Pittsburgh-Area Borough Declares Itself Official Bigfoot Sanctuary

DERRY, PA — Chances are that you probably have never heard of Derry. It's a small borough of about 2,600 people located in Westmoreland County about 45 miles east of Pittsburgh.

Derry officials hope to make more people aware that it's an actual place by embracing Bigfoot.

Borough council this week approved a proclamation Tuesday from Mayor Grant Nicely declaring the creature, whose existence has never been proven, as the borough's official cryptid.

Wait. There's more.

Per the proclamation, Derry is now an official sanctuary for Bigfoot and the borough now is to be known as the "Gateway to the Mysterious Chestnut Ridge."

According to the Latrobe Bulletin, Derry officials are looking to capitalize on sightings of the large, hairy creature around the borough that go back decades. The sightings have been particularly prevalent in the Chestnut Ridge area.

The Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society (yes, there is such an organization) has yet to weigh in on the borough's action.

The volunteer group says its mission is to objectively investigate, research and collect data on the Bigfoot phenomenon in Pennsylvania. The society collects data from sighting reports, encounters, and field expeditions.

According to the Latrobe Bulletin, Derry officials are looking to capitalize on sightings of the large, hairy creature around the borough that go back decades. The sightings have been particularly prevalent in the Chestnut Ridge area.

Borough officials are mulling teaming with the state society and launching a Bigfoot museum, where they could learn more about the big guy.

Attempts to reach Bigfoot for this story were unsuccessful.