I wasnt sure to post this here or in the transdimensional gas station thread as it did kinda happen to me - but then it didnt.
Heading for the coast in my car with a friend about 25yrs ago. Running low on fuel and wondering if we could make it to the closest only (known to me) petrol station in the area. We were on fumes at that point and a bit worried we'd be walking the rest of the way, and all the way back with a jerry can. We rounded the next corner and saw pumps. OLD OLD fuel pumps and an old shop frontage. It seemed to be open, the door was propped ajar so I quickly pulled in and thought that was lucky i'll get some fuel. As I was getting out of the car to pump fuel an old lady came out and asked how much I wanted. I was a bit suprised but I figured they'd had a few drive offs without paying or something. All of the fuel stations i'd ever been to were self serve and I was amazed as the old lady pumped the fuel for me and took the cash at the pump.
I'd driven that way a number of times and never seen this odd little quaint fuel station before. In fact I drove the route for years afterwards and never saw this fuel station or little shop again. I went out of my way to look out for it and tried some back roads. It wasnt until a few years ago when it popped into my head and I thought i'd google it to see if I was going mad or had really discovered the transdimensional gas station in my hour of need.
Turns out the shop does exist. It's had a makeover since then and it's now a little londis mini shop. Instead of following the main right turn on the B road to the coast i'd actually gone straight on. I'd driven through a quaint little village that actually had this little pumping station straight out of the 1950's.
Anyway someone was looking out for me as I got fuel. However, not at the vanishing fuel station I originally thought I had. I just spent about the last 20years thinking i'd filled up at a phantom gas station.