The abandoned ghost town of Portlock (also known as Port Chatham) on the Kenai Peninsula is known for its eerie history of unexplained disappearances and the legend of a menacing, Bigfoot-like creature. According to local lore, this "haunting" presence drove the town's residents to abandon their homes in the 1940s and 50s, though some sources dispute this, citing economic reasons. The most chilling aspect of Portlock's story revolves around the local Suqpiaq people's legend of the Nantinaq. The name, meaning "half-man, half-beast," refers to a hairy, aggressive, and preternatural creature said to have terrorized the villagers for years. Villagers and hunters who ventured into the surrounding woods for hunting or logging would vanish without a trace. When bodies were found, they were often dismembered or torn apart in ways that suggested something more vicious than a bear attack. Reports mention sightings of giant, human-like footprints, sometimes up to 18 inches long. Residents described feeling constantly watched by a large, hairy figure lurking at the edges of the forest. After decades of fear and escalating events, the entire community packed up and fled in the 1940s and early 1950s, never to return. 1968: A goat hunter claimed he was chased and stalked by a screaming creature. 1973: Three hunters taking shelter during a storm reported that a bipedal, growling presence circled their camp for three consecutive nights. 1990: A paramedic recalled an elderly Native man on his deathbed asking if the "it" had bothered him during his time in the Portlock area, looking terrified toward the tree line. Despite the conflicting narratives, the desolate and overgrown ruins of Portlock continue to attract those interested in paranormal mysteries and the legend of the menacing creature said to haunt the land.