The road more traveled: 100-Mile Yard Sale doing great business, tying up traffic

The starting line for the 11th annual 100-Mile Yard Sale was marked in Jackson by a flashing billboard with the words: "CAUTION YARDSALE TRAFFIC -- NEXT 100 MILES."

From Jackson to Kennett, the length of Highway 25 became a market for vendors looking to sell new and used items of all kinds and draw anyone looking for a good deal on a great find.

"I found a queen-sized Playboy bunny blanket for $30. In California they sell for over $100," said Amanda Chanocua La Habra, Calif. Originally from Cape Girardeau, Chanocua returned this weekend to visit family and for the yard sale.

The 100-Mile Yard Sale has grown over its history to draw local bargain shoppers and others from outside states, which has created a level of disruption in traffic along Highway 25. Cars lined the shoulders and circled around in any available driveway or side lot. Bargain hunters hustled back and forth across the highway. In the more congested areas of Highway 25, speed limit signs marked 55 to 60 miles per hour stood next to traffic sometimes moving at speeds of 10 to 15 miles per hour.

In preparation for the weekend, the Missouri Department of Transportation placed flashing billboards along the highway to alert drivers.

"For residents along Highway 25, "I can see how frustrating the traffic would be and would affect your daily planning," said Brian Gerau, executive director of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce. But, he said, "traffic is good. It means people are spending money in our community."

The sale's ability to draw customers was noticed by Dale Parks, owner of Faye's Bakery just off Highway 25 in Dexter, Mo. "Friday and Saturday were unreal," Parks said. Selling assorted pastries, the bakery opened at 4 a.m. and had sold its entire inventory by 8:30 a.m. both days. "On Saturday, we doubled the amount we made the day before and still sold out," Parks said.

In spots, the 100-Mile Yard Sale had a carnival atmosphere. Vendors of all types were out selling their goods, people walked around with their "prizes" under their arms, and edibles like barbecue, funnel cakes and catfish were available.

Voyann Smith, owner of Smith Stop in Dutchtown, said the store "absolutely needed this weekend to kick off" its reopening after last year's flood damage. Smith got help from friends and family to run the store. Many land owners along Highway 25 rented space to vendors to set up, but Smith Stop welcomed the sellers at no charge, providing extra trash containers and portable toilets onsite.

"I'd like them to come on a regular basis," Smith said, referring to the local vendors.

"It's a free setup, just take what you don't sell with you or you can't come back," she said, laughing.