Where in the world is Seattle's Mystery Coke Machine? No one's sure -- but there are some clues

Seattle's Mystery Coke Machine has been a peculiarity for as long as it's been around (something like 20 years). But this summer the whole thing has been taken to a new level.

The machine has long been a source of cultural fascination in the city, with no one knowing (or ever wanting to confirm) who stocks or maintains the machine. For the low, low price of 75 cents, anyone interested in drinking a can has the opportunity to select one — and then receive a surprise flavor.

So imagine everyone's surprise when the "official" Facebook page made an ominous update earlier this year: "Going for a walk, need to find myself. Maybe take a shower even."

Since then no one heard so much as a clunk about the mystery machine -- until Wednesday morning, when the social media channels for the coke machine updated with a photo in front of the Space Needle.

Then, on Thursday morning came another update, this time from the Olympic Sculpture Park.

But here's the thing: both photos look faked.

The fact that the machine only requests 75 cents could be excused, perhaps, but the machine also looks artificially imposed in the photo's surroundings.

In fact, beyond the appearance of some sort of Photoshop shenanigans, the Space Needle picture even features a tarp around part of the top of the Needle -- something that hasn't been present in quite some time. Almost as if someone just pulled an old photo of the Needle.

As The Seattle Times writes, the owner of the nearby Grecian Plaza (which looks out on where the machine would be) said it's impossible they would've missed the coke machine.

So what gives? What is with a photoshopped tour of the city for this Mystery Machine?

The social media managers behind the Facebook page did not answer request for comment. But if it's anything like the Coke Machine's legacy -- well, then there's a good chance we'll never know.