UPDATED - World's Longest Yard Sale 2009 - Now with VIDEO!!

[hockey&comicsguy]

First the Facts:

 

The World's Longest Yard Sale was started in 1987 in order to promote the rural

attractions in Kentucky and Tennessee and to increase the traffic along the

backwoods roads. It originally stretched 350 miles along Hwy 127 through the

2 states, but has since been lengthened to include Alabama and Ohio for a

whopping 654 miles! It starts on the first Thursday in the month of August and

goes through Sunday. It starts in Gadsden, AL and goes up to West Unity, OH.

 

 

As you travel this stretch of highway, you will encounter families with a few

tables in their front yard or you will see a farmer who has opened up a field

to a hundred vendors. It is virtually impossible to see everything from one

end of the sale to the other. Your best bet is to do a different section each year.

 

You will have to put up with traffic jams, a lack of bathrooms, over-priced hotels,

stifling heat, fragrant pastures, among other things,but if you are a treasure hunter,

then this is paradise.

 

 

I live in Cincinnati now and I've heard of this but never actually checked it out I'm sure there are literally thousands upon thousands of cool things you could find. Alas, I am too lazy to participate.

[nocutename]

That sounds like a great time. Cannot wait to see some vids.

[Subliminal]

WOW

 

This would be an ultimate vacation for me and well worth the drive.

 

When does this happen?

 

I'd need to rent a truck

[Scrooge]

Ranch Romances. What Ranch is that, B&D Acres?

 

You shouldn't make fun of Ranch Romances. It was one of the most successful pulps ever and it survived them all stretching up to the late '60's.

[Point Five]

I think you might see all of us at this event next year!

Man, it sounds really fun. I could sift through old junk like this forever... I'd be in heaven.

[goldust40]

Fascinating stuff, Flee. Makes me want to go next year, despite the lack of facilities.

[rjpb]

Sounds like a lot of fun (except the South/Midwest in August part - and the no bathrooms part - and the traffic jams part - okay so maybe not a LOT of fun).

 

BTW that map either has Toledo roughly where Findlay Ohio should be - or West Unity has moved to Detroit - but given that the map was produced in that mecca of cartography, Tennessee - and no one really cares where Toledo or Findlay are anyway, it's understandable.

[SolitaireOne]

Some nice finds there, Flee! Hey, who doesn't love a bargain!

 

(thumbs u

[40sJohn]

Looks like you had a great time and you definitely picked up some cool items...and thanks for the tips!

 

[Ogami]

My parents made the trip this year. I think this is pretty cool, but I don't have the patience for it.

[mica]

Finding GoldKey

[Beau]

and then a bunch of dead baseball players tried to talk me into building a baseball field, so I hightailed it out of there.

 

[Stronguy]

A few miles down the road, we stop at a beautiful farm that had

a field full of vendors. I guess the property owners make enough off of rent

to handle the damage that hundreds of cars parked in their front yard will do.

At the end of an aisle I spotted a pile of original comic art amongst some

old magazines. My heart was racing as I maneuvered around some

shoppers to the table. I quickly thumbed through them and realized they were

mostly 90's Archie digest art pages. I asked about the pricing and was told

that splashes were $50 and regular pages were $10. I don't know if that was a

good price or not, but I did find this Marvel Planet-Terry page that I was

happy with.

 

 

 

A lot of the vendors do not have a clue about taking care of paper products.

They are either antique dealers or people just cleaning out their garage or attic.

The artwork was just in a messy pile on a table baking in the sun. He did have one

Archie Cover but it was in a frame with heavy condensation on the inside.

Comics are usually bagless, stacked in piles on tarps or even on the bare

ground. If you want something high-grade from most vendors, you have to

find it early in the sale before the manhandling or the elements get to them.

 

$10 is always a good price for OA.

[almoe]

my dad collects antique woodworking planes mainly Stanley and vintage Plow Planes - he did the sale last year and said it was amazing! Maybe next year it is time for another father son road trip!

[Flee-Marquette]

Finding GoldKey

 

I found the Gold Key books at a booth that had nothing but Woody Woodpecker

items. Evidently a family member passed away who was a long time Woody

collector. They had vintage Woody toys, records, posters, promotional items as

well as comics. Here is a picture of yours truly looking at the cool stuff in that

booth. I spent a good 1/2 hour just looking at the awesome display.

 

 

 

The comics were a $1 a piece, I believe and while I don't actually collect these, I went through and pulled some of

the ones in higher grade.

 

 

[FlyingDonut]

Full size scan, please of the B&D Ranch Romances mag....

[Pirate]

I live in kentucky, i should go check it out some time.

[Flee-Marquette]

Full size scan, please of the B&D Ranch Romances mag....

 

[Flee-Marquette]

Evidently a weapon or rope is needed in most relationships on the ranch.

 

[JvR11]

Evidently a weapon or rope is needed in most relationships on the ranch.

 

 

I just picked up one of these Range Romances for curiosity. I wonder if they are worth anything in high grade?