In a remarkable twist of fate, Tim King, a 53-year-old contractor from Illinois, unearthed a decades-old Christmas gift bearing his name while renovating his childhood home. The present, concealed behind a bathroom wall, had remained hidden for 46 years.
King, who owns TKING Construction Services in Lombard, was assisting his parents with home renovations shortly after Christmas when he stumbled upon the gift. Wrapped in faded Disney-themed paper, the package caught his attention. “When I pulled that out, it was super old wrapping paper,” King recounted. “Then I was like, ‘Oh crap, that has my name on it.'”
Sharing his discovery on Instagram, King posted a video on December 27 documenting the find. In a follow-up video, he unwrapped the gift to reveal a set of Matchbox Thunder Jets—a model airplane set popular in the 1970s. The unwrapping was accompanied by the song “Danger Zone,” adding a nostalgic touch to the moment.
King’s mother, present during the unwrapping, had no recollection of purchasing the toy. King speculates that the gift dates back to 1978 when he was six years old. He believes it was inadvertently lost after his parents hid holiday presents in the attic, and the package somehow slipped into the wall cavity, remaining undiscovered for decades. Reflecting on the find, King remarked, “I would have been 6. So that is pretty awesome.”
This serendipitous discovery not only offers a tangible connection to King’s past but also serves as a heartwarming reminder of the unexpected surprises that can emerge during home renovations.