Family Terrorized by Bigfoot in Upstate New York

Bigfoot terrorized a family in Kinderhook, NY during the 1980s. Bruce Hallenbeck shares the shocking experience.

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In a small town in upstate New York a strange creature shocked residents during the 1980s. Three generations of the Hallenbeck family witnessed a bigfoot like creature in the area around their home.

In 1981 they shared their story on PM Magazine, a syndicated TV show. Through archival clips, and a recent interview with one of the witnesses these shocking bigfoot encounters are retold.

Is it possible that bigfoot roams the woods of New York's Hudson Valley?

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[SMG-lzzq]

Please do more bigfoot videos. I really like them. You narrate very well and the subject matter is very interesting.

[JohnKSedor]

We've had 3 face to face encounters in Connecticut where I grew up. Two of them were in our kitchen window scaring the daylights out of my sister. My Father 82nd Airborne Paratrooper set a trap for it if it returned, which it did. When it came back, again my sister screamed, my Dad ran outside and sprayed it with the hose which he kept turned on right near the kitchen door. He was about 10 feet away and it lunged at him then went back into the protected Watershed property of about 2, 000 acres. I remember him yelling at it while he sprayed it with a "hey, hey!" Trying to scare it away. When he came back inside, he said whatever that was it was big and definitely not pranksters. The third encounter was one coming into our campfire light. Our friend started screaming and shaking so bad that we had to escort him home. He kept saying he saw a monster. My Dad ended up buying a rifle and a box of ammo and kept it by the kitchen door for that Summer. Interesting, this wasn't in some far flung mountainous region or deep wilderness area but in Connecticut, a State with a fairly well developed manufacturing and industrial base but is still considered 60%woodlands even in 2024.

[mernaloy]

My parents moved from the suburbs of Westchester to upper Red Hook in 1982. They bought a farm not far from Kinderhook. My mother said they heard strange noises at night for a while. And our dog disappeared.

[lostinpa-dadenduro]

Ever notice that in 99% of cases, they never enter the house. They might bang on the outside, look in the windows and what not, but they never enter. Even though they might be strong enough to tear down a wall.

Various other paranormal creatures can’t cross the threshold of a home either. What up with that?

Remember the encounter with the “werewolf” pack in Palmyra, Maine? They terrorized those people all night, ran up on the roof and all kind of stuff, but never once broke in a window or forced their way in. Why? What stopped them?

[monty]

I live in a neighbouring village and have seen something very similar here. I saw it cross the road from some thick woodland in the edge of the village. This was roughly 1994. I have heard wood knocking type sounds and almost human cries in the distance at night over the years. Had no idea there had been another sighting as nearby as Cotgrave!

[crushmash]

Great job, you have a nice calm voice, love from Ontario Canada

[lestorhaslam]

Great video, very natural and truthful people with nothing to gain from their narrative. Thank you.

[lundysden]

My friend and I were camping in western Schoharie county around 1995 or so. We heard very similar things one day. Later that night in pitch blackness in thick woods something walked around our camp about 60 yds away pounding on trees with a club. It did this for an hour with our fire burning. A thunder storm moved in and we spent the rest of the night with guns loaded unable to sleep in the pouring rain and lightning. It was terrifying. we were 5 miles from a main road or house.

[cbrippee]

Not a surprise for Bigfoots to be around this area, with the various brooks connected to the Hudson River. Just a few years earlier to the north there was the famous Whitehall Bigfoot seen by police officers. The fact is they have acclimated to raiding houses in rural areas looking for easy garbage and small livestock and fruit and vegetable meals. And at night looking in windows or slapping houses and making all sorts of crazy loud screams, I do believe is entertainment for them. It has happened to me, both in Michigan and here in the countryside of Darke County, OH.

[bluize]

@Eruk Swanson, After watching this video and the one about Walter, Ive subbed to your channel. You are a great narrator, and you respect your guests. You allow them to talk with no interruptions. I realky enjoy that. Thank you.

[giokyo]

The quality of these videos are amazing! Subbed!

[julienielsen]

I like to hear about the older encounters. I enjoyed this. Thanks !

[johnharmon]

Great vid Erik, bigfoot really is a mysterious creature. Thank you and god bless fella.

[Vlaud]

I've never personally experienced anything like this, but I'm a true believer. Even when others dont believe, they have to pause and look at the facts that... Our oceans are what... 98% unexplored? So are our wildlife areas. Evidence comes out of each area almost every day. The Oceans, the wilderness, something's 'definitely' living out there.

[jessiesalisbury]

Hi, I hate to dissapoint you but Sasquatch doesn't just show up anywhere. If he is there he has been there time and time again over time. He (she) does not travel alone. They live in family groups. I know these things from my own experiences with these creatures. My encounters began when I was 8 year old, and I've had many encounters up to this present day. Also you need to be aware that females and their very young go in groups away from the big males and the older young ones, I know this for a fact. So whatever you do out in the outdoors (even in your very back yard), be careful, arm yourself with a high power gun and don't go alone. There is no proof but if a Sasquatch will kill and eat a deer it would be even easier for them to kill you as well. And don't forget food is food to them.

[brianneeley]

Grew up half of life in Washington and Warren Counties in NY. Spent time in woods never saw anything. Was a Deputy Sheriff in rural VA on WV line and on a disturbance call with no Game Warden available i saw an 8ft+ 450lb upright Canid. Encounter non violent but primal fear was felt. If they exist no doubt BF does but i would rather have seen a bf any day.

[catskillmountainhomebody]

I have lived in the NY Catskills for 18 years...I wish I could see a Bigfoot. Sadly, I've never seen anything here...maybe someday! I will keep an eye out.😊

[johnholt]

Around this same time period (1980) in the Catskill mountains near the Pepacton reservoir, I had a couple of strange experiences. First, my friend and I were fishing one morning where the east branch of the Delaware river enters the reservoir. The water level was low and there were wide mud flats along the stream. We came across a line of what looked like very large human footprints following along the stream headed east toward Margaretville. We measured the prints to be 17 inches in length. They were clear as day and went for about a quarter mile before veering off into the woods. A few months later in the same area, another friend and I heard deep, loud howls coming from the hillside across the valley from where we were at. Maybe 3 or 4 howls separated by 30 seconds each. I've never forgotten those incidents. I'm an avid trail runner and always in the woods, but have never heard or seen anything else.

[mhmmwv]

Back in the late 80s early 90s i was camped out by myself along the Delaware river in Calicoon / Long Eddy area. Something very heavy and walking on two feet walked upto and around my tent. It was so heavy it shook the ground beneath me. The one thought that crossed my mind was do not show your head by looking outside for it. If whatever it was wanted to hurt me it was going to have to take a chance of getting shot. I racked a fresh round into my 8mm k98 and it walked away. The next morning I woke up to a half a foot of snow. No tracks.. had other odd things happen on two other hunts but nothing compared to this..

[therightisright]

If it was alleged to be a large grizzly or cougar the news reporter wouldnt try to make light of it as a joke. The damn things are real, people and theyre the main reason why so many people are missing from parks and woods.