Remarkable 95-Year-Old Evicted from Iconic Cape Cod Dune Shack Receives Unexpected Five-Year Miracle

Artist Salvatore Del Deo and his family have returned to the dune shack they have cherished and inhabited in Cape Cod National Seashore for almost 80 years. The National Park Service has reached an agreement with the artist, who is 95 years old, after he was forced to leave the iconic shack earlier this summer. Romolo Del Deo, Salvatore's son, shared details of the arrangement with CNN.

The Del Deo family, represented by pro bono lawyers and with the cooperation of the Department of the Interior (DOI), has been granted a special use permit that allows them to continue living in the shack for another five years. As part of the agreement, they will be responsible for paying rent and maintaining the structure.

Despite the negotiations coinciding with the possibility of a federal government shutdown, Romolo Del Deo noted that the DOI and National Park Service rangers were proactive in resolving the matter. Within a few days, they were able to finalize everything and ensure that the Del Deos could continue living in the shack, right up until the potential government shutdown.

"It truly brings warmth to my heart as the series of unfortunate events earlier this year left us feeling devastated. However, this recent development has brought about a delightful change. We are all immensely grateful," he expressed. "On September 29, the National Park Service officially confirmed the signing of an agreement. Consequently, the Del Deo family has been granted a five-year special use permit for the shack. Aptly named the Chanel Shack after its original proprietor, Jeanne "Frenchie" Chanel."

At the conclusion of this timeframe, the family must submit an application and provide evidence of their suitability as caretakers for the shack, according to Del Deo, who deems this requirement to be fair.

For his father, the extension presents an opportunity to spend additional time in a location with which he holds a profound connection. "He's 95, and this opportunity takes him to 100. May he be blessed by God, and I sincerely hope that we are commemorating his 100th birthday there while also applying for an extension to continue staying there."

The family had scheduled a trip to the shack on Wednesday to commemorate the birthday of Josephine Del Deo, who was Romolo's mother and Salvatore's wife. Josephine played a pivotal role in the creation of the seashore as a national park. "If the weather permits, he intends to paint directly on the surf, just as he has done throughout his entire life."

Artist Salvatore Del Deo has been using the shack since the 1940s.

Romolo Del Deo

Historic dune shacks

Roughly one third of Cape Cod National Seashore is coastal dunes.

The Peaked Hill Bars Historic District consists of a collection of dune shacks, one of which is known as the Chanel Shack. Salvatore Del Deo received an eviction notice just before the National Park Service revealed their leasing program for eight other dune shacks.

According to the park service's website, they have initiated the opportunity for 10-year lease proposals for those eight historic properties. They aim to make them accessible to new potential occupants, a plan that has faced backlash from certain individuals in the local community. Although not included in the current leasing program, the Chanel Shack could potentially be offered in future lease offerings.

With a rich history as a sanctuary for artists and writers, the area is now returning to its true purpose of creating art and honoring the place, according to Del Deo.

The original Chanel shack originated in 1942, and Salvatore Del Deo formed a friendship with the original owner, known as "Frenchie" Chanel, a few years afterwards. According to his son, Del Deo was one of several individuals who assisted Chanel in maintaining the shack and caring for injured seabirds. At that time, veterinary services and wildlife rescue organizations were not yet available in the area.

"My parents considered her to be part of our family, so when they got married, they decided to spend their honeymoon in her shack. This happened in 1953."

The family has been taking care of Frenchie and her shack for many years. After she passed away, she essentially handed it over to us, and we have been looking after it ever since, according to Del Deo.

Del Deo mentioned that the dune shacks are habitable from April to November. The lifestyle in these shacks is rustic, lacking electricity and indoor plumbing.

The shacks symbolize a cherished custom of coexistence and finding inspiration from the surrounding environment.

"All the inhabitants of the dunes, everyone in our community, share a profound love for our shacks. Personally, I have spent my entire life there since infancy," shared Del Deo. "We feel a deep connection to these shacks and devote ourselves to their well-being, as they face the constant threat of survival on the Northeast Atlantic coast."

CNNs Eli Masket contributed to this report.