By Melanie Atkinson
Weird and amazing things show up in self-storage units all the time. There's no limit to what some people decide to store away for later, and these oddities can range from the incredibly valuable to the downright creepy. This list includes some of the most bizarre things that have been found in storage units.
Unreleased Michael Jackson Tracks
A storage unit rented by the father of legendary musician Michael Jackson contained 270 unreleased tracks in it, all recorded by The King of Pop. Some of the tunes even featured songstress Tina Turner. The songs were free of any sort of copyright, making this unit a virtual goldmine for whoever purchased its contents.
Pirate Treasure
Another storage unit turned out to be an actual goldmine. A unit in California had a half-million-dollar stash of pirate treasure in the form of gold and silver coins. The origins of the booty were never precisely determined because pirates don't generally leave business cards behind.
Nicolas Cage's Million-Dollar Comic Book
Years after actor Nicholas Cage reported his million-dollar comic book stolen, it turned up in an abandoned storage locker. The new owner promptly took it to a comic book shop to check on its value, and the shop owner happened to be the same person who had originally sold Cage the rare and extremely valuable Action Comics No. 1. Cage was reunited with his comic book and, hopefully, the person who turned it in was sufficiently rewarded for his inadvertent honesty.
The Car From Knight Rider
All sorts of gadgets and kits end up in storage. One actually had K.I.T.T., the famous car from the TV show “Knight Rider,” stored inside. The unit was never abandoned, but employees at the storage facility were shocked to see the car being driven onto their lot and parked in one of their U.K. storage units.
A NASA Rocket and a Countdown Clock
People store all sorts of things with thoughts of being able to use them in the future. One actually contained a rocket that belonged to NASA, along with a countdown clock.
The Canoe From the Movie “Deliverance”
The unit this canoe was found in was actually rented to Burt Reynolds, who starred in the film. Known to his friends as something of a hoarder, this is only one of many interesting items found in units belonging to the famous actor. Other strange items associated with Reynolds' storage units include a horse carriage singer Dolly Parton built, a framed letter from his doctor about a spleen operation, and the last can of Stickum adhesive Oakland Raiders wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff used during his career.
A Severed Leg in a Smoker
One unit had a smoker in it. Not too strange. But inside the smoker was a tin-foil-wrapped piece of meat. This was no forgotten brisket, though. It was a severed leg that had been carefully wrapped by the amputee after having it removed by a doctor following a plane crash. The man had planned to save the leg so he could be buried with it. The auction winner gladly returned the leg to its owner free of charge.
Tenants
Speaking of storage units with smokers inside, sometimes actual smokers are found in lockers. Not always, though. They’re occupied by nonsmokers, too. Occasionally, people decide that a storage unit will make a great apartment. Someone should introduce these folks to the tiny house movement. That way, they'd get at least few windows.
Melanie Atkinson is a writer for Sentinel Storage, which has storage facilities throughout Canada. She enjoys creating things, spending time with family and fostering rescue dogs. To reach her, e-mail [email protected].