Description
The Beast of Busco is a cryptid from Churubusco Lake in Churubusco, Indiana. It was first sighted in the 1940s, though there are rumors of reports dating back to 1898. It is described as a large snapping turtle, about 6 feet by 4 feet across and being covered in moss.
Behavior
The Beast of Busco appears elusive rather than aggressive. Sightings often occurred during calm summer mornings or evenings. It’s reported that the turtle surfaced briefly, sometimes long enough for a clear look, then vanished.
Aliases
Oscar
First Sighting
Legend has it that in 1898 a farmer named Oscar Fulk saw a giant turtle living in the seven-acre lake on his farm near Churubusco. He told others about it, but eventually he decided to leave it alone.
A half century later, in July 1948, two Churubusco citizens, Ora Blue and Charley Wilson, also reported seeing a huge alligator snapping turtle weighing an estimated 500 pounds. The landowner, Gale Harris, became fixated on capturing it organizing large-scale efforts that drew national media attention and crowds. Despite using divers, nets, traps, even draining the lake, no evidence of the creature was ever found.