"Oscar" - The Beast Of Churubusco

The first "official" sighting was in 1948 - though there were reports as far back as 50 years before - by a farmer on a 7-acre lake near his farmhouse. A giant, prehistoric turtle, deemed "uncatchable" at the time,and reported to be hundreds of years old.

Unpredictable by nature, and often impish, the giant beast was affectionately given the name "Oscar". And the quiet little town of Churubusco quickly became known as "Turtle Town U.S.A."

Through the late '40's, there were constant low flying planes, bumper-to-bumper traffic, thousands of visitors weekly, reporters from numerous metropolitan newspapers, zoologists from big city zoos, even representatives of "National Geographic" and the Smithsonian Institution flocking in and around Churubusco - hoping to catch a glimpse of the beast. Churubusco was on the map.

Then, just as quickly Oscar was gone. No "official" sightings from the '50's on - though "unofficial" sightings still abound.

You can read more at our town site: Churubusco.net