(Other Hominoid) Tennessee Wildman
“A Strange and Frightful Being”
The Tennessee Wildman is an elusive and terrifying creature that has been sighted in the eastern part of Tennessee. Stories of the mysterious Wildman and feral people of the Appalachian Mountains has been reported for well over a 100 years and they still continue to this day. Most can't be explained.
The origins of the Tennessee Wildman goes way back to the 1800s in McNairy County, Tennessee. One of the stories is that a circus freak showman somehow captured the beast and put him on display in a cage to where everyone can see him for exploitation until it finally broke free. The description of the Tennessee Wildman is much similar in appearance to Sasquatch but only more human
He supposedly has either dark grey hair or dark ginger hair, is about 7 feet tall and is always accompanied with piercing red eyes. It is known to spout out a disturbing war cry that can frighten anyone that hears it and has a horrible smell that's reminiscent to the Skunk Ape. It's very aggressive in behavior and could possibly be the archenemy of Sasquatch ironically, often fighting for territory reasons. Not surprisingly the Wildman possesses great strength, agility and speed. There have been many groups of men that have went out hunting for the creature but all the times, usually they don't find anything or something traumatizing happens. The monster is known to have a strange targeting obsession with dogs and women. Many women came out to say the Wildman had attempted to snatch them up and carry them away. It is suspected, however, that these attempts were always unsuccessful.
The latest known Wildman sighting took place over 20 years ago near Elizabethton, Tennessee. Robb Phillips, along with his cousin, were on a night hike to Bee Cliffs. Through the rain, they noticed something strange in the forest; everything had become completely silent. The sound of a snapping twig broke the silence, followed by a horrible inhuman scream unlike the hikers had ever heard. The men fled separately through the darkened wood, with Phillips soon finding safety behind a tree. It wasn't long after that he spotted the Wildman clinging to a nearby tree, about 15 feet away. Robb heard his cousin break for the hill, and he followed suit.
Phillips' account corresponds slightly with the initial tales of the Tennessee Wildman. He was described as "stout", about 9 feet tall with red, beady eyes, a set of claws and a horrible, pervasive "stink" that Phillips compared to the stench of a dead animal.
It is unlikely that the Tennessee Wildman has lived almost 150 years in the Tennessee mountains. It may be assumed, then, that more than one of these creatures exists. Or could the creature sighting in the Bee Cliffs area be something else entirely? It wasn't only Tennessee that this creature was sighted, since some reports also came from Kentucky.
Summary...
The "Tennessee Wildman" is a cryptid, or mythical creature, from Appalachian folklore, particularly associated with eastern Tennessee. It is often described as a tall, hairy, ape-like humanoid with glowing red eyes. Sightings date back to the 1800s, and reported encounters describe the creature as being powerful, sometimes aggressive, and with a foul odor.
Appearance and traits
- Height: Often described as over 7 feet tall, with some accounts suggesting as tall as 9 feet.
- Build: A stout or muscular humanoid figure.
- Hair: Covered in dark, shaggy hair, with some descriptions noting it to be a grayish or ginger color.
- Eyes: Always described as having glowing red eyes.
- Other features: Some reports mention claws or a foul, rotting smell associated with the creature.
Behavior and historical accounts
Behavior:
Described as being more human-like than Bigfoot, though accounts vary on whether it is aggressive or simply mischievous. Some early reports claim it attempted to abduct women.
Early sightings:
Reports of the Tennessee Wildman date back to at least 1871. One 1878 account from TNGenWeb describes a "freak of nature" who lived off the land and could hold his breath underwater for long periods to catch fish.
Notable encounters:
A group of hikers in Elizabethton reported a 1995 encounter where the creature was seen clinging to a tree in a nearby area.
In 2012, a man in McNairy County claimed to have seen an 8-foot tall creature with red hair and eyes chasing his dog, OutdoorHub.
Possible origins
Folklore:
The creature is often viewed as a cryptid, blending elements of local folklore and Bigfoot myths.
Inbreeding theory:
Some speculate the story originated from tales of inbreeding in isolated Appalachian communities.
