RISON, Ark. – Saline River Chronicle has learned that the annual Hwy. 79-63 Junk Hunt is set to undergo a significant expansion and re-branding, now known as the Great South Arkansas Junk Hunt, as it approaches its eighth year.
In the past, the Hwy. 79-63 sales route followed those two highways, with a loop on Hwy. 8, and added extensions to Moro Bay and Strong via Hwy. 275. This year’s event will retain those locations and further extend into El Dorado, Magnolia, and more.
Scheduled from Thursday, Oct. 12 to Saturday, Oct. 14, the extended route will cover multiple paths across the southern part of Arkansas, offering a massive 500-mile stretch of yard sales.
The decision to expand came after numerous requests from interested businesses looking to set up hubs for vendors, and from the general public asking for the route to pass through their towns. Collaborating with Douglas Boultinghouse, a key member of the Rison Shine Community Development organization, the organizers have devised a new map and overall plan for the Junk Hunts.
The organizers have taken all the feedback into account to craft a comprehensive plan that incorporates these requests.
Should the Great South Arkansas Junk Hunt expansion prove successful this fall, the Hwy. 35 Junk Hunt will merge into the event for Spring 2024, creating one large route of sales held biannually.
Over the years, the Junk Hunts have witnessed significant growth in sales and traffic, making the route expansion a natural progression. Many people hold onto their items for months in anticipation of this event, and the merger would prevent extended storage periods.
Moreover, the expanded route is expected to double the traffic and revenue brought into towns along the routes. Visitors from all over the state and neighboring states travel to shop these sales, contributing to local economies by patronizing restaurants, gas stations, booking hotel rooms, and supporting small businesses.
The new Junk Hunt features three central routes that create a loop, with several offshoot paths connecting them. Sellers whose roads are connected to these paths are encouraged to place signs at the end of the road to attract potential customers.
The expansion aims to reach more towns, including Bearden, Camden, Smackover, Norphlet, Hampton, Wilmar, and Fountain Hill, apart from Rison, Kingsland, New Edinburg, and Woodlawn, which have always been part of the event.
Local businesses are encouraged to capitalize on the increased traffic by organizing sidewalk sales or special events during the event. Several locations, such as Rison’s Pioneer Village, Star City’s Country Village, Everybody’s Antiques in El Dorado, and Ann Tee Keys in Strong, have already planned to host vendor hubs.
To clarify the route expansion, Hwy. 79 has been extended from Fordyce to Magnolia, Hwy. 63 from Moro Bay to El Dorado, and a third leg on Hwy. 425 that runs through Hamburg has been added. All three legs connect and form a loop on Hwy. 82, completing the route back around to Magnolia.
The organizers are excited to witness the response to the expansion and look forward to seeing everyone on the sales route this fall. For followers of the Hwy. 79-63 Junk Hunt on social media, expect name changes and rebranding to the Facebook page and sales group in the coming days.