If you’ve ever felt uneasy in the Cougareat food court, it might be from more than just a bad chalupa or an extra spicy Chick-fil-a sandwich. 

The Cougareat is one of BYU’s iconic landmarks and has a storied and far reaching history, predating the University itself. 

Thousands of years ago, hunter-gatherers often stopped on this spot to make camp and swap stories. The great warrior So’Aking was known for his strength and prowess on the battlefield, as detailed in cave paintings uncovered in Rock Canyon. 

As time progressed, the land changed hands but generally kept its role as a meeting place and eatery.  It was the site of many ‘firsts’ such as the inaugural “donut on a string” game, played instead with a fried cornmeal fritter, the first NCMO, the first documented case of “marinating,” and of course the first 

Eventually, European settlers passed through the area on exploratory expeditions. One of the most notable was the French frontiersman and explorer Jacques Couxgarêté, after whom the current cafeteria is named. In 1585, he was hired by the Spanish Crown to map out the region and find a new source for Wendy’s Biggie Bags. 

But the history of the Cougareat is tainted by dark moments as well. In 1692, a clash between Europeans and natives resulted in a violent massacre. Thereafter, Natives commemorated the site as a sacred burial ground and the area remained desolate for over a century. 

In 1904, when BYU bought the current land that comprises the current campus, surveyors remarked about a “curious spirit” that existed on the spot that is now the Wilkinson Center. 

When the building was completed in 1964, curious mishaps and reported instances of ghost sightings plagued the builders. Some say the wandering spirits have never left, claiming strange visitations and visages. Rumor has it that the famous “Wilk Piano Guy” is actually an apparition, having died while playing Waterfall and is fated to play it forevermore.