Mountain View Park ready for busiest weekend of the year

Posted July 30, 2014 at 1:51 pm

Beginning about the middle of next week (and possibly even earlier in some places) Clinton County will be a part of over 690 miles of “wall to wall” bargains as another 127 Corridor Sale will begin. The official days are Thursday through Sunday, August 7-10 for the annual event.

Even though there will be sale locations from one end of the county to the next, and some places in between, as in the past the main hub of activity, where bargains of all kinds will be located in a central location, is Mountain View Park, located just north of Albany and just east of the 127 Bypass.

For several years now, the park has been one of the most popular spots for both buyers and sellers of yard sale items and 2014 is expected to be no exception, according to Park Director Bobby Reneau, who has been working hard for the past several weeks getting prepared and renting spaces to vendors far and wide.

Reneau said there are about 75 total spaces that could be made available to vendors and as of late last week, several of those areas had already been filled. “Some (vendors) who didn’t come back last year are coming back this year and we also have some new, first-time sellers,” he said.

Booth spaces, which consist of a 20×20 foot spot, cost $60 and a new addition that began just a few years ago are spaces in the Farmer’s Market building. There are a total of 11 available spaces in that building, which rent for $100, and as of last week, four had been rented with seven more available up to that point.

Another positive aspect for this year is the addition of food booths available to everyone who visits the park in search of bargains. Last year, in lieu of doing their own concessions, the Recreation Park Board began renting out food booths to vendors. Last year, only one food booth was rented. Already this year, four food booth spaces have been rented. Food booths are $200 per spot and as of last week, a couple more of the approximate six spaces were still available for anyone wishing to sell concessions and food items during next week’s yard sale.

Two of the food booths already rented will include BBQ specialties, one will be selling shaved ice type products and a Lexington vendor will specialize in kernel corn products, such as corn-on-the-cob, meaning a variety of foods and refreshments for park visitors to choose from. The food court will once again be set up in the grassy area behind the basketball court.

Reneau noted that last year, which was the first year after the new bypass opened, both vendor rentals and overall participation was down somewhat, with the park board netting just over $4,000 after expenses. However, he said this year the park board will be working harder on posting signs in better locations from the bypass to let travelers and vendors know where the park is and that it is open for business as usual.

The park director also noted that no vendor would be turned down and if they wanted to set up at the park to sale their wares, a space for them would be made, unless the park is totally filled up. Vendors, whether local, in-state or several states away, are welcome to reserve a spot.

Although the official start of the sale is listed for next Thursday, Reneau noted he would probably allow early vendors to start setting up as early as Tuesday or Tuesday evening and begin selling their items no later than next Wednesday, August 6.

The 127 Yard Sale is the largest annual fundraiser conducted by the park board with all proceeds being put back into the park for equipment, maintenance and operating expenses.

Anyone interested in either renting a space to sell yard sale items, either a regular outdoor spot or one in the Farmer’s Market, or anyone wishing to rent a food booth while they are still available should contact Reneau at 606-688-4337.