Albatwitch sighting in southern Lancaster County’s Fishing Creek Nature Preserve

On the evening of Saturday, April 13, 2024, an enigmatic sighting was reported in Lancaster Conservancy’s Fishing Creek Nature Preserve. Rick Fisher, renowned for his book Ghost of the River Towns, shared a perplexing tale of a possible albatwitch sighting.

For those unfamiliar with Lancaster County’s very own cryptid, the albatwitch is a 4-foot-tall hairy ape-man typically seen around the Chickies Rock area of the Susquehanna River. Not to be mistaken for a juvenile bigfoot, the albatwitch has more of a neck and has skinnier, more human-like proportions. They steal apples, hang out in trees, and throw this fruit at people if they get too close.

Local Native American groups have stories involving the creature. The Susquehannocks reportedly painted images that matched the description of these creatures on their war shields. The Algonquin told tales of a small hairy hominid creature called Megumoowesoos.

The name albatwitch is believed to be a Pennsylvania Dutch/English compound word for “Apple-snitch.” However, if you look at the German origins of the name, you can come up with “Apple-elf,” “elf-spirit,” or “gliding, escaping elf/spirit.”

Legend says this small, hairy creature terrorized picnickers at Chickies Rock in the 1800s by stealing their apples and pelting the cores back at them.

Fishing Creek Sighting

The witness’s account of that Saturday night began with strange, unnerving noises echoing from across the creek. The unsettling sounds persisted throughout the evening, accompanied by a distinct, wet dog odor. At one point, they even suspected something was hurled at them, although it was difficult to ascertain whether it was intentional or simply an object falling from the trees.

As the night wore on, the witness ventured out to relieve himself, with his companion waiting in the car, the headlights casting an eerie glow. It was then that he caught sight of it—a face resembling that of a monkey, peering out from behind a slender tree just ten feet away. The face was pale, not entirely white, with dark, piercing eyes that seemed to lock onto his.

Despite his repeated exclamations of disbelief, the creature remained motionless, its expression neither hostile nor agitated. Then, in a heartbeat, it vanished, ducking behind the tree. The tree, barely a foot wide, seemed an improbable hiding place for something of its size.

Determined to find evidence, the witness immediately checked the area but found no signs, only the lingering wet dog smell, which his buddy confirmed. Although he only glimpsed the face, he assumed it belonged to a body that blended into the darkness. The estimated height of the crouched-down creature was just under three feet.

Intrigued by the report, Rick Fisher soon visited the location to investigate further. He confirmed the sighting area, noting the tree where the creature had hidden. The ground was too packed to retain any tracks, but he did find some small depressions near the creek, which looked like heel prints and footprints. However, these led nowhere.

A half-mile up the road, Fisher discovered a path leading to the creek, with numerous shoe prints and one small barefoot print about seven inches long, likely made by a child. On top of the hill where the creature was spotted was a farm with cattle and horses. Additionally, Fisher found some bones near where the witness had parked.

This isn’t Fisher’s first interaction with the elusive beast.

Route 23 Sighting

In 2002, he was driving on Route 23 outside of Marietta early on a cold February morning when he had a strange encounter. In the distance, he saw what appeared to be a person walking in the middle of the road. As Fisher got closer, he slowed down significantly because the person seemed small enough to be a child.

Fisher wrote, “A stick-thin figure, about five feet tall, covered with hair,” stood in the road.

When Fisher flipped his high beams on to get a better look, the hairy figure turned, and he could see two yellow eyes staring back at him. Then, the figure vanished right there in the middle of the road. Fisher would later learn that he saw an albatwitch, and he was not the first to see one.

While the Fishing Creek evidence was inconclusive, the encounter remains a captivating tale of the unknown. It is another chapter in the ever-evolving tale of Lancaster County’s very own cryptid, the Albatwitch.

Visiting Fishing Creek Nature Preserve

A public gravel road that closely follows the stream bisects the 170-acre preserve. In three spots, one must ford the creek. Hikers may encounter horseback riders and bike riders at Fishing Creek. Please share the trails. For more information about Fishing Creek, visit the Lancaster Conservancy website. Shown below is the approximate location of the sighting.

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Read More

Read more stories like this in Uncharted Lancaster’s Ghosts, Monsters, and Tales of Adventure book. This 283-page book is packed with 64 unforgettable stories, all set right here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

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Albatwitch Day Festival

You can celebrate the legend of Pennsylvania’s Little Bigfoot at the annual Albatwitch Day festival in October. (check their website for the specific day). Visit albatwitchday.com for more information.

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Resources

• April 13 sighting
• April 15 investigation
• Legends of Lancaster – The Albatwitch