OCALA, Fla. – Thousands of people are expected to head to Central Florida next month for an event focused heavily on Florida’s very own legendary “Skunk Ape.”
That’s according to the organizers behind the Great Florida Bigfoot Conference, which is scheduled for June 13 at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala.
This year marks the sixth annual rendition of the event, which organizers say will feature all of the following:
- Live Bigfoot Town Hall discussions
- Interactive exhibits and displays
- Bigfoot-themed photo opportunities
- “Skunk Ape Row” featuring vendors, artists and researchers
- Family-friendly attractions and activities
“We’ve seen tremendous growth in interest surrounding Bigfoot and unexplained phenomena over the last few years,” said Nikki Beaty of Gather Up Events. “People are traveling from all over the country to hear encounter stories, meet researchers they’ve watched on television, and experience Florida’s unique Skunk Ape culture.”
Per the event page, the conference will also host a roundtable regarding the Skunk Ape, which is the Sunshine State’s equivalent of the fabled Bigfoot or Sasquatch.
“This is not a formal lecture,” the event page reads. “It is a ‘boots-on-the-ground’ update designed to give our attendees a firsthand look at what local researchers have found over the past year.”
WHAT IS THE SKUNK APE?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said that reports of the beast claim it’s always accompanied by a “foul smell” — an odor like rotten eggs, moldy cheese or feces.
An FWC spokesperson told News 6 there is no direct evidence that it exists, though its origins could stem from people mistakenly identifying wild hogs or bears.
Despite that, many have touted its existence.
According to the FWC, three of the most recent reports of Skunk Ape sightings have come from the following locations:
- July 2020: Naples, Collier County
- January 2021: Inverness, Citrus County
- February 2021: Seawall’s Point, Martin County
However, Dave Shealy — the founder of the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee — told News 6 that there are other locations where sightings are far more common.
In 2024, Shealy explained to News 6 that many of these occurrences happen in Myakka State Park or the Ocala National Forest, but those aren’t the only locations.
“There was a sighting in the Kissimmee area on the marshlands that lay just south of Orlando,” Shealy said. “And so, I’ve been up there quite a bit recently air boating, and that’s a really unique area. I believe that it may hold more than one Skunk Ape up there.”
Meanwhile, you can find more information on the upcoming conference by clicking here.