Urban Wilderness: The Official Turkey Mountain Podcast · RSU Radio

Sasquatch, Sanctuary, and Sending It

·24 min·1 clip

A Turkey Mountain April Fool's press release said an 'unidentified creature' was not Bigfoot.

1. Urban Wilderness: The Official Turkey Mountain Podcast centers this episode on Sasquatch, sanctuary, and new trail work at Turkey Mountain. 2. Tip Crowley hosts with Ryan Howell, who tells the Bigfoot story and gives the construction updates because he has been managing Turkey Mountain events and pandemic response. 3. The episode asks how a Bigfoot costume became a public-facing Turkey Mountain mascot and what new trail projects are coming next. 4. Ryan says the idea started after Base Camp 2019, when he bought a Bigfoot outfit for a planned 2020 appearance at the family campout. 5. He says COVID-19 hit in March 2020, Base Camp was canceled, and his work shifted from events like Tulsa Oktoberfest, Folds of Honor Freedom Fest, and 4th of July to pandemic response. 6. Ryan describes social distancing signs, pavement stickers, and a social media campaign that told people how to use outdoor space during COVID-19. 7. He says he put on the Bigfoot outfit and had friends post blurry photos from Turkey Mountain so people would think Bigfoot had been seen there. 8. Ryan says the character was renamed Social Distance Sasquatch and tied to hand-washing for 20 seconds and staying six feet away from strangers. 9. He says the plan worked too well because people called the office asking if Turkey Mountain was safe and whether they could hunt Bigfoot. 10. Ryan says a Turkey Mountain April Fool's press release quoted 'multiple reports of an unidentified creature' and said it was 'absolutely not' Bigfoot. 11. He says the release triggered Bigfoot bloggers, Bigfoot researchers, and phone calls from people who wanted witness contact information. 12. Ryan says Newsweek called the office and ran a story about a park worker dressed as Bigfoot. 13. He says the article appeared in a 'heroes of the pandemic' series alongside doctors, police officers, volunteers sewing masks, and nurses helping families say goodbye on iPads. 14. Ryan says he felt the comparison was ridiculous, but he appreciated that the joke gave people a laugh during a stressful period. 15. Tip notes that the legend still lives on today, pointing to the metal Sasquatch at Turkey Mountain and joking about Ryan's costume at home. 16. Ryan then turns to the water tower trails, saying the groundbreaking for The Sanctuary at Turkey Mountain is set for Wednesday, October 2nd at 1 p.m. at the upper parking lot. 17. He says the sanctuary name came from donors Daryl and Julie Christner Family Foundation and that the area is intended to feel more peaceful and harder to reach. 18. Ryan explains that crosswalks, rapid flashing beacon signals, and safety signage are being added because the street crossing is not safe yet. 19. The episode has a conversational, update-driven format, with Ryan giving long, detailed explanations and Tip steering the discussion between the Sasquatch story and current projects. 20. People interested in Turkey Mountain trail updates and local Tulsa park history will get the most from it; listeners wanting a short, tightly focused narrative may skip it.

As heard by us

A local Bigfoot prank anchors a Turkey Mountain update with trail news and pandemic-era lore.

Turkey Mountain's Bigfoot prank gives the piece its lift, and the rest of it stays close to the ground: trail updates, current projects, and the next round of work at the park.

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Why you'd press play

A Bigfoot prank that turns into Turkey Mountain trail news.

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