My little sister bought it for me when I was in college. It was a remarkably lifelike gorilla suit, complete with a mask, hands, and even feet. She spray-painted it white (I suppose for camouflage since she bought it in winter).
I will not here retell any Great White Ape escapades which occurred during my college years, as their revival may prove a bit too rowdy for some more sensitive readers.
But eventually my sojourns in that suit began and fed the legend of the Great White Ape of Steele Creek Park.
While teaching elementary school, at least once a year I would intertwine my lessons with stories of the legendary creature that inhabited the deep woods of our local, beautiful Steele Creek Park - a true natural gem that encompasses thousands of fully wooded acres, making it one of the largest city parks in all of Tennessee (and apparently plenty big enough to provide ample habitat for a large hairy primate).
Early one spring some thirty years ago, one of the dearest friends I ever had, Glen Eads, and I were teaching together at Bristol’s Highland View Elementary. We soon planned to take our classes on a full day field trip/hike at Steele Creek Park - so I found it was the perfect time to unwind a Great White Ape yarn.
The day before our trip, I “warned” the children about the legend. I told how a circus had once come through town and camped in the area that is now the Park.
I told of how the circus’ most special attraction was a huge albino gorilla.
The Great White Ape, he was called by all.
In spite of his great size and strength, the Ape was shy and gentle. He had especially grown to love visits with children.
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