We all feel like taking a day off from our jobs from time to time, but one Arizona youth landed in hot water after faking his own kidnapping to avoid going to work.

On the afternoon of February 10, police in Coolidge, Arizona, received an emergency call about a man lying on the side of the road with his hands tied behind his back. A police car was dispatched and soon reported in that they had indeed found a young man who appeared to have been bound and abandoned on the side of the road. The “victim”, identified as Brandon Soules, 19, told police that he had been kidnapped by two masked men who first hit him on the head, knocking him unconscious, and then drove him around and dumped him where police found him. That wasn’t entirely true, though…

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If you are a loyal Flintstones fan, then you’re going to love this, especially if you live around northern Arizona. Because that’s where the real-life Bedrock city is located. Not an actual city of course, but a place to go to 365 days a year to experience Stone Age with your favorite cartoon characters. Closed only on Christmas day, it’s an improvement over the first Bedrock city in Cluster, South Dakota, which is open only from the middle of May through Labor Day.

Arizona’s Bedrock City was built in 1972, by Francis Speckles, son of an investor. At the time it used to feature a live Fred and Barney. But that wasn’t easy to sustain, given the isolation of the area and the shortage of local workers. But the isolation is actually a blessing-in-disguise, because it gives the place a whole lot of charm, and an authentic Stone Age feel. Today, the place consists of colorful concrete structures that recreate the magic of the 1960s animated series. Located at about a half hour’s drive south of the Grand Canyon, Bedrock City is a great roadside stop for people who want to relive some wonderful memories, especially those who grew up in the 60s and 70s.

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