Felton’s Bigfoot Discovery Museum will become a thing of the past

FELTON, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Bigfoot Discovery Museum owner Michael Rugg confirmed to KION that the 20-year-old museum is slated to close pending the sale of both the property that the museum sits on, as well as the Bigfoot artifacts within the museum.

"I'm trying to sell the property that the museum is on for $450,000," said Rugg. "The man who was once on a TV show called, 'Finding Bigfoot,' is coming from Oregon to buy my Bigfoot collection for his museum."

Rugg said that he's working with an agent to assess potential property buyers. He also said that when he first opened the museum 20 years ago, it was zoned differently. "The property has been zoned residential, so the next property owner will not be able to have a business here," he said. "That zoning changed a while ago."

The buildings--there are three on the lot--were built in 1949 and house two exhibitions and one shed. In the building behind the main entrance area, sits a large Bigfoot holding a tree in its lap.

"Anywhere from 35 to 40 people up to 70 people come through the museum daily," said Rugg. "On average we see 50 people per day."

Of the around 50 museum visitors daily, Rugg said that they see "quite a few locals. There is a map on the wall where Big Foot has been seen in the Santa Cruz area," he said.

As far as museum supporters go, Rugg said that his step daughter has a restaurant nearby and his brother has a business next door fixing musical instruments. "We have a lot of supporters," he said.

The museum does not yet have a projected closing date, and Rugg says that they plan to stay open during their regular operating days and hours; Friday through Monday from 1 to 5 p.m.