400 Mile Sale snakes way through Wilmore, Jessamine Co.

Published 12:06 pm Thursday, June 9, 2022

This past weekend, the 18th Annual 400 Mile Sale was held all across Kentucky as yard, estate, and numerous other sales lined U.S. Route 68 from Paducah to the Ohio border.

The sale also snaked its way through Wilmore for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“It’s been three years since we’ve had an event here, so I’m pleased with the turnout. There’s a new statewide director and she has really shot some energy into the whole 400 Mile Sale and I think we’re starting to see that turnout,” Wilmore’s Executive Director of Community Development, Judy Woolums, said.

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Antiques, collectibles, and more were available at each sale sites.

Some vendors, like Traci Ackerman, offered local food stuffs,

“I sell Kentucky Proud jams and jellies, fruit butter, and sometimes salsa pickles, things like that” Ackerman said. “It’s been a good day so far, the weather’s been great, and we’ve had a steady flow of traffic come through”.

People from all over Kentucky and out of state flock to the sale.

“We’ve had people from far eastern parts of the state, we’ve had people from Paducah that traveled to Maysville, and then they’re making the 400 mile trip back.” Woolums said. “We had a lady from Cleveland, Georgia. She has a 20,000 square foot antique mall and she makes this trip every year.”

The Wilmore section of the sale was sponsored by the Wilmore Community Development Board, the Jessamine County Tourism Commission and the city itself.

The small city’s charm make it an ideal place to set up shop according to one vendor.

“A lot of people here are from Wilmore, and Wilmore has some of the nicest people you’ve ever met. The visitors are great, the vendors are great, the director’ is great, it’s definitely fun,” Melanie Bratton said.

The sale experienced a steady turnout, with pleasant weather and many different opportunities for good finds.

Route 68 runs through parts of 20 Kentucky counties, all of which were represented from June 2-5. Jessamine County was home to nine including three in Wilmore alone.

For more information about the 400 Mile Sale, visit www.400mile.com.