Remember Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse in New England?

Did you really grow up in the Northeast if you weren't scared out of your pants by a talking light-up Christmas tree suddenly coming to life inches away from you?

That wouldn't be an unusual occurrence if you were paying a visit to Bugaboo Creek.

What was Bugaboo Creek?

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse opened its first location in Rhode Island in 1993, according to FSR Magazine. It was a restaurant chain that operated in multiple Northeastern states including New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts.

Does Bugaboo Creek Still Exist?

According to The Patriot Ledger, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2010, and many of its restaurants closed in that time frame.

While FSR Magazine highlighted a revival in 2012 with new ownership and about 13 restaurants left, it only was a few years later in 2016 that Bugaboo Creek was no more.

Nashua, New Hampshire, was one of the last two restaurants open before Bugaboo Creek as a whole closed for good, MaineBiz highlighted in a 2016 article.

What made Bugaboo Creek special?

At first glance, Bugaboo Creek may have seemed like your typical everyday steakhouse that also happened to be Canadian-themed. But as for the interior? Well, it could speak for itself...literally.

Scattered throughout the restaurant were a variety of animal animatronics that came to life in different ways. There was Bill the Buffalo....

....Moxie the Moose...

...and other critters including a fish flapping on the wall and furry woodland creatures peeping in and out of barrels.

Then of course, there was Timber the light-up Christmas tree, who would tell interesting facts about nature in Canada. The Timber in this video has a bit of a wonky eye, but let's be honest, he was kind of creepy regardless.

The entire shebang was an entertaining spectacle for kids and adults alike, and growing up coming to this restaurant was always a fun experience to look forward to. It was truly a favorite.

And can we talk about the soft, warm bread that the servers would bring to your table for you to enjoy while waiting for your food? It was just heavenly.

Bugaboo Creek even had their own special birthday song for guests as many restaurants do, only this one involved kissing a stuffed animal moose.

For more throwback videos of Bugaboo Creek, check out this YouTube playlist.

And speaking of restaurants, remember these great Maine dining experiences from the 80s and 90s?