How Remer earned the score
Population 363 (US Census 2020).
Situation A small town looking to drum up tourism with little cost.
Action Pull on an old town legend and make a controversial statement, claiming to be the Home of Bigfoot.
Result A PR battle with Willow Creek, California stirs up attention and gets people visiting.
Let’s Meet Remer, Minnesota
Intro
Remer, Minnesota lives in a slow burning PR show after a picture of Bigfoot was taken by a trail cam in 2009. Between that and the argument between Willow Creek, California and their claimant to being the home of Bigfoot, Remer, Minnesota is getting publicity with their creative city niche. Ever since this absolute 100% convincing photo was taken in 2009 of Bigfoot, Remer Minnesota has been the home of the Bigfoot.
History
As you can see, this picture is infallible proof of bigfoot.
A little history of Remer Minnesota. It started as a logging camp in the 1800s. They used the Willow River to move the lumber down stream. The town grew as the industry grew. The Soo Line Railroad would make its way into town helping the town continue to grow. William P. Remer was the town’s first postmaster and general store owner. In 1904, William incorporated the town and named it Remer and declared a township.
One reason the myth of Bigfoot lives in Remer, Minnesota is the fact that the towns founder describes having seen tracks. They were described as “Much bigger than a man’s and sunk deep in the earth.” Visual sightings were common as long ago as the late 1800’s.
People describe seeing families, including children. People would ask each other things like “Have you seen Bigfoot today?” as casually as you might talk about the weather. People even knew that the southeast corner of Big Sand Lake was where Bigfoot would nest and try to avoid it to give them their peace. They were treated like neighbors.
As the forests were cut away through the 1920’s and 1930’s, Bigfoot sightings greatly decreased in the area around Remer, Minnesota, until recently.
Tourism
Whether or not you believe in actual Bigfoot sightings, I think we can agree that Remer, Minnesota is capitalizing on these sightings. Through the summer and fall months they have events, local Bigfoot photo opportunities, and an overall Bigfoot theme.
Bigfoot Events
Remer, Minnesota creative town development into the home of Bigfoot has resulted in a lot of Bigfoot themed events. There are Bigfoot Days in July, Bigfoot Music Festival in September, Bigfoot 5k, and a Bigfoot Chili cook off. Each one of these events help bring prosperity to the area through selling merchandise, celebrating their pride in something, and making the town just a little more interesting! This creates a great deal of entrepreneurial opportunity for anyone willing to try!
PR Battle with Willow Creek, California
Willow Creek, California was the where this iconic photo was taken. Willow Creek claims to be the “Bigfoot Capital of the World” which is similar and different then being the “Home of Bigfoot”. Nevertheless, having both claiming a similar title has caused them to be featured in at least one major news program. This has the intended side effect of getting both of their cities more publicity, and it is working.
By starting a PR battle, they end up drawing more attention to the subject all together. Many people who come to visit these very fun niche towns mostly won’t believe in bigfoot but nonetheless are willing to enjoy the theme of the town, so by just getting on TV, both towns will get to show their towns off and draw awareness.
Bigfoot is also a rare theme so anyone who is interested in bigfoot elsewhere in the country has two places to explore! This theme is rare enough too that the distances it will pull people from is large.
Why the rivalry helps both towns
Willow Creek claims to be the Bigfoot Capital of the World while Remer claims to be the Home of Bigfoot. The two competing titles landed both towns on at least one major news program, and the friendly PR battle draws more attention to the theme than either town could earn on its own.
Summary
Remer, Minnesota creative town development into the home of Bigfoot has resulted in a lot of Bigfoot themed events. There are Bigfoot Days in July, Bigfoot Music Festival in September, Bigfoot 5k, and a Bigfoot Chili cook off. Each one of these events help bring prosperity to the area through selling merchandise, celebrating their pride in something, and making the town just a little more interesting! This creates a great deal of entrepreneurial opportunity for anyone willing to try!
