Vince "Trapper" Nelson (born Vincent Natulkiewicz) was found dead on July 30th, 1968 inside his chickee, from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his stomach. He was a very interesting character, and larger than life both literally and figuratively as he measured 6'4" in height. It is the ghost of Trapper Nelson or the Tarzan of the Loxahatchee as he was also known, who is said to roam the Jonathan Dickinson State Park where he lived and established a wild life zoo which was shut down in the 1960s.
The reason for his haunting could be that he was murdered as many of the locals claimed instead of committing suicide. He could also be guarding his treasure which park rangers found in April 1984 inside a hiding place in the chimney of his home. Inside were 5,005 coins, totaling more than $1,800. The coins ranged in date from the 1890s to the 1960s. The land he owned at the time of his death was worth more than $1 million. No other treasures were ever found, so the mystery remains as to why Trapper Nelson is tied to the land he loved so much.
