You won’t believe what people actually find in storage units. From creepy discoveries to illegal setups and just plain weird behavior, we’re unpacking the craziest self storage horror stories in this episode of Modern Storage® Unpacked.
Hosted by Hannah and special guest Tyler, Facility Manager at Modern Storage® Shackleford, this episode is a wild ride through the strangest, funniest, and most unsettling tales ever shared by storage managers, Reddit threads, and news headlines.
Spoiler alert: None of these stories happened at Modern Storage®, but they’re too outrageous not to share.
💀 Real Storage Nightmares (That Didn’t Happen Here)
The Fake ID Printing Station
One facility allowed a tenant to use their printer only to discover he was casually printing fake driver’s licenses and counterfeit money. (Yes, on basic printer paper.)
The Human Leg in the Smoker
A woman bought an auctioned unit and opened a smoker only to find a human leg inside. Turns out it belonged to the previous tenant who lost it in a plane crash and was saving it to be buried with one day. (A legal battle for the leg followed. Yes, really.) We have so many questions!
The DIY Meth Lab
In Indiana, police uncovered a fully functioning meth lab in a self storage unit. It took multiple arrests and reinforced why top-tier surveillance matters.
Strange, Illegal, and Just Plain Gross
- Nude ritual dances around a fire pit on the property
- Albino pythons secretly bred in an abandoned unit
- A funeral director using a unit to store bodies after losing his license
- An elderly tenant who used a cereal bowl to relieve himself, then left it
- A woman who locked her boyfriend in a unit for days (yes, there were charges)
From Gross to Gutsy: Even More Weirdness
- Tenants asking staff to wash their dishes
- Naked men using their units as shower stalls
- A tiger (yes, a tiger!) found in an auctioned unit in Arizona
- Preserved human organs left behind by a medical student on summer break
- Storage units used as cheating spots for couples avoiding hotel fees
What These Stories Teach Us
Aside from being entertaining (and a little disturbing), these stories are a reminder of why Modern Storage® stands out:
✅ We monitor all properties with 24/7 video surveillance
✅ Our staff perform routine lock checks and inspections
✅ We enforce strict lease agreements to prevent misuse
✅ All our facilities are well-lit, gated, and professionally managed
Want More? Listen to the Episode!
This blog only scratches the surface. To hear the full unfiltered chaos with commentary, laughs, and a few gasps tune in to the episode of Modern Storage® Unpacked:
Modern Storage® Unpacked – The Podcast where we make space for what matters!
Storage Unit Horror Stories: Bizarre Finds & Real Chaos at Storage Facilities
📺 Watch on YouTube
🎧 Listen on Spotify
🎧 Apple Podcasts
📨 We Want Your Stories!
Do you work in the storage industry? Have a wild story from a unit auction or strange customer encounter?
Send it to us! We’re collecting listener submissions for Part 2 of our Storage Horror Stories series.
Storage Mayhem? Not on Our Watch.
Let’s be honest, storage horror stories can happen anywhere. But at Modern Storage®, what makes the difference is how quickly we prevent, spot, and shut them down.
With award-winning service, 24/7 surveillance, on-site management, and strict lease enforcement, we keep a close eye on what’s happening at our properties, so you don’t end up next to a tiger, a pop-up meth lab, or a weird ritual fire pit.
✅ Clean, secure, and professionally managed
✅ No unattended meat smokers, reptiles, or counterfeit rings
✅ Just real people storing real stuff—with peace of mind
📍 Find a Modern Storage® location at modernstorage.com
Or call to speak with a manager who’s seen it all and knows how to stop it
