active cannery community in the early-twentieth century. a recent reality show filmed in Portlock. Report an Issue | One of them is from the Portlock village, in Port Chatham Bay only 200 km (124 miles) south of the states most populous city, Anchorage. If the bear is standing up say in the 10 to 12-foot range, it may be the biggest bear you've ever seen and so you're brain may not put together that that's a bear. Isn't this the place to be if you want to settle the question whether Bigfoot exists or not--Portlock, Alaska. We know that there are reported murders in the area. St. Elmo, ne Forest City, is in Chafee Country a three-hour drive from Denver or Colorado Springs. Fear took root in the population at the loss of so many lives, and people started to leave the village. The residents of the town purportedly fled en masse in the 1950s after a number of unsolved murders . [9], Portlock was located adjacent to another community known as Port Chatham (which takes its name from Port Chatham bay). You Might Like Horror road movies where trips went south quickly! I think it would be a fantastic film if done right. The ghost town of Portlock, Alaska has a mysterious story. Arrive by boat early in the morning, armed in numbers. 70 years ago the people of the cannery town of Portlock, Alaska were forced to flee their homes following a series of murders and disappearances they blamed on Bigfoot, known locally as Nantinaq. However, by the 1940s, there were rumors of disappearances and murders and the discovery of giant footprints, and sightings of a hairy, Bigfoot-like creature the locals called Nantiinaq. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. Others talked of a woman in a long black dress with a pale face who would appear from the cliffs. Once hearing crashing feet coming through the woods above her until it stopped in the pitch black night above on the cliff edge of the woods. The two communities of Portlock and Port Chatham managed to endure the years of World War II as if being within striking distance of the Imperial Japanese Fleet wouldnt have been daunting enough! The people of Portlock knew what a bear looks like and this was no bear. He then explained how Juneau's Hidden History focuses mostly on things that are inherently true. Seasoned Bigfoot hunters investigate whether a huge, ape-like beast is responsible for a string of disappearances and mutilations in the remote Alaskan wilderness. He came back to us with a collection of research on strange happenings in the town of Portlock that is south of Homer. Juneau, Alaska (KINY) Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) arrived in Juneau, Alaska, for a scheduled port visit Monday. They arrived at the site of a bloody battle and no moose was found. Required fields are marked *. Most reviewers describe it as peaceful and relaxing. So, its more history than mystery here. As for prints, She heard some days about her dad complaining about large footprints, that he'd say were bear, in the snow; but he seemed troubled about them, unduely agitated in a fearful manner, and would hurry her away from them. By 1950, every single resident had left the town, leaving it abandoned. Nantinaq is a large Bigfoot-like creature that is believed to be a key factor in the abandonment of the Alaskan fishing village Portlock. Three schoolgirl murders. Something had partially dismembered and beaten them. A bush aircraft can also beach-land in Portlock. [13], Alaskan Killer Bigfoot premiered on Discovery+ on December 7, 2021. [2] Named after Nathaniel Portlock, the town was an active cannery community in the early-twentieth century. I thought she was honest, and loyal, and trustworthy. Resurrection Cemetery, Haynesville Woods try these for spookier road trips! Whatever lived in the woods above Portlock, and whatever had killed all the people, it had won. Wolves would not attack healthy humans in daylight for almost any reason, and big cats would also slink away into the forest rather than dismember human beings. He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. Portlock is located in Port Chatham Bay. In 1931, one man that was chopping wood was found murdered, seemingly by a single blow that seemed stronger than a human could manage. Whether or not this is a stronghold of Bigfoot in Alaska, you can decide for yourself. A bush aircraft can also beach-land in Portlock. Portlocks stalking and murdering Bigfoot isnt someone wed like to meet. . We know when the town and post office shut down. Indias Haunted Village: Why was Kuldhara Abandoned? Scattered across the North American continent are many ghost towns, places that were once vibrant and alive but are now long dead and abandoned. We know that there are reported murders in the area. Monster or no, people abandoned Portlock en masse. The community of Portlock began in Port Chathem bay in the Kenai Penninsula as a cannery in the early 1900's. Its inhabitants were mainly Russian folk, specifically from the Aleutian Islands which form a curving archipelago that connects Alaska and Russia while delineating the Bering Sea from Pacific Ocean. But whether you meet her or not, the scenic 20-mile drive down to this ghost town from Buena Vista makes it worth the trip. The town was abandoned by 1950 after a number of unsolved murders and disappearances had occurred. Audible . You can still see what remains of the old schoolhouse, a few other buildings, and a few abandoned cars. "Our group has always been about telling the truth and seeing what we actually see, taking pictures of stuff. Let me know if you got it. Alaskan natives were driven from their village 70 years ago by a creature they believed to be a bigfoot. Its a perfect Halloween story, though! OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. From that point, we'll let Wikipedia's single sentence tell the rest of Portlock's history: The residents of the town purportedly fled en masse by 1950 after a number of unsolved murders and disappearances. There's probably at least a half dozen already. In the 1970s, fisherman forced to take refuge from a storm reported something strange walked through their camp on two feet. In fact, according to Port Chatham Alaska history, most people wouldn't go near this place even if you paid them to do so. Bigfoot is most commonly known from its footprints (Igor / Abode Stock). Weather is good in mid-summer, but with heavy coastal rains. . Excellent worker. They called them murders, but they also included . Alaska. BEST TIME TO VISIT: Mid Summer via boat or bush aircraft COMMENTS: Accessible only by boat or via bush-plane beach landing. [14], Alaskas Best Known Cryptid Homicide Case Debunked, "Something's Afoot in Port Chatham Century-old Rumors Persist of a Terror in the Mountains", "Erling Nilson, 81, made smoked fish popular delicacy", "Mysteries of Portlock Alaska and the Abandonment of the Small Town in the 1900s", "Haunting memories 'Nantiinaq' sightings, spirits led to desertion of Native village", "This Abandoned Ghost Town In Alaska Is Downright Bone Chilling", "Alaska Magazine | Something's Afoot in Port Chatham - Century-old Rumors Persist of a Terror in the Mountains", "New Show Set in Portlock Explores Legend of Bigfoot", https://watch.travelchannel.com/show/alaskan-killer-bigfoot-travel-channel-atve-us, U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Portlock (locale), "Skeptoid #772: The Monster of Port Chatham", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portlock,_Alaska&oldid=1117862997, This page was last edited on 23 October 2022, at 23:46. Settlers came to the region around 1787 when the British Royal Navy arrived with Captain Nathaniel Portlock, exploring the southern Alaskan coastline. "That we can establish as the facts. By 1910 there was enough interest in opening a cannery at Portlock that the town became official with the opening of its post office in 1921. Posted by Doc Vega on July 23, 2019 at 2:30pm; . The size of the found footprints was more than 46 cm (18 inches) long. He came back to us with a collection of research on strange happenings in the town of Portlock that is south of Homer. At the end of the summer, we started sounding the alarm over conce "Hey Kea, I don't know if you are in aus. Ready to come with us and make this beautiful witch the best part of your shelf? [4] The population largely consisted of Russian-Aleuts. These were not people who were easily scared by wildlife, and furthermore they would be well aware of the local predators in the area. Marked with a hexing past of magic and predestination, she was chanted a prophecy by the mother of witches herself. Bodies that were recovered, having washed down the rivers into the lagoon, had strange wounds no bear could make. These are the places in Alaska where people were killed most often, according to the latest FBI numbers. On the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, youll find Portlock, Alaska, a whole town that disappeared within the state, with only a few rotting houses left of the once-vibrant village. FEATURED LISTING construction complete! Juneau, Alaska (AP) - Funding is being directed to help stock Alaska food pantries as part of a broader effort to address a state backlog in processing food stamp benefits. This left plenty of villages that became whats known as ghost towns, and theyre located all around the state. Watchlist. Major says the expedition will be the first . Dont miss the prospectors grave that tells the story of how he was shot and killed in the town. In the 1920s, a man by the name of Albert Petka supposedly scared off the hairy creature with his dogs, but not before receiving a fatal blow to the chest. All rights reserved. Seldovia, a small fishing town, is accessible only by boat or air. Return to the boat and watch if worried about safety. The Hairyman of Port Chatham and Frozen in Ice. More? She said they were much longer than a bear. This way, you can create truly unsettling designs. Giant manlike tracks, 18 inches reported closing in on moose tracks and signs of a struggle. . By 1950, the town of Portlock, Alaska was mysteriously abandoned despite being still rich in resources and a huge commercial center. Regetably though even if it doesn't see you, you'll still be smelled and or heard. But as gold and silver dried up, the number dwindled. Port Chatham is the bay that separates Elizabeth Island from the southern portion of the Kenai Peninsula. Ive been a fan of bfro.i grew up in Upstate NY , alwys knew of the tales,Been here for nearly fifteen years, Your journey has just begun. We think we understand everything through science but we arent close. It is unknown why the police, local sheriffs, or federal agents were not brought in to investigate, perhaps with the priorities of the war and the remoteness of the two fishing villages it may just have been too troublesome for authorities to expend resources and manpower over. Brian Weed is the co-founder of a group called Juneau's Hidden History that primarily keeps track of things through their Facebook page. The half-man half-beast creature is blamed for almost everything that happened to the community. . The village of Nanwalek still maintains private ownership of Portlock today. It was on Port Chatham Bay, 16 miles south of Seldovia, near the chromium mining settlement of Chrome. Nothing there but death. Bigfoot or no Bigfoot, you are on your own here. Other communities disappear simply because they have exhausted the natural resources which drew people to the area in the first place, mining towns come to mind. Before making any big decisions, you can check out whats it like on Alaskan Killer Bigfoot a recent reality show filmed in Portlock. Residents in the nearby villages of Seldovia, Nanwalek, and . "He went up there one time and never came back," said Kvasnikoff. I'm not trying to do like a Ghost Hunter special or anything, but I would like to see if there are some big brown bears in the area and what might have been seen that would cause people to be spooked.". An adrenaline-pumping excursion, look no further than tales of this now-abandoned town on the &! App for all your travel and car related needs settlers came to the region 1787! Differentiate Nantinaq from the southern Alaskan coastline past of magic and predestination, she was honest, and theyre all. 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