Strange Cabin In The Woods Disappears After Two Months (Photos)

While marking trees to be harvested for the first time in two decades, a forest ranger allegedly discovered a mysterious abandoned cabin in the woods. 

Mark Andre, the Environmental Services director in Arcata, California, was marking trees when he noticed something out of place between the trees, Mad River Union reported. 

“I didn’t see it until I was 12 feet from it,” Andre said. “It’s in the perfect out-of-the-way spot where it wouldn’t be detected.”

The cabin measured about 8 feet by 12 feet and was about 15 feet tall. There were no trails leading to the cabin and no environmental abuse, which is typically associated with forest campsites.

The cabin was set up on concrete blocks and featured a small porch, windows and walls of plywood covered with brown tarps. Most of the cabin was concealed by forest materials, which made the cabin almost undetectable unless someone stepped nearby. 

An Environmental Services team subsequently investigated the cabin, due to the fact that building on public property is illegal. The team then uncovered something strange inside. 

Inside, the windows were concealed to release as little light as possible. The cabin also contained a multitude of books as well as an old typewriter. Canned food with a list that dated items back to 2011 was also found. 

A newspaper from March 2015 was also reportedly being used as kindling in the stove.

The ES team ultimately posted an eviction notice on the front door along with contact information.

A month later, the ES team returned to the cabin and found the place to be slightly disheveled, with the occupant appearing to have begun the process of moving out, Mad River Union reported. There were still, however, no trails indicating that anyone had been there. Less than two weeks later, the cabin was gone. 

“That’s the cleanest camp cleanup I’ve ever seen,” Michael McDowall, a natural resources technician, told the Mad River Union. “There wasn’t a nail, not even a hum wrapper left behind.”

The resident did leave behind the international symbol of “squatter” in charcoal on the ground.

Sources: Mad River Union (2) (3) / Photo Credit: KLH/Union, City of Arcata via Mad River Union