Podcast Summary: Bigfoot Collectors Club – "Strange Wisconsin" w/ Chad Lewis

Date: January 28, 2026
Host(s): Michael McMillian & Riley Bray
Guest: Chad Lewis (author, lecturer, paranormal researcher)
Episode Theme: Exploring the unique landscape of paranormal lore, high strangeness, and cryptid sightings across Wisconsin, with a deep dive into its most famous cases and local legends.

Overview

In this episode, Michael McMillian and Riley Bray are joined by renowned paranormal researcher and author Chad Lewis to explore the peculiar and supernatural side of Wisconsin. From haunted schoolhouses and ghostly chickens to UFO capitals and iconic cryptid cases, the conversation takes listeners on a roadmap through the state’s rich folklore and high strangeness—with plenty of humor, thoughtful analysis, and personal stories from all involved.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Chad Lewis: Research Roots and Approach

• Early Interest: Grew up in Eau Claire, WI near several alleged UFO capitals. Joined MUFON in high school, later studied psychology with his master’s thesis focused on belief in the paranormal.
• Research Evolution: Started with a traditional academic approach but gradually shifted to experiential fieldwork, collecting local stories and legends.
  • Quote: “Was there any equipment you could use? How do you look at preserving some of this folklore and legends? So it really was a trial and error back then.” (15:02)
• Belief Patterns: Early studies found men more likely to believe in ‘cross creatures’ (e.g., werewolves, Bigfoot), while women favored internal phenomena (ESP, out of body experiences). (17:39)

Wisconsin Oddities Tour: Caryville & Beyond

• Caryville: The Microcosm of Legends (04:49–09:08)
  • Haunted schoolhouse, ghost stories (freezing boy’s desk, phantom piano/black shadow), and a spectral pastor haunting a church belltower.
  • Ghost car sightings: Phantom vehicle believed to be a drunken driver’s spirit.
  • Haunted Mary Dean island: Siren-like witch rumored to lure people into the water.
  • Quote: “In a matter of like one square mile, you have like nine legends there.” – Chad Lewis (05:06)
• Folklore of Water: Water as a focal point for indigenous and immigrant tales—sea serpents, sirens, and water panthers.

Phantom Chickens and Livestock

• Chicken Alley (Seymour, WI): Reports of people swerving for or “hitting” non-existent chickens; locals have also reported phantom pigs at the Minnesota State Fair.
  • Quote: “Some people are so convinced they've hit a flesh and blood animal that they've inquired with some of the people living on the road asking if they're missing any of their livestock… Of course they're not.” (10:18)
• Broader Phenomenon: Discussion of phantom pets and animals as recurring motifs in paranormal reports.

Wisconsin as a UFO Hotspot

• UFO Capitals: Elmwood, Bellevue, and Dundee all claim the title, hold annual festivals, and have histories of law enforcement sightings.
  • Elmwood’s highlight: Deputy George Wheeler’s sighting, being struck by a UFO’s beam and found unconscious in his squad car (20:52–23:54).
  • Quote: “We gave them [law enforcement] a lot more credibility… when this law enforcement officer… said not only did he see a UFO, but he was struck by a beam of light.” (20:52)
• Community Response: Having credible witnesses helped locals feel comfortable sharing their own stories, removing some of the taboos around reporting paranormal or UFO experiences.

Famous Encounters: Joe Simonton’s “UFO Pancakes”

• Eagle River, 1960s: Simonton claimed to exchange water with alien visitors, who gave him pancakes in return—a case investigated by Project Blue Book’s J. Allen Hynek.
  • Multiple takes: Some say it smacks of fairy folklore, others point out Simonton didn’t seek fame originally but the legend became local lore regardless.
  • Quote: “He said it was the worst tasting pancake he’d ever had. He said, no wonder they’re so small; this is what they’re eating.” (30:18)

Embracing/Normalizing the Paranormal

• Cultural Shifts: Earlier, witnesses shied away from publicity due to stigma; now, with media exposure, people are more willing to share.
  • Quote: “Whereas now after a lecture, you know, I may get 20 people raising their hand willing to tell their story…” (26:53)
• Haunted Businesses: Initially reluctant, local businesses now often capitalize on their haunted reputations.

Iconic Cryptids and Regional Monsters

Van Meter Visitor (Iowa, but close to WI)

• A giant, light-beamed, bat-like cryptid from 1903; the festival now celebrates the legend (32:43–39:12).
  • Theories: Manifestation linked to the electrification of small towns? Chad embraces the weirdness—loves “theories, bizarre, sci-fi…could have been any or all.”
  • Quote about the festival and legacy: “You don’t need a great imagination when someone says that's exactly where they shot at it.” (33:57)

The Beast of Bray Road (Wisconsin’s pop-culture cryptid)

• Werewolf-like creature sighted in Elkhorn, WI, since the late 1980s/1990s; widely publicized thanks to journalist-turned-researcher Linda Godfrey.
  • Continued Sightings: Still trickle in; area now hosts “Beast Fest” with tours.
  • Quote: “You can take little bus tours out on Bray Road. And I don’t think we lost more than a couple people while we were out there, so that’s not too bad.” (45:13)

Window Areas and Regional Strangeness

• Why Wisconsin?: The state’s combination of forests, water, and open rural space offers “all the hiding areas” for physical cryptids, but Chad also points to the Midwest’s open belief in the strange as fostering phenomenon.
  • “If these things do feed on belief, or are created by belief, this would be ground zero for it.” (49:43)

Lesser-known Oddities

• The Steinthal Thing: Bigfoot-like cryptid with three glowing green eyes, seen in a now nearly-abandoned town; the subject of teenage legend trips in the 1970s–80s. (52:24–55:12)
• Haunchyville: Lore of a hidden village of “haunches,” allegedly little people and ex-circus performers who became supernatural, fairy-like beings guarding their rural colony near Muskego Lake. (55:41–57:29)
• Phantom Chickens & Pigs: Odd, eerie, and humorous tales underscore Wisconsin’s reputation for the absurdly bizarre.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Midwest Weirdness: “In a matter of like one square mile, you have like nine legends there.” – Chad Lewis (05:06)
• On researcher mindset: “You were just kind of making it up as you went… How do you look at preserving some of this folklore and legends?” – Chad Lewis (15:01)
• On belief and credibility: “If you told me you saw a werewolf, I would believe in werewolves.” – Michael McMillian to Riley Bray (18:53)
• On ghost livestock: “People leave Chicken Alley convinced that they've run over this phantom fowl.” – Chad Lewis (11:18)
• On the paranormal economy: “Why wouldn’t you [use the legend]? So, yeah, that necessarily doesn't make it any less credible for me.” – Chad Lewis, discussing Simonton making money from his UFO encounter (31:27)
• On regional acceptance: “The Midwest nice—people believe when you tell them a story that you’re being genuine.” – Chad Lewis (49:05)
• On the strangeness of The Simpsons nostalgia: “Even as a kid, I was like, this is satire. They’re not role models.” – Michael McMillian (70:55), during the ending banter about comfort TV

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [02:42] – Introduction to Chad Lewis
• [04:49–09:08] – The legends of Caryville: haunted schoolhouse, church, cursed road, and Mary Dean Island
• [10:14–11:28] – “Chicken Alley” and phantom livestock
• [13:07–18:53] – Chad’s background in psychology, belief system research, gender differences in paranormal belief
• [19:52–23:54] – Wisconsin’s three “UFO capitals” and Elmwood’s legendary police sighting
• [27:52–31:47] – Joe Simonton’s “UFO pancakes” encounter
• [32:43–39:12] – The Van Meter Visitor and town festival
• [43:54–47:51] – The Beast of Bray Road: ongoing sightings and folklore economy
• [52:24–55:12] – The Steinthal Thing: a triple-eyed cryptid
• [55:41–57:29] – Haunchyville: legend of supernatural circus folk
• [58:57–59:23] – Chad’s latest book: Supernatural Lake Superior

Tone and Style

Throughout, the conversation is light, playful, and inclusive—Michael and Riley approach Chad’s stories with enthusiastic curiosity, weaving in their own experiences and plenty of jokes. There’s a shared sense of celebration for the weird and a deep respect for both the power of folklore and the witnesses who keep Wisconsin’s legends alive.

For More

• Visit Chad Lewis: chadlewisresearch.com
• For bonus content, old episodes, and more from Bigfoot Collectors Club: bcc.supercast.com

If you’ve ever wondered what makes Wisconsin one of America’s strangest states, this episode is your perfect roadmap—with plenty of stops for haunted schoolhouses, legendary werewolves, phantom poultry, and much more.