Now in its 27th year, the “World’s Longest Yard Sale” now stretches 690 miles from 5 miles north of Addison, Michigan all the way to Gadsden, Alabama. It spans through five states. From August 7 through August 10, 2014, this spectacular adventure takes you over 690 miles of scenic beauty and lets you see tons of yard sales.
One of the favorite routes begins by traveling the 93-mile Lookout Mountain Parkway route from Gadsden, AL to Chattanooga, TN for the most 'scenic rural America' in the United States. You will find everything from antiques & collectibles to furniture and dish ware. Fresh garden produce, homemade jams and jellies, food vendors, and live entertainment are included in this excursion. Continue with the yard sale by following the U.S. 127 Corridor from Chattanooga, TN to Covington, KY for another 350 miles of yard sale bargains. When combined, the Lookout Mountain Parkway and the 127 Corridor have had as many as 5,000 vendors lined along the 450-mile scenic yard sale route in past years.
The headquarters for the “World’s Longest Yard Sale”, also known as The US 127 Corridor Sale, is located at the Fentress County Chamber of Commerce in Jamestown, TN on the beautiful Upper Cumberland Plateau. Hundreds of thousands of folks participate in this annual event which has grown to be the biggest and best event of its kind in the world. Fentress County is also home to Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historical Site, and Pickett State Park. The county also known to the equestrian community as the Trail Riding Capital of the Southeast.
If you plan to experience the yard sale in the Upper Cumberland Plateau area, here are some helpful tips for your journey:
Where to Eat • Nature Sites • Historic Sites • Arts & Culture • Falls & Trails
You're going to discover some neat places, interesting people, and quaint stops that you'll probably want to visit again and again. So pack your camera, sunglasses, a good pair of walking shoes, and plenty of cash. Nestled in the beautiful Upper Cumberland Region of Tennessee, Fentress County is also home to Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historical Site, and Pickett State Park. The area is also known to the equestrian community as the Trail Riding Capital of the Southeast.
The original intent of the sale was to prove the back roads have something to offer, and that the interstate system was not the only mode for travel. County officials put together a list of attractions along the route in Kentucky and Tennessee. There are over three hundred attractions along the route to provide enjoyment for the family. Whether it be majestic hills, beautiful scenery, river boats, railroads, toe tapping music, arts, crafts, horses, fishing, hiking, bits of Civil War or Indian History, there are many opportunities to enjoy the beauty and culture of the land along the 127 Sale Route.
The Lookout Mountain Parkway Association asked to be included in the sale route a few years after the sale began. The Lookout Mountain Parkway leaves Chattanooga as Highway 58 and becomes several different highway numbers before reaching Gadsden. It is no longer US 127, but is the same great sale. This routing crosses the Northwest corner of Georgia, going into Cloudland. This added another 100 miles to the already existing 350 miles, thus making it 450 miles at that time-- "The World's Longest Yard Sale".
The Fentress County Chamber of Commerce in Jamestown, Tennessee has served as headquarters for the 127 Corridor Sale since 1995. We are centrally located along the route. Fentress County can also claim the origin of the sale. Mike Walker, the County Executive in 1987, came up with the idea of the sale, worked hard to make it happen, and planned for it to be an annual event.
Thousands of people participate in the sale each year as vendors. A front lawn may be turned into a showcase as items are displayed. Off road parking is essential, and many of the homes have this space. Visitors should honor requests of "No Parking" or "No Trespassing" posted by families not participating in the sale -- cars can leave deep tire ruts on a soft lawn.
During your journey, you will spot lots of vendors set up in a vacant field. They can be spotted from a distance because of the activity. Community parks, such at the South Fentress Park, are also filled with vendors and provide good parking and restrooms.
People come from near and far to participate in this spectacular event. Folks come from all across the country by car, truck, motor home or plane. Some fly in, rent a car, travel the route and ship the newfound treasures back home. Some pull a trailer behind a truck, park the trailer somewhere and run around in the truck seeking items. Pulling a trailer will often limit the places you can visit. A large vehicle may prove to be a problem on this two-lane highway.
Many people take the time to venture off the beaten path to discover the history and charm of the land.
Whatever the mode of travel you may choose, expect plenty of traffic. The pace may slow to that of snarled rush hour traffic. It may be bumper to bumper with everyone stretching their neck to see what is on a seller's table or in the front lawn. Expect sudden stops to occur without warning, and drive carefully and defensively.
Some book motel rooms a year in advance. A few weeks prior to the sale date, most of the motel rooms are taken. Bed and Breakfast type lodgings do a brisk business during this sale, with most any type of overnight lodging being filled each night. Southern hospitality has lead to couples being taken into private homes because nothing else was available. Some visitors to the sale try to find lodging when and where needed. Some find cancellations, some go up to fifty miles, to the right or left of the sale route, to spend the night. Some even sleep in their vehicle. However, these are considered small inconveniences in light of the excitement of finding the deal of the day and anticipation of a big shopping spree.
A few dislike the snarled traffic associated with the sale, but all must admit, the sale is good for the economy along the corridor route. Locals sell their crafts, accommodations are filled, restaurants are crowded, and those renting vendor spaces also add to the local economy. Those who want to break away from the sale may want to visit the local attractions.
For those of you wishing to travel to Jamestown, home of the 127 sale, please check out www.bigsouthfork.org for more information.
