"Minnesota Iceman" Body Resurfaces After Mysteriously Disappearing in the 70's - Who Forted 'Zine

Encino Man: Infamous “Minnesota Iceman” Body Reappears In Texas After Vanishing in 70’s

minnesotaiceman

After vanishing from the public eye for nearly half a century, one of the most infamous pieces of Bigfoot history has finally been rediscovered, and its heading straight back to the stage.

Last October, Sasquatch hunter Lupe Mendonza, reported an intriguing rumor to our friends over at Bigfoot Evidencenews that the famous “Minnesota Iceman” had been “rediscovered” after having gone missing way back in the 70’s. Mendoza claimed that both the original body, which was encased in ice for traveling displays, as well as a duplicate body created by sideshow promoter Frank Hansen, were being whispered about in certain cryptozoology circles and rumored to be making a comeback.

MinnIceman7eIt would seem that he was correct, because just a few months later in February of 2013 the following eBay auction was listed:

ADVERTISEMENT

This is the actual sideshow gaff billed as “The Minnesota Iceman” by Frank Hansen in the 1960’s. This is a one of a kind hoax that was fabricated by a mid-20th century showman. The Iceman was featured in an issue of Argosy Magazine (as you can see in the pictures) and spawned decades of debate as to its authenticity. For around 40 years the whereabouts of the Iceman were unknown to the cryptozoology community.

The body was listed for a $20,000 starting bid, but considering the hugely important role this piece of sideshow schlock played in crypto history, it should come as no surprise that the item was snatched up almost instantly by a mysterious buyer. But who was it?

Thanks to a piping hot press release, we now know that the new owner of the Minnesota Iceman is Steve Busti, owner of the Austin, Texas Museum of the Weird.

From the release:

MinnIceman8In 1968 a carnival attraction being billed as “The Siberskoye Creature” began showing up at malls and fairgrounds across America. Also known as “The Creature In Ice,” the exhibit appeared to be the body of a hairy Neanderthal or Bigfoot-like monster frozen in a solid block of ice in a refrigerated coffin.

The “Iceman” soon garnered the attention of scientists, the Smithsonian Institution, and even the FBI, who all wanted to get their hands on the creature. Then, as suddenly as it appeared, the Iceman seemed to mysteriously vanish without a trace, and along with it all hopes of ever having the body thoroughly examined.

Over the ensuing decades the enigma of the Minnesota Iceman, as it were later to be called, became the subject of many books, lectures and television shows including Unsolved Mysteries and Animal X. The story grew to near legendary status among the generation that remembered seeing it, and for over three decades the mystery of whatever happened to it became as much an open question as whatever “IT” actually was.

Now, after many years of its whereabouts being unknown, the long enduring mystery of “Where is the Minnesota Iceman?” can finally be answered.

Museum of the Weird owner Steve Busti announced today that the Minnesota Iceman is currently in his possession, and will soon be exhibited to the world once again in his Austin, Texas tourist attraction.

Busti is aiming to have the Iceman set up in his museum and open to the public within a week, with plans for a special Grand Opening event in July in cooperation with popular cryptozoology site Cryptomundo.com. Texan cryptozoologist Ken Gerhard, author of Monsters of Texas will be giving a presentation on the history and backstory of the Minnesota Iceman.

MinnIceman6

In addition to taking up permanent residence in Austin, it’s also been announced that the infamous attraction will be making a short visit to Loren Coleman’s International Cryptozoology Museum in Maine sometime next year as well, offering a good opportunity for folks in every part of the country to experience something that is truly a piece of weird history.

Are you going to go check it out next week? Be sure to send us some photos if you do!


MORE GREAT STORIES FROM WEEK IN WEIRD:


Join the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and get awesome perks!

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Shares