On December 23, 1976, an unusual event unfolded near Gresham, Oregon, just before Christmas. Roger Hynes, then 19 years old and dressed as Santa Claus for a family gathering, reported an encounter with a towering, hairy figure while driving home late at night.

After witnessing the mysterious creature by the roadside, Hynes immediately sought help from local authorities. His report, met with skepticism by deputies due to his festive attire, later attracted media attention and sparked questions about what he truly saw that winter evening.

Key Takeaways

An incident involving a man in a Santa suit and a reported Bigfoot sighting occurred in 1976.
The report led to police involvement and was covered by the local media.
The event remains debated, with uncertainty about what was actually encountered.

Setting the Scene: December 23, 1976

On the night of December 23, 1976, Roger Hynes, aged 19, entered the sheriff’s office in Gresham, Oregon. Still dressed in a Santa Claus costume from a family Christmas party, he reported a startling experience.

He described seeing a figure standing by the roadside while driving home—an eight-foot-tall creature covered in hair. Hynes stated that the sight left him so shaken that he immediately sought help from law enforcement.

The deputies’ response was less than serious. According to Hynes, the officers found his story amusing, in large part because of his Santa attire. When interviewed by the Lincoln Star newspaper, he recalled their laughter and disbelief.

Key details:

Date December 23, 1976 Location Gresham, Oregon Witness Roger Hynes, 19 years old Reported Creature Approximately eight feet tall, hairy Witness Attire Santa Claus suit Law Enforcement Deputies at local sheriff's office

The unusual combination of Hynes’s costume and the creature’s appearance set this event apart from other reported encounters. The incident remains notable for both its strange circumstances and the reaction it received.

Roger Hynes’ Santa Claus Outing

On December 23, 1976, Roger Hynes, then 19 years old, entered the sheriff’s office in Gresham, Oregon, wearing a full Santa Claus costume. He explained that he had borrowed the outfit to attend a Christmas gathering at his father's residence. After leaving the event, still in costume, Hynes was driving home when he spotted an unusual figure by the roadside.

According to Hynes, what he saw was an eight-foot-tall creature, heavily covered in hair. The sight startled him enough to prompt an immediate visit to local law enforcement.

Deputies present at the station found his account particularly amusing due to his Santa attire, reacting with laughter when he described the hairy figure. Hynes later told a newspaper that the deputies did not take his story seriously because he still looked like Santa Claus when he made the report.

Key Details:

Date Location Witness Description December 23, 1976 Gresham, Oregon Roger Hynes 8-foot, hairy figure by the road; Hynes wearing Santa costume

The question remains whether Hynes truly encountered something extraordinary or simply misidentified an animal during his late-night drive.

The Meeting on the Highway

First Glimpse of the Unusual Figure

On December 23, 1976, Roger Hynes was returning home from a Christmas party in Oregon. Still wearing a Santa Claus costume, he noticed a towering figure by the roadside. Feeling unnerved, Hynes decided to head straight to the local sheriff's office to report what he had seen.

Details of the Unidentified Animal

According to Hynes, the creature stood about eight feet tall and was covered in a significant amount of hair. He described the sight as startling enough that the deputies at the station could not help but laugh, especially since he remained dressed as Santa. Hynes maintained his composure and insisted on the specificity of what he witnessed.

Feature Description Estimated Height About 8 feet Appearance Hairy, imposing Witness Attire Santa Claus suit

Telling Law Enforcement About the Event

Roger Hynes chose to notify authorities immediately after his experience. Still dressed as Santa Claus following a holiday gathering at his father's place, he went to the sheriff's office in Gresham, Oregon on December 23, 1976. Hynes described witnessing an unusually tall, hairy creature by the roadside late that evening.

When speaking to the deputies, Hynes provided specific details, including his impression of the animal’s height—reporting it to be around eight feet—and noting its abundance of hair. The situation became somewhat unusual due to his Santa Claus attire, which caused the deputies to react with laughter upon hearing his story.

Key Details Provided to Authorities:

Incident Date: December 23, 1976
Time: Late evening
Location: Roadside near Gresham, Oregon
Witness Description: Wearing a Santa Claus suit
Creature Description: Approximately eight feet tall with a lot of hair

Hynes later spoke to the Lincoln Star newspaper about the reaction he received and the circumstances of the report. The response from authorities was not particularly serious, likely influenced by his festive costume and the extraordinary nature of his account.

News Coverage and Community Response

Account Reported by the Lincoln Star

The Lincoln Star included details from Roger Hynes’s story, noting his claim of seeing a creature around eight feet high with thick hair. Hynes shared that he was still dressed as Santa Claus from a party at his father's house when the incident occurred. The newspaper highlighted the unusual circumstance of his attire and the timing, emphasizing the uniqueness of the alleged sighting just before Christmas.

Key details from the Lincoln Star interview:

Detail Description Witness Roger Hynes Creature Description Eight feet tall, very hairy Date of Sighting December 23, 1976 Witness Attire Santa Claus costume

Comments from Law Enforcement

Law enforcement staff who received Hynes at the sheriff's office were described as skeptical. When Hynes explained his story while still wearing the Santa Claus costume, deputies reportedly found the situation humorous rather than alarming. Their laughter and reaction suggested they did not take the report seriously and questioned the credibility of the sighting.

Analysis: Fact, Fabrication, or Mistaken Identity?

The details of Roger Hynes's account raise several possibilities. He described the creature as eight feet tall and covered in thick hair, an image often linked to Bigfoot sightings. The fact that Hynes was still dressed as Santa Claus at the time adds an unusual twist, potentially affecting both how he was perceived by others and possibly his own experience.

Authorities did not appear to take his report seriously, partly due to his festive attire. According to Hynes, deputies laughed at his story, highlighting how context and presentation can affect witness credibility.

Several factors make it difficult to determine precisely what happened:

Detail Possible Explanation Tall, hairy figure Bigfoot, bear, or large wild animal Santa suit May have influenced witness memory Lack of corroboration No other witnesses or physical evidence

It remains unclear whether Hynes truly saw an unknown creature, mistook a known animal for something more mysterious, or if other circumstances played a role in shaping the event. The lack of supporting evidence or additional witnesses keeps the incident in the realm of personal experience and speculation.

Legacy of the Santa Claus and Bigfoot Encounter

The event known as the Santa Claus and Bigfoot encounter has become a memorable topic among both cryptid enthusiasts and those interested in unusual holiday stories. This incident took place in late December 1976, when a young man named Roger Hynes, dressed in a Santa suit, claimed to have seen an eight-foot tall, hair-covered figure while driving home from a family gathering.

Key Details of the Encounter:

Year Person Involved Location Description of Creature Notable Circumstance 1976 Roger Hynes Gresham, Oregon Eight feet tall, very hairy Witness dressed as Santa

Witness reaction played a significant role in how the story was received. Local deputies found humor in the situation when Hynes reported the sighting while still in his Santa attire. Media coverage, including a feature in the Lincoln Star newspaper, contributed to the public's fascination with this unique case.

The blend of holiday tradition with the ongoing mystery of Bigfoot has secured this encounter a special place in regional folklore. It is often referenced as an example of how extraordinary circumstances can shape the legacy of previously routine sightings.

Highlighted Aspects:

Humorous elements: The image of a Santa suit–clad individual reporting a Bigfoot sighting added levity to the story.
Witness credibility: The deputies’ reactions illustrate the skepticism often faced by those who report unusual encounters.
Cultural impact: The story continues to be recounted as a notable and unusual crossing of mythic figures.

This incident remains a talking point each holiday season, reflecting how rare experiences can gain lasting attention when unexpected details are involved.

Oregon's Christmas Cryptid: The 1976 Encounter When Santa Met Bigfoot