History of the Hwy 27 Yard Sale
B. J. created the first Hwy 27 Yard Sale website and organized the event in it's early years. This is how it all began and where we are now.
Her Mom, Grandmother, and Aunt had yard sales in her grandmother's front yard on Hwy 27 for years. They noticed an increase in business the first weekend in August. People kept asking if they were on Hwy 127. When the same phenomenon happened, again, they started asking why so many were asking. It wasn't until 2002 that they found out why. They were told about the "Longest Yard Sale In The World" running from Kentucky to
Alabama.
After a little research, B.J. found out why people were ending up on Hwy 27. The route through Chattanooga was a little sketchy and people were getting off I-24 on Rossville Blvd. By the time they got to Walker County, they would realize they were on the wrong route. The same thing was happening
at the other end of Lookout Mtn. Lost tourist would be in Summerville before they realized they didn't make the right turn...or actually the left turn on top of the mountain.
In 2003, B.J. decided to organize a Yard Sale event for lost tourist. They printed maps that explained how to get back up on top of Lookout Mtn., to the "official" route. Some mountain folk accused them of trying to steal their business. They were actually just trying to be nice to tourist and entertain them as they found the best route up the mountain.
In 2004, B.J, launched a website and advertised on-line and at Georgia Welcome Centers. The event continued to grow each year.
In 2007, B.J, announced that she could no longer maintain the website or organize the event. She requested someone take over, but no one stepped up to the plate. Although she couldn't be involved in any of it, the Yard Sale continued each year. Without advertising, or website, or anything. It just spontaneously happened year after year
In 2011, she returned to develop the website once again.
In 2012, a few people volunteered and they formed a committee to plan and promote the event. That year, there were yard sales throughout Georgia on Hwy 27. There were clusters in LaFayette, Summerville, Cedartown, Carrolton, and Columbus. But there were a lot of long spots without yard sales along the route.
In 2013, our biggest event, yet. Our committee gained a group in Bainbridge that did an excellent job promoting the south end of Georgia. But, we had disappointing results in the middle of Georgia. Callaway Gardens got involved this year. There was also a group in Kentucky that organized a Hwy 27 Yard Sale for the 1st weekend of September.
2014 created a lot of confusion. We decided to have the event on the 1st weekend of August, as usual. The 127, for some reason, held there's on the second weekend of August. And, Kentucky, gaining popularity kept their date of 1st weekend of September. But, we learned that we are not dependent on the 127. Walker County participated both weekends and reported more sales during the 27. In the end, it was a very good event.
2015 was our twelfth year. It was our biggest year ever. From Carrollton to Rossville, clusters of yard sales provided bargains and treasures.
2016 we welcomed Kentucky to our group. Although Tennessee has yard sales on 27, there is no official organizer of the event. We hope to see more organizers next year. We currently have 3 in Georgia and 1 in Kentucky. We need another dozen or so between Florida and Indiana.
2017 was a little slower than usual. There was more in Florida. But advertising in other areas was slack. Hopefully, everyone will take the initiative to advertise more this year. We now have logo's for Georgia, Kentucky and Florida.
2018. B.J, had to apologize for lack of effort. Shortly after the 2017 event her family was plagued with various medical problems. They were determined next year would be better because they were all better. Ohio almost started this year. We still need organizers everywhere.
2019. Another year we didn't advertise a lot but it was still a fantastic year. There was more interest south of Summerville, GA. TN and KY didn't try much. Didn't hear from anywhere else.
2020. The year of the Pandemic. It was much slower this year. There were a lot less vendors. But the vendors who were there recorded record sales. We look forward to a new year, hopefully without masks.
2021. We didn't advertise or promote because the Pandemic is still raging. But lots of brave fool's showed up. Many vendors didn't participate. It was a slow year.
2022. The Pandemic is still having an effort on our event. But, there were signs of life this year. Some of the main locations that had shut down were once again open. It was about half what it used to be. But, we feel that recovery is on it's way. Especially since we're getting new blood to run the event.
B.J. will be stepping down as National Coordinator. The event in 2023 will be under the direction of Jennifer Lyons. I'd like everyone to welcome her and help her build this event into a nationally recognized affair. She will be operating out of Georgia but is here to help each State Coordinator pull off a fantastic event. And, speaking of State Coordinator, we need volunteers. Jennifer will be asking for help. Let's all pitch in and make this thing grow.
Volunteer to organize your county or state for 2023. It's fun! Submit your participation information. The more info we have for tourist, the more tourist will come to the event. The more tourist we get, the more fun we have and money we make. So, use our "Contact Us" form to let us know you want to be included.
B. J. created the first Hwy 27 Yard Sale website and organized the event in it's early years. This is how it all began and where we are now.
Her Mom, Grandmother, and Aunt had yard sales in her grandmother's front yard on Hwy 27 for years. They noticed an increase in business the first weekend in August. People kept asking if they were on Hwy 127. When the same phenomenon happened, again, they started asking why so many were asking. It wasn't until 2002 that they found out why. They were told about the "Longest Yard Sale In The World" running from Kentucky to
Alabama.
After a little research, B.J. found out why people were ending up on Hwy 27. The route through Chattanooga was a little sketchy and people were getting off I-24 on Rossville Blvd. By the time they got to Walker County, they would realize they were on the wrong route. The same thing was happening
at the other end of Lookout Mtn. Lost tourist would be in Summerville before they realized they didn't make the right turn...or actually the left turn on top of the mountain.
In 2003, B.J. decided to organize a Yard Sale event for lost tourist. They printed maps that explained how to get back up on top of Lookout Mtn., to the "official" route. Some mountain folk accused them of trying to steal their business. They were actually just trying to be nice to tourist and entertain them as they found the best route up the mountain.
In 2004, B.J, launched a website and advertised on-line and at Georgia Welcome Centers. The event continued to grow each year.
In 2007, B.J, announced that she could no longer maintain the website or organize the event. She requested someone take over, but no one stepped up to the plate. Although she couldn't be involved in any of it, the Yard Sale continued each year. Without advertising, or website, or anything. It just spontaneously happened year after year
In 2011, she returned to develop the website once again.
In 2012, a few people volunteered and they formed a committee to plan and promote the event. That year, there were yard sales throughout Georgia on Hwy 27. There were clusters in LaFayette, Summerville, Cedartown, Carrolton, and Columbus. But there were a lot of long spots without yard sales along the route.
In 2013, our biggest event, yet. Our committee gained a group in Bainbridge that did an excellent job promoting the south end of Georgia. But, we had disappointing results in the middle of Georgia. Callaway Gardens got involved this year. There was also a group in Kentucky that organized a Hwy 27 Yard Sale for the 1st weekend of September.
2014 created a lot of confusion. We decided to have the event on the 1st weekend of August, as usual. The 127, for some reason, held there's on the second weekend of August. And, Kentucky, gaining popularity kept their date of 1st weekend of September. But, we learned that we are not dependent on the 127. Walker County participated both weekends and reported more sales during the 27. In the end, it was a very good event.
2015 was our twelfth year. It was our biggest year ever. From Carrollton to Rossville, clusters of yard sales provided bargains and treasures.
2016 we welcomed Kentucky to our group. Although Tennessee has yard sales on 27, there is no official organizer of the event. We hope to see more organizers next year. We currently have 3 in Georgia and 1 in Kentucky. We need another dozen or so between Florida and Indiana.
2017 was a little slower than usual. There was more in Florida. But advertising in other areas was slack. Hopefully, everyone will take the initiative to advertise more this year. We now have logo's for Georgia, Kentucky and Florida.
2018. B.J, had to apologize for lack of effort. Shortly after the 2017 event her family was plagued with various medical problems. They were determined next year would be better because they were all better. Ohio almost started this year. We still need organizers everywhere.
2019. Another year we didn't advertise a lot but it was still a fantastic year. There was more interest south of Summerville, GA. TN and KY didn't try much. Didn't hear from anywhere else.
2020. The year of the Pandemic. It was much slower this year. There were a lot less vendors. But the vendors who were there recorded record sales. We look forward to a new year, hopefully without masks.
2021. We didn't advertise or promote because the Pandemic is still raging. But lots of brave fool's showed up. Many vendors didn't participate. It was a slow year.
2022. The Pandemic is still having an effort on our event. But, there were signs of life this year. Some of the main locations that had shut down were once again open. It was about half what it used to be. But, we feel that recovery is on it's way. Especially since we're getting new blood to run the event.
B.J. will be stepping down as National Coordinator. The event in 2023 will be under the direction of Jennifer Lyons. I'd like everyone to welcome her and help her build this event into a nationally recognized affair. She will be operating out of Georgia but is here to help each State Coordinator pull off a fantastic event. And, speaking of State Coordinator, we need volunteers. Jennifer will be asking for help. Let's all pitch in and make this thing grow.
Volunteer to organize your county or state for 2023. It's fun! Submit your participation information. The more info we have for tourist, the more tourist will come to the event. The more tourist we get, the more fun we have and money we make. So, use our "Contact Us" form to let us know you want to be included.
