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You know those places that you can drive past a million times and never realize there is something completely unexpected sitting right there?
Toad Hall Sports Car Collection is one of those places.
Tucked away on Scudder Avenue in Hyannis, behind the Simmons Homestead Inn, is a collection of classic sports cars that feels almost like somebody let you wander into the coolest private garage on Cape Cod.
And here’s the part that immediately gets your attention:
Almost everything is red.
Yes. Red sports cars. Rows and rows of them.
If you love cars, you’re going to have a field day. If you know absolutely nothing about cars but love design, photography, history or simply discovering unusual things to do on Cape Cod, you’re probably still going to have a great time.
Because Toad Hall is one of those places that makes you say, “Wait… this has been here the whole time?”
So, what exactly is Toad Hall?
Toad Hall is the personal sports car collection of longtime Cape Cod innkeeper and car enthusiast Bill Putman.
The name comes from The Wind in the Willows and its famously car-obsessed character, Mr. Toad of Toad Hall — which already tells you that this is a place created by somebody who genuinely loves cars.
And that love is visible everywhere.
The collection includes classic and vintage sports cars from brands like MG, Triumph, Jaguar, Lotus, Austin-Healey, Morgan, Datsun, Mini and others, with British sports cars playing a major role.
But what makes the collection especially memorable is the red.
Red roadsters. Red convertibles. Red classics. Chrome, curves and decades of automotive design sitting side by side.
There is something about seeing so many of them together that almost makes it feel like an art installation.
You do not have to be a car person
Let me say that again because I know some of you already decided this isn’t for you.
You do not have to be a car person.
I am always interested in places that give us another way to experience Cape Cod, and Toad Hall does exactly that.
We talk so much about beaches, seafood, lighthouses and summer activities that sometimes we forget how many quirky little experiences are tucked into these towns.
This is one of them.
You can walk through, look at the details, photograph the cars, admire the designs and learn a little about the evolution of sports cars without knowing the first thing about what is happening underneath the hood.
And if you are a car person? Well, bring somebody patient because you may be in there for a while. Haha!
This is the Cape Cod I love finding
One of my favorite things about exploring locally is discovering the places that don’t necessarily scream for your attention.
The places somebody casually mentions and you respond:
“How have I never heard of this?”
That is exactly the kind of place Toad Hall is.
It reminds us that local culture comes from the things people are passionate enough to preserve, collect and share with the rest of us.
Sometimes that’s art.
Sometimes it’s food.
Sometimes it’s music.
And apparently, sometimes it is an entire collection of beautiful red sports cars sitting behind an inn in Hyannis.
I’ll take it.
Add This One to Your Cape Cod List
If you’re looking for something different to do in Hyannis, especially on a day when you want a break from the beach, Toad Hall Sports Car Collection is worth adding to your list.
Bring your camera.
Bring the car lover in your life.
Bring the person who swears they’ve already seen everything there is to see on Cape Cod.
Then ask them if they knew there was a collection of red sports cars hiding on Scudder Avenue.
Toad Hall Sports Car Collection
288 Scudder Avenue, Hyannis, Massachusetts
Check current hours and admission before visiting.
Local Culture Hidden Gem: absolutely.
Because sometimes the best Cape Cod finds are the ones hiding right in front of us.