Tag: Eli Watson

The Siege of Ape Canyon 100 Years Later: Rediscovering the Gold, Grit, and Ghosts of Bigfoot’s Most Famous Encounter

Cougar, Washington—the gateway to Mount St. Helens—anchors this century-old legend. Director Eli Watson’s film revisits the Siege of Ape Canyon through surviving family memories and quiet reflection, honouring how this local mystery became part of Pacific Northwest folklore.

Poster for The Siege of Ape Canyon documentaryComing to VOD Nov 11
AppleTV, Google Play, and YouTube

Although the gold rush was technically over, a handful of prospectors — Fred Beck, Marion Smith, Roy Smith, Gabe Lafever, and John Peterson — believed there was gold to be found in The Siege of Ape Canyon. This area near Mount St. Helens was still relatively unexplored in the 1920s; little did these men know it was also home to creatures of legend. Mass sightings of Bigfoot did not begin in earnest until after their encounter. And even after the eruption of the volcano, speculation remains rife about how many survived—or whether any did.

While Indigenous lore regarding the Sasquatch receives little emphasis in this documentary, what director Eli Watson presents is a focused examination of how the legend has gained notoriety. Producer Seth Breedlove (Small Town Monsters) backs a production that privileges storytelling and folklore over rigorous anthropological framing.

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When These Cursed Waters Aren’t As Scary. Why Do We Love The Creature of Lake Okanagan?

Cursed Waters- Creature of Lake OkanaganNow available to view on Prime Video (USA) and purchase on the official website.

Small Town Monsters is taking a break by doing something different. Instead of searching for Bigfoot in Cursed Waters: Creature of Lake Okanagan, they are investigating the legends and recent sightings of Ogopogo! This creature that’s the mascot of Kelowna, British Columbia has been sighted several times in recent years, and it seems that’s holding steady.

Ever since it was “discovered” as early as 1872 (by settlers), and perhaps longer by indigenous tribes, what makes this documentary compelling is with what locals believe it represents. This work is better because what’s presented here differs from what Josh Gates offered when he visited back in 2009 (with the episode airing in 2010), and also the TV series Monster Quest.

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