Town distances itself from $1M Bigfoot hunt

In December of 2009 we had heard chatter that Rick Lewis might not be legit. Lewis owns Bigfoot Central, a Bigfoot themed gift shop, and museum. He also claimed he was conducting a genuine contest which consisted of a $250 entry fee and a chance to win 1 Million Dollars for photographic proof of Bigfoot. The contest was advertised at hunt4bigfoot.com (if you go to the site, all of the sudden "online registration is now closed".)

There are several signs that point to the illegitimacy of the event. For one, the host resort has never heard of the event and two, News 9 is reporting several cease-and-desist letters from companies and government organizations that were implied to be sponsors of his event



News 9 of Colorado is skeptical:

SILVERTON - For $250, photographers can enter to win $1 million for snapping a photo of Bigfoot in the mountains of southwest Colorado. The problem is the event's supposed sponsors and host resort have never heard of such a thing.
The hunt, advertised through the website www.hunt4bigfoot.com, is the brainchild of Silverton-businessman Rick Lewis. He owns Bigfoot Central, a gift shop and "museum."

Lewis is also the recent target of several cease-and-desist letters from companies and government organizations that he implied were sponsors of his event.

The $1,000,000 Hunt For Bigfoot offered a chance for 400 participants, for $250 apiece, to win the bounty for catching Bigfoot in a photograph during a July 10-14 event at Kendall Mountain Resort in Silverton.

However, the event appears to be about as real as the mythical hairy forest-dweller itself.

Silverton town administrator Jason Wells says the Kendall Mountain Resort, which is owned by the town, has never been scheduled to host the $1,000,000 Hunt For Bigfoot. Wells says the resort is booked with a different event that weekend.

"I just want to make sure that we're not somehow tied into this whole affair," Wells said. "I don't want a bunch of people showing up here who have paid $250 for there to be a lack of an event that's got the town's name in any way attached to it."

In a statement, dated 12/27/09, to Whalesinspace.com Rick Lewis released this statement.

The primary purpose of our Hunt for Bigfoot event is simply to gather together four hundred or more other Bigfoot enthusiasts, for a few days to enjoy the Great Outdoors of the San Juan region of Colorado, promote our business-Bigfoot Central and Legend of Bigfoot Museum, show off the town of Silverton in which we are located, and let everyone enjoy an evening together, Bigfoot'n at our planned $1,000,000.00 Hunt for Bigfoot closing party.

Over 17,000 people visited our Legend of Bigfoot Museum this past season and we have had many a request for such an event. With (7) recorded sightings nearby this year and a long history of encounters in this region, Bigfoot excitement is in the air and the response to our planned event has been very good. For those one or two skeptics-and there always seem to be some in a crowd-we encourage them to stay home. The $1,000,000.00 Hunt for Bigfoot event is for imaginative and fun enjoying people only.

-- Bigfoot Central/Legend of Bigfoot Museum

OUR PREVIOUS COVERAGE
$1M Contest to Capture Bigfoot Legit?
Promoters Weigh In

EXTERNAL LINKS
9 NEWS Official Report
Whales in Space Page Dated 12/27/2009