The Hiller Hammer
Date: May 17, 1994
Headline: Teenagers Report Bizarre Encounter at Lonely Crest Lookout

From the archives. Contributor: Spence Hutchins, Curator of the Fulton Hills Historical Society.

By Morgan Vale

FULTON COUNTY— A local teenage hangout turned into a scene straight out of a sci-fi thriller last Friday night when a group of six teenagers claimed to witness what they called “something not of this world” at Lonely Crest Lookout, a popular spot nestled deep on Yowle Mountain.

The teens, all students at Fulton Main High School, were reportedly enjoying a late-night party when the strange encounter began. According to 17-year-old Rachel Novak, the group had been joking around near the edge of the overlook when an odd humming sound interrupted their laughter.

“It started low, like a vibration you feel more than hear,” Novak explained. “Then it got louder, like it was coming from everywhere all at once. We thought maybe it was a plane, but the sound was so weird—it didn’t move, it just hung there.”

The sound wasn’t the only thing to catch their attention. Moments later, the group noticed a series of lights flickering in the woods below the cliff. Descriptions of the lights vary, with some calling them “soft blue orbs” and others swearing they pulsed red and white in patterns.

“Then we saw it,” said Danny Harper, 16, who described the figure as “big, hairy, and definitely not human.”

Harper claimed the creature appeared briefly in the clearing below before retreating into the shadows. “It had glowing eyes—like headlights—and it was holding something big in it’s hand.  Like, organic shaped or whatever. I swear, it looked right at us before it turned and disappeared.”

The teens described the figure in ways that local cryptid enthusiasts would recognize immediately: mossy fur, reflective eyes, and an unsettling silence—hallmarks of the legendary Hauntahk, a creature rooted deeply in Fulton County lore.

Not all the teens agree on what they saw. “I don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t some Bigfoot thing,” said Lisa Torres, 18, rolling her eyes. “We’ve all heard the Hauntahk stories, but this felt… different. Almost like it wanted us to see it.”

While the teens were quick to call it a “close encounter,” skeptics—including Sheriff Tom Ackley—are less convinced. “Look, it’s a popular spot for drinking and carrying on,” Ackley said. “A few beers in and anything can start looking like a monster. I’m not saying they’re lying, but let’s just say I’m not ready to call Mulder and Scully.”

For now, Lonely Crest Lookout remains the talk of the town, with local teens daring each other to visit the site after dark. Whether the encounter was a prank, an overactive imagination, or something else entirely, one thing is clear: Fulton Hills has added another chapter to its ever-growing book of mysteries.

What’s your take? Harmless fun or something more? Write in and let us know your thoughts.