HAPPY CAMP, Calif. — Gold was the first discovery in Happy Camp. Legend has it the town was named after prospector James Camp found some of the precious metal and said it was "the happiest day" of his life. The other discovery in this area was Bigfoot.
“You know some pretty sane people say they are not sure what they saw but they saw something,” says Cheryl Wainwright who co-created the town's iconic 15-foot-tall Bigfoot statue out of old mining equipment.
“The leg is from an old hydraulic mining pipe, and it came from a mine called Muck-a-Muck,” says Wainwright.
The mythical creature and the gold rush history inspire artists of all kinds to create whimsical art. Drive down Highway 96 a few blocks from the bigfoot statues and you will find the odd yard art outside Mr. T’s workshop.
“I do a little bit of everything including what the kids like,” says David Timbrook.
Mr. T is what his students call him. David Timbrook is his real name and when he’s not teaching at Happy Camp High School, he’s creating a variety of unique sculptures and functional art that he sells or gives as gifts.
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All along Highway 96 you’ll more Bigfoot art, but if you stop by the Kingfisher Market you will see a colorful mural depicting the history of Happy Camp. Paintings and sculptures are just one type of media made in this mountain town.
In 2014, independent filmmakers shot a fictional horror movie called Happy Camp which was about mysterious kidnappings in the woods. Could it be Bigfoot? Who knows? Wainwright says few people in town saw it.
“Not my kind of movie,” laughs Wainwright.
Happy Camp likes to make big art that can be seen far away, and one of the biggest in town is the unofficial world’s largest dream catcher.
“It’s 113 feet in circumference and 36 feet wide,” says Wainwright.
The dream catcher was the brainchild of artist Dennis Day in 2006. After he passed away in 2019, Wainwright and her husband restored the dream catcher in Day’s honor.
“Dennis who was an amazing, talented guy,” says Wainwright.
From the Klamath River that runs through town to the colorful forest, it is easy to see why the beauty of Happy Camp inspires so many artists in this area. Maybe if you visit it will inspire your creative side. Just keep an eye open for Bigfoot.
MORE BIGFOOT ON THE BACKROADS: See Bigfoot and his friends at a historic roadside attraction.
