(April 1, 2025, Milwaukee, Wisc.) – The popular Milwaukee attraction, Deep Thought, was reported missing today. The recent addition to the city’s list of icons was reported as absent from its place along the shores of Lake Michigan near McKinley Beach at around 3 a.m., vanishing without a trace.
Deep Thought, nicknamed the SS Minnow in tribute to the vessel that appeared in “Gilligan’s Island,” first ran ashore on October 12, 2024. Navigating in a storm, the owners attempted to anchor to wait out the inclement weather. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful in their attempts, and, out of gas, the boat struck land between Bradford Beach and the McKinley Marina, where it has been stuck ever since.
After several attempts to extract the landlocked vessel, as the seasons changed and the weather grew colder, experts believed that it would be impossible to salvage Deep Thought from its resting place along the lakefront. That is, until today.
“It just showed up,” said Beth Gleesing, tourism specialist for the City of Wauwatosa. “No one in our parks or operations departments knows how [Deep Thought] got here. We’re as surprised as everyone else is that it was moved this far inland without anyone noticing.”
It is unclear when the boat first appeared at the future home of Firefly Grove Park at the intersection of 116th Street and Gilbert Avenue, but one thing is clear: it was no small feat to move the 8,400-lb. boat 12 miles to the nearby suburb of Wauwatosa.
City officials are working around the clock to solve the Deep Thought mystery, with several suspects and theories already developing in the past hours. Some believe it is the work of pranksters looking for a way to make their mark on the city, while others believe it’s as likely that the boat left in the same way it arrived and that the current pulled it back out to sea.
Other, less reputable sources have offered a more creative solution to the boat’s mysterious disappearance, though. There is a growing belief among some locals that the boat was picked up and moved by a mythical being with a supernatural strength and a penchant for mischief.
“I think it was the troll,” said one long-time Milwaukee resident. “Is it a coincidence that the boat winds up at the same park that’s getting a Dambo troll? I find that unlikely.”
“Trolls are known for creating mischief, and for a troll on the scale of the one coming to Firefly Grove Park, a little mischief goes a long way,” he continued, unprompted. “We all know how much trolls love riddles, of course, so it probably stands to reason that its first mystery requires Deep Thought.”
While it remains unclear whether there is enough evidence to substantiate the troll theory, authorities did note odd impressions found in the ground near the place the boat was last seen. Similar tracks were found near the location where the boat was eventually discovered. Authorities are not willing to speculate on what left these markings behind at this time.
In a surprising development, another hint at the bandit’s identity was left behind in the form of a poem, a calling card tucked away to entice sleuths and amateur puzzlers alike. It reads:
A vessel’s voyage by land, with travels so smooth
From the water’s edge to this park, Deep Thought
Anchors forever here, against brilliant green hues
Search high, search low, but can I ever be caught?
One thing that is confirmed is the arrival of the Dambo troll, coming in the spring of 2025. Known for his whimsical, larger-than-life sculptures crafted from recycled materials, Thomas Dambo has captivated audiences around the world with his imaginative creations. With over 135 troll sculptures worldwide, 32 in the U.S. alone, these wooden carvings of the mischievous mythical creatures have become popular tourist attractions, driving visitors to explore new destinations as they marvel at the larger-than-life trolls. This installation will be Dambo’s first piece in Wisconsin, with the goal of adding a troll in every state.
As for the ripple effect of this new addition to Firefly Grove Park, tourism officials with Visit Milwaukee see the move as a win-win.
“Deep Thought has achieved cult status among locals,” said Josh Albrecht, Visit Milwaukee’s Chief Marketing Officer. “It’s been a great story that’s now achieved urban legend status on par with the Milwaukee lion. The boat’s unexpected voyage further inland only adds to that lore, adding a mysterious element to a landlocked boat in the suburb of Wauwatosa.”
“The fact that this one-time lakefront attraction will now join the allure of the Dambo troll coming soon to the same park is actually a really exciting development,” Albrecht continued. “Alongside the troll, which will draw visitors from around the world to see the state’s first Dambo sculpture in Deep Thought. When you think about it from a tourism standpoint, I’m certain that this will be a hotspot for art lovers and boating enthusiasts for years to come.”
In preparation for this story, Visit Milwaukee did reach out to the Dambo troll. It declined to comment but snickered at every detail.
