A Three-Year-Old From Cherokee Out-Hunted Everyone for Carl the Bigfoot This Summer

By Jon Tharp, Broker  ·  September 22, 2026

Three-year-old Phoebe Lambert of Cherokee spent her summer chasing a six-foot Bigfoot across the mountains, and she got to him first. When Carl, the Visit Smokies Bigfoot Buddy, settled into his eighth and final hiding spot in September, Phoebe was the first participant to find him. She now holds the title of Ultimate Sasquatch Hunter of 2026, and she celebrated the way any three-year-old should, twirling in her crown. (maconsense.com)

Phoebe calls herself Carl's best friend. Given that she followed him across the region all summer, that seems fair.

Nearly 700 Check-Ins Across the Southern Smokies

Carl's summer tour produced close to 700 check-ins at eight businesses and attractions, all of them featured in the official Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina Travel Guide. The hunt ran from June 1 through September 21, and Carl moved to a new location every two weeks, with clues posted on the Visit Smokies Facebook page. (visitsmokies.org, wlos.com)

The rules were simple. Find Carl, take a photo with him, scan the QR code on site, and pick up that stop's commemorative token. No two tokens were alike. Each check-in also entered the hunter into that location's raffle, and one hunter per stop got a spin on a prize wheel loaded with Sasquatch-themed surprises and gifts from regional businesses, including donated $25 Mast General Store gift cards. (maconsense.com, visitsmokies.org)

More than a dozen hunters committed to finding Carl at every stop, turning the summer into a race to the finale. Trailhound Media helped produce the reveal videos that tracked Carl's movements. (maconsense.com)

This was Carl's second year on the trail. WLOS reported that the hunt was back for round two. The station described Carl as a hidden life-size sasquatch mannequin and said the hiding spot at the time of its report was open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. (wlos.com)

Where Carl Hid

Carl's stops included Highlands Aerial Park in Macon County, the American Museum of the House Cat in Jackson County, Buck Bald Brewing in Cherokee County, and Stecoah Valley Arts and Heritage Center in Graham County. (maconsense.com)

He also turned up at Fryemont Inn in Swain County, Oconaluftee Indian Village on the Qualla Boundary, Waynesville Soda Jerks in Haywood County, and Tiger's Store and Chinquapin's in Clay County. That is a fair sampling of this corner of the state, from an arts and heritage center in Graham County to a cat museum in Jackson County. (maconsense.com)

Visit Smokies said the hunt did a few things at once. Families traveled together. Residents found businesses in their own communities they had never walked into. Visitors ended up at places they would not have found on their own. A few of the youngest hunters were understandably wary of an oversized, hairy stranger, but far more of them took to Carl and the trip he created. (maconsense.com)

A New Family Tradition in Waynesville

For Phoebe's mother, Dawna Paul, the hunt left the family with something that will last longer than the crown. They already liked Waynesville Soda Jerks and its sodas made with real ingredients. Chasing Carl brought them to the company's storefront and soda bar for the first time, which serves sodas and slushies on tap. (maconsense.com)

"Now it's our new little tradition," Paul said.

That is the part of the story to pay attention to if you own a business here. Carl brought a family from Cherokee to a Waynesville soda shop, and they plan to keep coming back. Visit Smokies credited the participating businesses for bringing creativity and enthusiasm to every stop and called their involvement essential to the season's success. (maconsense.com)

What Carl Does Next

Visit Smokies has not said where Carl is headed in 2027. Phoebe's family has already put in a request. "Next year, Carl needs to go somewhere they have crab legs," Paul said. The organization has said crab leg recommendations are welcome. (maconsense.com)

Visit Smokies is also recruiting. Businesses interested in hosting Carl next year or joining the regional tourism network can contact the organization by email. VisitSmokies.org is where you can plan a trip or request a copy of the travel guide. Smoky Mountain Host of North Carolina operates Visit Smokies, which represents Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary. (maconsense.com, visitsmokies.org)

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Great Sasquatch Hunt in the Smokies?

It is a summer scavenger hunt run by Visit Smokies, the regional tourism organization for Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties plus the Qualla Boundary. A life-size sasquatch mannequin named Carl hides at a different business every two weeks, and hunters follow clues on Facebook, take a photo with him, scan a QR code to check in, collect a token and enter that location's raffle.

Where did Carl hide in 2026?

Carl's eight stops were Highlands Aerial Park in Macon County, the American Museum of the House Cat in Jackson County, Buck Bald Brewing in Cherokee County, Stecoah Valley Arts and Heritage Center in Graham County, Fryemont Inn in Swain County, Oconaluftee Indian Village on the Qualla Boundary, Waynesville Soda Jerks in Haywood County, and Tiger's Store and Chinquapin's in Clay County.

How can a business become a Sasquatch Hunt location?

Visit Smokies is recruiting now for future hunt locations and for its regional tourism network. Interested businesses can contact the organization by email. The official Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina Travel Guide can be requested at VisitSmokies.org.