Most people are familiar with Bigfoot and various claims about his existence in parts of North America. Texas has its own history of Bigfoot sightings. But there is one legend many Bigfoot enthusiasts and locals find a bit perplexing and intriguing: The Legend of the Hairy Man.
The Hairy Man tale has been told in Round Rock since the 1960s. However, if the legend is true, people have seen “hairy men” in the area since the early settler days. This is The Legend of Round Rock’s Hairy Man.
- Who or what is the Hairy Man?
- Where did the Hairy Man legend come from?
- Is the Hairy Man a ghost?
- Are there Bigfoot sightings in Texas?
- What influence has the Hairy Man had in Round Rock, TX?
The Legend of the Hairy Man
The original Hairy Man legend goes something like this. Long ago, a boy fell from his family’s wagon. Left for dead, he grew up in the wilderness. Some say he was assisted by local Native Americans or even raised by coyotes.
The boy grew up and made his home near Brushy Creek, living as a feral hermit. He was covered head to foot in long, shaggy hair and was known to throw rocks, scare travelers, and chase wagons. Some say he would climb trees and swing across branches to eerily drag his toes across the tops of covered wagons, frightening the poor folks trying to make their way through his forest.
Then, one fateful evening, he falls and is killed by a passing stagecoach. According to legend, his spirit has haunted the area ever since. That’s why even though the Hairy Man is long dead, people still see him in the woods near Brushy Creek, and if you drive down Hairy Man road late at night, you might hear a scraping sound along the roof of your car, as his toenails scrape and drag in the darkness.
The History of the Hairy Man
The story of the Hairy Man dates back to at least the 1960s, but if he existed in the 1800s, why aren’t there records of him from that time? Mainly because these stories and accounts were spread by word of mouth. However, in 1891, the Austin American Statesman reported that a strange man had come to town. The man’s name was George Cook, and his entire body was reportedly covered in four-inch long brown hair. According to the reporter, three of his four children displayed the same unusual trait.
Today, we know about genetic disorders like hypertrichosis that cause excessive hair growth in humans, though it seems this family’s hair would have been exceptional even by those standards.
Cook was a farmer who received many offers to join museums, circuses, and freakshows but steadily refused, preferring his peaceful life with his family. Although there is no evidence of Cook losing any of his children when he moved to the area from Pennsylvania, it does prove that some exceptionally hairy individuals were living in Texas around the time the Hairy Man of Brushy Creek was wreaking havoc on folks on the wagon trail.
Folklore and the Hairy Man
Another interesting link is the story of Wiley and the Hairy Man. It is a famous African American folktale, first written in 1931. The story follows a boy’s encounters with an unusually hairy man and how he eventually outsmarts the beastly man and overcomes his fears.
Retellings of Wiley and the Hairy Man had a moment of popularity in Austin and Round Rock during the 80s and 90s when local school kids started performing a popular play adapted from the original folktale. It remains popular reading material for kids throughout the South. One can’t help but believe that some elements of the folktale influenced the legend of the Hairy Man.
Hairy Man Road
Folklore, unusual locals, and strange experiences might have all contributed to the legend of the Hairy Man and the lasting impact the legend has had on the community. For decades, the locals called the mysterious street Hairy Man Road, and in the early 1980s, it became official with a place on the map to the delight of some and the chagrin of others.
Some roll their eyes at the Legend of Hairy Man, while others delight in the tale. Some say the Hairy Man Legend was created to scare teenagers away from Hairy Man Road, which had become a “Lovers Lane” for local teens.
However, for those who claim to have had first-person encounters with something in the woods around Brushy Creek, it’s more than just a scary story. Even now, the walking paths and parks in the area host eyewitness claims and unusual happenings.
Sightings and Claims
For Bigfoot believers, the area around Brushy Creek is a potential hot spot. The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization claims at least one “Class A” encounter with a bigfoot-like creature in the area.
According to the first-person account, a local living near the creek claimed to hear a strange noise while at home one early evening, which caused their dogs to bark hysterically. When they went outside, they saw something they couldn’t explain—a creature they described as “tall, hairy, (…) and extraordinarily fast for its size.”
A local named Eric Palacios has made two short films about the Hairy Man, in which he interviews other locals about their experiences. The claims vary widely, including sightings of footprints, bent fenceposts, unusual sounds, rocks being thrown, and the sensation of being watched.
Some who grew up near Brushy Creek claimed that children called the area “the haunted woods” and scared each other with stories of shadow children and local rumors about native tribes performing rituals to ward off some kind of spirit. Regardless, it’s clear that many people believe there is something out of the ordinary going on around Brushy Creek despite the lack of traditional evidence.
Hairy Man Footprints
In 2017, the official Round Rock Parks and Reaction Facebook page unexpectedly posted photos of footprints found near Settler’s Park. This caused excitement on social media, encouraging families and enthusiasts to visit the park and look for the creature.
Allegedly, the FBI even reached out to Williamson County police to tell them that Bigfoot was “Most Wanted.” As it turns out, the Facebook post was staged by the Parks and Recreation team in a creative attempt to get more kids and families excited to visit the park. They even offered prizes and held a community event to put up bigfoot crossing signs.
Although the photos were fake, the buzz around the legend encouraged people to share their strange experiences. Even the Parks and Recreation team was reluctant to claim that the legend was fake, saying that they often received reports from locals.
The Hairy Man: Influencer of Round Rock, TX
This local legend doesn’t just lend itself to campfire stories and creepy bedtime tales; it has created a memorable image that is recognizable throughout the modest communities of Round Rock and Brushy Creek.
The Hairy Men Baseball Team
Named after the popular local legend, a short-lived college baseball team called the Hairy Men started in 2020, although they ended their season early because of the pandemic. They retired with a 16-11 record to their name. For the short time they existed, the popular team sold merchandise, including a t-shirt, a hat, and a foam beard featuring their mascot, the Hairy Man. Their version of the legendary character is reminiscent of a feral Yosemite Sam.
The Hairy Man Festival 
The Hairy Man Festival started in 1994 and is held annually in Cat Hollow Park, with carnival games and contests, including a Hairiest Man contest where local men compete to see whose body hair best embodies the legendary Hairy Man. It has become a staple of the Brushy Creek community. Attendance is free, but most people pay a $2 donation or drop off non-perishable food items in exchange for entry. The donations go back to the Round Rock Area Serving Center and sometimes to other local organizations. The event fosters community and fun by giving locals something unique and engaging to celebrate and give back.
While at the festival, some locals also share their own experiences of the Hairy Man. Katerina Morrow was interviewed in a piece about the festival for KUT News, and she claims to have nearly hit the Hairy Man with her car while driving with a friend at night.
Round Rock’s Hairy Man Legend Lives On
Whether the Hairy Man is a Bigfoot, a hairy human hermit, or a ghost, his impact on Brushy Creek and Round Rock is one thing that can’t be debunked. If you’re curious, why not walk down Hairy Man Road and see for yourself? Bring a camera, and you might just be the first to get a photo of a legend. Or check out the Hairy Man Festival and see what a lasting influence folklore can have on a community.
Want more Round Rock Lore? Join us on one of our Round Rock Ghost Tours: Our Family-Friendly Ghosts of Old Round Rock offers fun facts and spooky stories for all ages, and our Adults-Only In the Shadows Ghost Tour embarks on a journey into Round Rock’s Dark History and Hauntings.