I was recently researching a topic for you, when I came across the following. You have got to see this. This is priceless. If you ever get in a conversation about kooky Cape Coral, you’ll have this tidbit to share. It’s from a News-Press story by Frank Rinella, dated September 1, 1983.
More: Best Cape Coral restaurants: JLB ranks Cape's top 25 places to eat
1. On Wednesday, August 31, construction workers on NE Second Street saw a man drive his white work van into a 5-foot-deep hole in the ground in an empty lot across the street. They had seen the man digging the hole the night before. Rattled, they told a neighbor about it. The neighbor called the Cape police.
2. He reported that the guy had partially covered the van with dirt, then ridden off on a bicycle he’d brought with him in the van. This gets better.
3. Cops arrive. Find the van standing in the hole, its roof level with the ground. Observed that the hole was dug into an existing ravine on the canal-front lot, and the van then driven into the hole. Right.
4. Imagine all the people in the neighborhood gathering now as a tow truck arrives and pulls the van out of the hole. Imagine them moving closer as the cops open the back of the van and one of them steps inside. To the relief of most, and doubtless the disappointment of some, the cops find in the van only some assorted tools and a lawn spreader, a room air conditioning unit, and an old Suzuki motorcycle. They write down the license plate information, do a quick search, and locate the owner. Made him come get the van.
More: Cannoli Italian Market & Bakery in Cape Coral is deliriously good — JLB mini review
5. The guy says he just wanted to get rid of the junker. Figured if he buried it, he’d “have access to it” if he ever wanted to sell it later for scrap.
Seriously. Dogs bury bones. People bury vans?
Join the Conversation
To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs