NEW WASHINGTON, Ind. — Sasquatch has been spotted in a small southern Indiana community.

And a black bear. And a buffalo. And a whole host of other unusual creatures.

They’re actually fiberglass statues — scattered throughout the small town of New Washington, about 30 miles northeast of Louisville, Kentucky, and placed there a week ago by forces mysterious even to those who frequent the area.

“I have no idea what’s going on here,” said Jake Fouts, a New Washington resident, while filling up his vehicle at the Four Quarters Mini Mart.

Neither did Sophia Harper, who was questioned while browsing the selection at her cousin’s store, Aunt Bee’s Bargains.

“I was like, ‘I mean, is there something going on I don’t know about?’” she said.

There is, actually.

The man — or rather, the team — behind the stunt is New Washington’s own beautification committee, headed by Logan Hostettler.

“It’s really created a lot of buzz about what we’re doing,” he told the Jeffersonville, Indiana News and Tribune.

What they’re doing is attempting to further unite the New Washington community and attract out-of-owners to the place they love.

New Washington is the kind of town that fosters a tight-knit group. It’s 566 people strong (according to the 2010 census, anyway), boasts only a handful of established businesses and is anchored by the junior and senior high school.

“The family bond here is really, really strong,” Logan said.

The town’s charm isn’t always recognized by non-residents — if they have even visited.

“I don’t think a lot of people know where New Wash is,” Logan said.

It’s in between Madison and Charlestown, by the way — right along Highway 62. And drivers who once drove straight through the town are now stopping to inquire about the nine new statues.

Thirty-five people stopped at Bucky’s Grill & Pub on Mother’s Day to check out the Bigfoot and bucking bull in front of the bar, owner Frank Routh said.

At Aunt Bee’s, the drivers often end up shopping the store’s selection as well. The shop is guarded by a standing black bear.

“Then I tell them to go through the town and they’ll see more,” said Billie Hostettler (no relation to Logan).

A few people have taken her up on the offer, leading them to New Washington’s other businesses, such as Firehouse Pizza, New Washington Hardware and the impressively decorated 1894 Lodge, where Logan works.

“It’s creating a buzz about our small businesses here,” he said.

That was an unintended result. The real plan began when Logan started brainstorming for the beautification committee’s next big project. The organization tries to complete two each year with the goal of further improving the town for its residents.

“A lot of people, they say they’re from New Washington and they want it to mean something,” Logan said. “People around here want their town to succeed and people to understand that this is a cool place to live.”

He asked Jimmy Woods, the son of Otisco’s “Concrete Lady,” to make him a 15-foot mustang statue, a tribute to New Washington’s school mascot.

Logan’s eventual plan is to permanently station the steed off the highway between Kettle Bottom and Nabb New Washington roads. But that’s not all.

He wants to install a 60 to 80-foot flag pole next to the mustang — bedecked with a massive American flag, possibly as large as 20 feet by 36 feet.

Logan wants large lights to illuminate the horse and flag. That way, when drivers approach New Washington, they’ll know they’re in “Mustang country,” he said.

That’s still the plan, although Logan has to figure out how to raise funds for the project. (The pole, that is. The American Legion has agreed to donate the flag).

The idea just became something more when Woods asked Logan if he could give him several animal statues instead of just one.

Logan agreed, and he hasn’t regretted it. But the menagerie won’t be there forever. He hopes to sell the rest of the animals sometime in July.

Grady writes for the Jeffersonville, Indiana News and Tribune.