A sure sign that summer is almost upon us despite frost in the forecast: the 400 Mile Sale across Kentucky is only about seven weeks away. Debby Spencer, who began the extended yard sale extravaganza in 2004, and her partner in TrailsRUs.com Judy Ross, have sent out their newsletter about plans for the 10th shopping excursion the length of the state. They are getting a myriad of responses from eager vendors from Maysville in the northern-most part of the state to Murray and Paducah along the borders of Tennessee and Illinois.
The 400 Mile Sale, which will run June 6-9 this year, follows U.S. 68 through big cities and small towns, including South Union, Auburn and Russellville in Logan County and Elkton and Fairview in Todd County.
Historic Highway 68 was once a major East-West thoroughfare across Kentucky. But due to interstates and parkways, many people bypass these communities altogether, never realizing what treasures they are missing.
Those who participate in the four-day even each year can travel highway 68 and visit nearly 60 historic communities, enjoy Kentucky cuisine, sleep in unique B&Bs, peruse Civil War sites and monuments and experience southern hospitality at every stop along the way. They can shop at over 200 antique shops, visit the eclectic boutiques, browse for the hard-to-find or just enjoy seeing the familiar.
The electronic newsletter mentions lodging sites at Federal Grove Bed & Breakfast in Auburn and at the campground at Lake Malone in North Logan. Tying for third in the Favorite Food Vendor category in a survey of participants in 2012 was “Bike Rally’s steak sandwiches at the old theater in Russellville.” Auburn was noted for having “one of the best BBQ stands.”
Four unnamed women are pictures who started in Maysville “and were stopping their way back to Russellville. They definitely lived up to their sign.” Stickers on the back of their car read, “This Vehicle Stops at All Yard Sales.”
Mentioned is Doug Piper of Logan County, who operates Uncle Doug’s Antiques in Logan County not too far from the Todd County line. He won a 400 Mile Sale tee shirt, maybe because he has been a vendor every since the sale began.
One woman from Marquette, Kansas wrote, “Me and my sister thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Every person along the way who had a sale was so nice and enjoyable to visit with. Kentucky is a great place to vacation.” The sisters shopped from Paducah to Russellville.
One vendor from Russellville wrote, “The antique tractor my husband had in the sale was definitely a conversations piece.”
To see the entire newsletter, go to2012-13 Newsltr400mile.pdf (1 MB).
Visitors can read the following descriptions of areas along the route in Logan County:
Historic Auburn is just 3 miles from historic Auburn just 3 miles from South Union's Shaker Village, just 18 miles west of Bowling Green. Beautiful homes including 136 pieces of property that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Auburn has a lot to offer with unique shopping, dining and sightseeing. Auburn has a wonderful museum with historic structure walking tours including log cabin, barn, old jail, and school house. Each structure contains artifacts appropriate to its intended use.
NOTE: Be sure to stop by Auburn. In the past, this small community won the "Most Prepared for Visitors" award during the 400 Mile Sale event.
To register a yard sale along the route, go to http://400mile.com/locations.html.