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The first headquarters of KFC, along with dozens of historic items once owned by Colonel Harland Sanders and his wife Claudia, is heading to auction later this month.
Backwood Hall and the Claudia Sanders Dinner House in Shelbyville, Kentucky, will go under the hammer on July 28 at 6 p.m. ET.
Alongside the historic properties, bidders will also have the chance to purchase memorabilia that has remained largely out of the public eye for decades, including Colonel Sanders’ iconic black bow tie.
The auction is being managed by Menish Group Auction & Real Estate on behalf of Tommy and Cherry Settle, who purchased the properties in August 1974 and have maintained them ever since.
Colonel Sanders’ historic KFC property heads to auction
According to details released by the auction house, the properties sit on around three acres of land and include “furniture, fixtures and equipment, intellectual property, trademarks, goodwill and the opportunity to become the next steward of one of Kentucky’s most recognized hospitality landmarks.”
Backwood Hall served as the Sanders family’s home for around 25 years. While Colonel Sanders still owned KFC, the property also acted as the company’s operational headquarters, where new franchise owners were trained before opening restaurants.
After selling KFC in 1964, Colonel Sanders and Claudia opened the Claudia Sanders Dinner House, allowing the family to continue operating a restaurant that reflected the values and traditions associated with the brand.
The Menish Group
The property was previously listed for sale in 2022 with a $9 million asking price before being reduced to $4.9 million in 2023. It is unclear whether it remained on the market throughout that period before the decision to auction it.
In addition to the real estate, bidders can compete for a collection of personal and business artifacts once owned by the Sanders family, including Colonel Sanders’ signature bow tie.
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“The auction will feature a diverse group of artifacts spanning the personal, professional, and public lives of one of America’s most recognizable entrepreneurs.
“From personal effects and historical documents to restaurant artifacts, furnishings, photographs and objects connected to the operation of Blackwood Hall and the Claudia Sanders Dinner House, the collection offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the people behind one of the world’s most recognized brands,” Menish Group Auction & Real Estate said.
The public will be able to preview the items on July 26 before bidding officially begins on July 28. All bids must be submitted by the end of July 31.
The Menish Group
Many of the items have been preserved by the Settle family since they acquired the property more than 50 years ago and have rarely been seen by the public.
The auction offers collectors and history enthusiasts the opportunity to own pieces connected to one of the world’s most recognizable fast food brands, while also transferring stewardship of the historic property that played a key role in KFC’s early expansion.
The auction comes just weeks after another piece of Colonel Sanders’ history changed hands.
In June, the KFC founder’s former home in Mississauga, Canada, sold shortly after the chain offered the buyer a year’s supply of free KFC as a “housewarming gift,” continuing a string of headlines centered around properties connected to the fast food icon.
