YEAR: 1998

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: October

STATE: New Jersey

COUNTY: Sussex County

LOCATION DETAILS: Rt 94 to Great Gorge resort condos.

NEAREST TOWN: Vernon

NEAREST ROAD: Rt 94

OBSERVED: We were at Octoberfest in October 1998 at Great Gorge in Vernon NJ. We were out on the back deck which boarders the mountains and the golf course. My brother in law and sister with me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw an approximately 7 1/2 - 8 foot large figure that walked with a long steady gate, with long arms and a thick chest. It walked steadily down the mountain side glancing at us and continuing to walk. We all looked at each other before running inside. We all saw the exact same thing.

OTHER WITNESSES: 3 witnesses, we had returned from BBQ and were smoking a cigarette outside

OTHER STORIES: Not before watching finding Bigfoot then realized we were not crazy or alone

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Approximately 8pm it was a cold, damp evening.

ENVIRONMENT: Mountainous, valley

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Larry Rippon:

I spoke to the witness over the phone and I met him and his brother-in-law at the Northern New Jersey Town Hall meeting held in Newton New Jersey in June of 2014. After returning from an Octoberfest barbecue, the witness was with his sister and brother-in-law on the ground level, back yard deck of their condo smoking a cigarette when out of the corner of his eye, he observed a large tall figure with a massive chest and long arms which hung by the creatures knees.

The figure walked smoothly from right to left, glancing at them in stride as it continued down the slopped back yard until it reached a four foot wooden fence which it climbed over. On the other side of the fence is a wooded ravine which leads to a golf course. According to the witness; there was just enough daylight for them to conclude that there was no doubt in their minds that they saw a Bigfoot. The creature came from the direction of the Hamburg Mountain Wildlife Management Area, which is a 3,000 acre area of swamps, unmarked hiking trails, roads and is prevalent with black bear, deer and coyotes. The witness' brother-in-law agreed with the account as it was told by the witness. I was unable to interview the third witness as well.

About BFRO Investigator Larry Rippon:

Larry is a lifelong New Jersey resident, having lived the past 26 years in the northern part of the state. He became interested in Bigfoot after seeing the Paterson-Gimlin film when he was a young boy. Larry likes spending time with his family and is an avid hiker. He is the curator of all BFRO northern New Jersey sightings, reports and investigations. Larry has attended the following BFRO expeditions:

2014 northern New Jersey
2016 southern New York
2017 northern New Jersey
2018 southern New Jersey
2019 northern New Jersey (co-organizer)
2020 southern New York #1
2022 northern New Jersey spring (organizer)
2022 northern New Jersey fall (organizer)
2023 northern New Jersey spring (organizer)
2023 northern New Jersey fall (organizer)
2024 northern New Jersey spring (co-organizer)
2024 northern New Jersey fall (co-organizer)

If you have seen a Sasquatch anywhere in northern New Jersey, please contact me immediately.

Email: NJ_BFRO@yahoo.com
Twitter: @NewJersey_BFRO