The Pacific Northwest has its Sasquatch. Mexico and South Texas have the Chupacabra. And Central Texas has the Hairy Man.
The legend of Round Rock’s Hairy Man dates to pioneer days. Various versions of the local legend say a young boy either fell off a wagon as pioneers headed west or was separated from them by flood waters.
However it happened, the boy then either lived on his own in the woods or was raised by local animals. Eventually the boy grew into a man and became a hermit and, well, very hairy.
The story says the hairy man frequently tried to chase away strangers and would hide in the trees to scare passers by, sometimes sitting up in the tree canopy which grew over the road, dragging his feet on the top of passing stagecoaches. One day, he supposedly fell in front of a stagecoach and was trampled to death, doomed to haunt the shady road to this day.
Hairy Man Festival
Round Rock celebrates this unusual legend with the annual Hairy Man Festival. Held in October to tie in with Halloween, the festival features the usual festival fare–crafts, food, music, kids’ activities–and some not so usual festival fun as well.
The most unusual festival activity is the Hairy Man Contest, judging, yes, the hairiest contestant.