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World's Longest Yard Sale, Cash for Rural Counties

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — It’s called the World's Longest Yard Sale and each summer it brings bargain hunters from all over the country to Tennessee and five other states.

The event begins today and runs through Sunday along nearly 700 miles of U.S. 127. The northern end is Addison, Mich., and the southern end point is Gadsden, Ala.

The Fentress County Chamber of Commerce in Jamestown serves as the headquarters for the sale. The Chamber’s Walt Page says the sale is a way to get travelers off the interstate highways and into rural communities to spend some cash.

"From what we’re seeing, people are pressed to find lodging right along 127. Of course there’s gasoline sales, people eating in restaurants, shopping in the markets with the campers and that kind of thing. It also brings a lot of people back. We’ve had people come through our area during the sale and end up at some point relocating here because they like the area.”

Page says the world’s longest yard sale was the brainchild of former county executive Mike Walker and is now in its 25th year.