A routine Saturday evening call turned into one of the most unusual parking complaints the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has responded to in recent memory. Instead of finding a disabled vehicle or fender bender, a deputy arrived to discover a helicopter sitting in the parking lot of a Cabela’s store.
The incident happened around 6:00 p.m. at the Cabela’s in the Village of Richfield, Wisconsin. According to the sheriff’s office, a caller reported that a helicopter had landed in the parking lot, prompting a deputy to investigate.
After speaking with the pilot, a 69-year-old man from Rosendale, the deputy learned there was a surprisingly simple explanation. The pilot said he decided to fly to the outdoor retailer because “the drive was too long.”
As unusual as the trip may have been, deputies found nothing illegal about it. The pilot was properly licensed, landed safely, complied with all applicable FAA regulations, and even took the time to answer questions about helicopter landing requirements before continuing his shopping trip.
Helicopter Landing Was Perfectly Legal
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According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the encounter ended without any citations or arrests. Deputies confirmed that the pilot had complied with applicable federal aviation rules and chosen a safe landing area before heading into the store.
The sheriff’s office leaned into the humor of the situation when sharing the incident on social media. Officials joked that the pilot apparently wanted to avoid “all the roundabouts in front of Cabela’s,” adding that it certainly wasn’t an everyday parking complaint.
While helicopter landings in retail parking lots aren’t something most shoppers expect to see, there was no indication the aircraft created a hazard or violated any local or federal regulations. In the end, deputies simply documented one of the more memorable calls of the weekend.
Social Media Loved the Unusual Shopping Trip
The unusual story quickly took off online, with many commenters questioning why anyone felt the need to call law enforcement in the first place. Several joked that the helicopter landing seemed far less concerning than some everyday parking lot behavior.
Others had fun imagining the shopping experience itself. One person wondered whether the pilot remembered to note he parked in “Lot C,” while another joked that Cabela’s should consider installing a helipad after this incident.
Many commenters also appreciated the sheriff’s office’s lighthearted approach to the situation. Others admitted they’ve joked about using a helicopter to beat traffic before, while one person summed up the pilot’s reasoning perfectly by saying they aspire to be “the drive is too long, I’ll take my helicopter” kind of rich.