Attention all yard sale enthusiasts! The 24th Annual Roller Coaster Yard Sale is about to roll out across the miles, hills, and hollows surrounding Dale Hollow Lake from October 1-3.

This is the oldest and most authentic marathon yard sale in Tennessee and/or Kentucky. There are over 150 miles of treasures to discover in one of the most scenic areas of rural Tennessee and Kentucky.

 

Not only are there yard sales galore, but there are so many little shops and eateries located along the route that are truly treasures in themselves. Take your own tour of the local diners, drive-ins, BBQ joints and more. BBQ is big in the region with many kinds to choose from. Farmers markets and stands dot the area with their fall harvest during the sale. Crafters bring out their wares in abundance – a great time to pick up those special holiday gifts. You will also find plenty of souvenir items and flea markets. The area is rich in history and parks, too. Bring along your entire family and make a week (or more) of it and enjoy the ride on the winding and hilly roller coaster route. Fall will be in the air and the local hospitality will be ready to shine!

 

For those of you living in the area, this is an excellent time to plan your sales to maximize traffic to your location. It’s a great opportunity for civic organizations to plan fundraisers. Everyone in the community is encouraged to spruce up their lawns and bring on the sales. 

 

This sale began in Temple Hill, KY on Hwy. 63 (Cordell Hull Hwy.) in 1986 to encourage improvements to the windy road. Today, the sale still rolls on from Temple Hill to Freedom, KY to points north and south – traveling north onto Glasgow and Cave City and/or Hwy. 90 to the east through many scenic rural communities and the town of Burkesville onto Albany, KY. In Albany, the route swings south onto Hwy. 127 to the TN/KY border where it turns onto Hwy. 111 through more rural communities, Byrdstown, and Livingston, TN. In Livingston, the route turns back to the north on Hwy. 52 meandering through the majestic countryside to Celina and then on to Moss where the route turns North on Hwy. 51 to Kentucky Hwy.163 to Tompkinsville and then back onto Hwy. 63 completing the route back to Temple Hill. The unique loop route allows everyone the opportunity to start and finish at the same place. In 2010, the sale will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Roller Coaster Yard Sale with special activities being planned to mark this milestone occasion in Freedom, KY.

 

Many of the communities offer special events to compliment the Roller Coaster Yard Sale. There are car shows in Burkesville, KY and Byrdstown, TN, an antique tractor show and Pancake Breakfast in Celina, TN, Mud Lick Bar-B-Que will be available in Mud Lick, KY, the 28th Annual Edmonton Pumpkin Festival in Edmonton, KY, live bluegrass music, Horseman’s Association Flea Market, and the Dale Hollow Bass Classic Fishing Tournament in Byrdstown, TN, and the 2nd Annual Doll Show in Livingston, TN with possible additional events to be added through the coming months. Be sure to check the events calendar at www.RollercoasterFair.com for all the latest additions.

 

Dale Hollow Lake is a fisherman’s paradise and the fish should be biting well during this time period. It’s also still warm enough to enjoy boating or houseboating on the waters…perfect to spend the day on the road seeking out bargains and evenings relaxing on the refreshing waters of Dale Hollow Lake. Don’t forget to spend some time off the road too. You won’t want to miss the beauty of the Caves of the Cave City area or the wonders of Glasgow, both located at the northwestern end of the route in Kentucky.

 

Ms. Sarah Ann Bowers would be so pleased to see all the wonderful things that her Roller Coaster Fair has brought to offer those visiting her native land. When she began the sale in 1986, her main goal was to have her beloved Cordell Hull Hwy. improved. Now, it is so much more. Ms. Sarah passed away last year, but her memory still lives on. There are plans in the works to establish a memorial at the Old Freedom School with a celebration of her life during this year’s event. That celebration and memorial marker dedication will take place on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Freedom School in Freedom, KY. Won’t you make plans to join us for this celebration of her life and her contributions to her community?

 

The sale features over 150 miles of grassroots extravaganza for three days through 25 communities/towns – all ready to welcome you to the area! An abundance of yard sales, flea markets, crafts, antiques, handcrafted quilts, produce, BBQ, southern food, entertainment, parks, recreation areas, historic sites and so much more! So gather your shopping friends, hop into your RV or other vehicles and make your way to THE Rollercoaster Yard Sale! 

 

There is also a downloadable version of the brochure on the homepage. For more information visit the Roller Coaster Yard Sale Website (Regional Tourist Hub) at www.rollercoasterfair.com or phone the Dale Hollow Regional Info Center at 1-866-INFO-DHL (463-6345).

 

Kentucky Contact Info:

• Albany/Clinton County: www.dalehollowlakecumberland.com, 1-877-KY-LAKES;

• Cumberland County Tourism Commission: www.burkesville.com, or [email protected] or call 1-270-433-7177; 

• Cave City: www.cavecity.com, or 1-270-773-5159; 

• Edmonton/Metcalfe County: www.metcalfechamber.com, 1-270-432-3222; 

• Glasgow/Barren County: www.glasgowbarrenchamber.com, 1-800-264-3161;

• Tompkinsville/Monroe County Tourism: www.monroecountyky.com, 1-270-487-1314;

• Temple Hill Lions Club: Ruby Cockerham at [email protected], 1-270-678-3006.

 

Tennessee Contact Info (Chambers of Commerce): 

• Byrdstown/Pickett County: 1-888-406-4704 www.dalehollow.com; 

• Celina/Clay County: 1-931-243-3338, www. claychamber.org, or www.dalehollowlake.org; 

• Celina Lions Club: Ike Bonecutter at [email protected], 1-931-243-3974;

• Livingston/Overton County; 1-800-876-7393, www.overtonco.com.