Then my son started asking me about the rougarou legend and I was like a wha t? The officer reported that the creature crossed a 22 foot wide street in three strides. About half way back to the railroad crossing, 100 yards up the road. It will begin to recount the pennies, continuously perplexed as it encounters the number 13, until sunrise. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. Wow, this is most definitely going to be my art project gonna be difficult but I'll get it done. A 9ft tall man with a black beard and what appeared to be a cloak of brown fur hanging from his neck by a rope. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. The Rougarou myth is even so prevalent that the term "rougarouing" or similar terms have become used to describe a person who stays up late or is active at night. If you dont have the stomach to fight the beast, you can protect yourself through other means. "This thing had a flat back. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Every year in October, there is a festival held in downtown Houma called the Rougarou Fest. I think its fascinating,'' said Brettel. The Rougarou (Cedar Point) roller coaster is located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Even the act of self-defense could be life-altering. Could these sightings be and unknown species of hominid living for the most part, undetected in the southeast Louisiana wilderness? There was thick wet swamp on both sides. But as someone who lives in Louisiana and knows many Catholics who break Lent, I'm not so sure about this myth's validity. Remnants of history freckle the map, whether its old and potentially haunted buildings, abandoned theme parks or even museums with some very strange collections. This particular evening something strange caught the seminary students ear. After Ford's death, a grainy film reel was found in his attic that shows a large and hairy figure shuffling upright between the trees. This continued for 15 minutes until the sound started to travel away. The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it. The woman also reported finding hair all over the yard front steps, and porch. In others, they are demonic forces that play tricks and lead you to your demise in the swamps. In a new subdivision that was still being developed named Sheryls Meadows, a 12 year old riding their mini-bike along with their cousin saw a lumbering creature approximately 500 yards away. I grew up that way and you would hear about strange things.. To kill some time before his date, Mr. Nameless decided to take an evening cruise down Peavine Road to the lake. That's how I knew it wasnt a bear, another witness reported. by Joel Balsam October 19, 2022. One recent supposed sighting came from a woman in Harvey, Louisiana, who claimed she saw a Grunch eating one of her neighbor's dogs. While you're in Houma, don't forget to stop by A-Bear's, home to some of the most delicious homemade desserts in Louisiana. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. Thats no werewolf, though. The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover. It's got to be the Rougarou, the infamous werewolf of the bayou. When travelling down the interstate or the backroads in Louisiana, youll see lots of beautiful scenery. The student claimed it was the exact same sounds they heard during their encounter. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. The plantation's most popular (and yet to be debunked) encounter is the apparition of a young . For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. Kliebert was stunned when he saw this giant approaching him. The Rougarou, or as others may say, Loup garou, is a bayou-dwelling werewolf. These monsters are said to roam the cities, swamps, and scary places of Louisiana in search of their next victims, and its to your benefit to stay educated if you want any hope of survival. There are also stories of an enormous monster that also shares the bayou with the Rougarou and that is the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisiana's "bigfoot of the swamp." Another telling of the story says that the Rougarou is under a 101-day curse, unless the affected person can transfer the curse to another human . Today, theyre suave and sexy, thanks in part to pop culture hits such as Interview with the Vampire, Twilight, and True Blood. The tales of the Rougarou have many variations, but it is mostly described as being a hulking beast, up to 10 feet tall, with the hair covered body of a human and the head of a wolf or in some cases a . Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. On a moonless night those are the darkest woods Ive ever trekked through.that includes the Black Forest, Mark Twain National Forest Missouri, the hills of West Virginia, and the Pine Flats in New Jersey. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Louisiana has the most unique culture Ive discovered in the US and thats saying something being a native of Appalachia. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. The creature ran two city blocks before absconding into the marsh. Its popularity has seen it placed on shirts, mugs, in Hollywood and even seen roller coasters named after it. According to these legends, the Rougarou when it comes across the pennies will begin to count them. So this happened to me a few years ago, I was visiting a friend's house in the Houston River area, that section of the river is pretty swampy so we were frog hunting at night. There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. Some even suggest a mix of biological and fringe. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. I am a journalist from Louisiana who has always been fascinated by folk lore and its cultural impact. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! The lady said, "The next day, a distinguished physician arrived in town with his right arm bandaged and cut. Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. It has the face of a canine with many sharp, frightening teeth. Growing up, my Mom always called it the Wigawoo, and I never knew any different til I was 30something. I dont remember verbatim what he told me that day but the gist of that conversation has stuck in my psyche with clarity for nearly 30 years. Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. No purchase necessary. Rougarou Fest/Facebook. People who didnt have a lot of physical or social power in society found a way to survive through being clever., Even Louisianas infamous and very real alligators have undergone a rebranding. Its fingernails are grisly claws. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans. For the original report of this sighting visit bfro.net Report #2764, Late October, near Sorrento, Louisiana a commuter was heading home. Tell your version of this mythical creature in Louisiana in the comments below! Foret is now director of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, a nonprofit that educates students, in the classroom and on field trips, about the challenges of sea level rise, climate change, and living in a coastal communityone still recovering from 2021s Hurricane Ida. All rights reserved. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. all proceeds from rougarou fest go to the south louisiana wetlands discovery center click here to learn more. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. Your email address will not be published. The Rougarou is often also associated with the Skunk Ape or the Honey Island Swamp Monster, likely due to another variation of the myth that states the creature is a shapeshifter that can change forms between human and animal at will, sometimes making it seem more like a swamp Sasquatch than a werewolf. However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. For instance, in 2015, the floorless roller coaster Mantis was renamed Rougarou. Years later, as a middle school teacher, hed mention the beast to his students only to learn theyd never heard of it. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dads house for the evening. A monster? We got kicked out of Nova Scotia, and now were getting kicked out of Louisiana and it just feels like theres some generational trauma linked to being forced to move over and over again, he says. The tale of Rougarou originates from Southern Louisiana, and is often told to young children to prevent them from misbehaving. Aside from snakes and alligators, there are lots of predators and other scary things living there. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. Nothing is going to hurt me. The student also stated that he did not want to alarm the creature by running off. Offer subject to change without notice. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a voodoo priestess. At the annual October events rougarou costume contest, the fests mascot is reimagined hundreds of different ways, including as an eco-activist. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou or another scary Louisiana monster before? A simple yet effective trick to protect oneself from the beast. Address: Rougarou Fest, 7910 W Park Ave, Houma, LA 70364, USA. In this version, the Rougarou is in human form during the day, only transforming at night, meaning he could blend in with society and no one would ever know! We do have water spirits, such as Leviathan, a giant alligator spirit, who is actually mentioned in the Bible. Great words, you could make a short story out of that Peason Ridge setting! They take up residence in your home and play harmless tricks on you, so you shouldnt be too alarmed. And then I realized that is what I saw! One of the most popular stories that gets passed down from generation to generation is the legend of the Rougarou, Cajun Countrys answer to Bigfoot. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. The Husband also described the creature as being dark in color and large. Full report can be found on http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html. For more information, visit the Rougarou Fest website, and don't forget to give them a follow on Facebook so you don't miss out on any announcements. Once turned around, the cousin looked back and observed the creature now walking in the middle of the road and at a quicker pace toward the children. What he told me next has stuck in my memory, and was the spark that lit the flame regarding personal interest I took in all things weird, and strange. Its too late to turn back! The friend forgot her purse in the car. Thank you! The man heard a noise behind him; he turned around and witnessed two large, red eyes staring back at him. What I saw scared the life out of me. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. It was enough just enough working knowledge for me to form an opinion. How safe are you from this magnificent monster? We may never really find out.. If this witness tells anyone about this encounter within a year and a day, they will become a Rougarou themselves. Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. For instance, instead of labourer, meaning to plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say rabourer. He might even be neighbors with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisianas bigfoot of the swamp..
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