For anyone looking for a road trip experience that includes adventure, bargains, and small-town charm, the Highway 56 Sales Scramble offers an opportunity to explore hidden gems, support local businesses, and experience the heart of Kansas.
The Highway 56 Sales Scramble goes beyond just offering great deals. It is a celebration of small-town Kansas, designed to strengthen the ties between communities and boost local economies along a 100-mile stretch of Highway 56. Spanning from Great Bend to Marion, with McPherson as the center point, The Scramble includes nearly a dozen towns, and there are already requests from more communities to join in next year.
The idea for the event grew out of the experiences of Ben Coffey, owner of The Ark Antiques and Flea Market, who along with his family, have long enjoyed attending highway sales across Kansas and beyond. Inspired by these events, Ben recognized the potential to create something similar along Highway 56, where small towns could benefit from the same influx of visitors and out-of-state dollars that these sales events brought to other towns. With this vision in mind, Ben and his team began planning the inaugural event in September of last year.
The Sales Scramble was designed to offer a treasure hunt of garage sales across multiple towns and to infuse local economies with new business. Ben and his team developed a sponsorship model to ensure the event benefited the entire region. People’s Bank and Trust stepped in as the lead sponsor, supporting the event with visibility by helping with the purchase of yard signs, flyers, and more. This partnership made perfect sense, with People’s already being an established part of five towns along the route. Ben admits that initially asking for sponsorship was nerve-wracking, but the bank’s commitment to supporting local communities made the conversation much easier.
“People’s has always been a community-oriented bank,” Ben said. “They understood right away that this wasn’t just about promoting a sale, it was about helping the towns they already serve thrive.”
The McPherson Convention and Visitors Bureau and Visit McPherson contributed advertising dollars, while McPherson Main Street helped by reimbursing the first ten businesses to advertise, ensuring financial participation from even the smallest local establishments. Ellinwood allocated funds for an extensive radio campaign, and Marion also made a generous sponsorship contribution, helping spread the word about the event far and wide. Even the Moundridge Chamber of Commerce, although their city-wide garage sales are not directly involved in the sales event, became a sponsor. A portion of the ad revenue from the event will be donated to the participating towns to help with projects.
Ben and his team also encouraged businesses along the route to offer special promotions to visitors. Many businesses took this opportunity to provide discounts or offer small benefits, such as a free slice of pie or cup of coffee with a purchase when showing the garage sale map. Approximately one-third of the participating businesses embraced this approach, while others opted for traditional advertising, ensuring the event has wide appeal and offers something for everyone.
One of the most exciting outcomes of the event has been the connections it has fostered between the towns. Friendly competition has emerged, with towns like Marion and Ellinwood discussing who could host the most garage sales. It is this camaraderie that has added an extra layer of fun and excitement to the event.
“Events like this show that small towns can work together and create something big,” Ben said. “It’s about collaboration, not competition.”
The towns have also leveraged the event to highlight their unique attractions. Marion highlights its annual Art in the Park festival, while Ellinwood offers visitors underground tours led by a paranormal investigator, adding a twist to the traditional garage sale experience. The McPherson Opera House is hosting The Everly Set, an Everly Brothers tribute performance on Friday, April 25. These events ensure that visitors leave with more than just bargains, they gain a deeper appreciation for the communities they visit, creating lasting memories and, hopefully, repeat visits.
The success of the event is not only measured by the number of garage sales but by the economic boost it provides. Local businesses, including restaurants, cafes, hotels, and gas stations, should experience a surge in visitors and sales over the four-day event. Ben emphasizes that the goal was to funnel outside dollars into the pockets of local businesses, helping drive economic growth through increased sales tax revenue and more customers for local establishments.
As the event approaches its inaugural weekend, Ben and his team are excited to see its impact. The first Highway 56 Sales Scramble will take place from April 24th to 27th, with Thursday through Saturday being the busiest days, while Sunday will also see some traffic.
One potential challenge for the event is the unpredictable April weather. Ben and his team have prepared for this by developing a contingency plan to reschedule the event for the following weekend if necessary, ensuring that the event can proceed even if the weather turns unfavorable. While they hope for clear skies, they are ready to adapt to ensure the success of the event.
The Highway 56 Sales Scramble is a true labor of love for Ben and his team. While the planning process has been challenging, with lessons learned along the way, they are excited about the future of the event.
Ben and his team are already thinking about ways to improve the event for next year. Feedback from buyers and sellers alike will be crucial as Ben and his team look to refine and improve the event. The long-term goal is to ensure that the Highway 56 Sales Scramble continues to thrive, helping small towns along the route flourish for years to come.
“There’s a lot of potential for growth,” Ben said. “We’re working hard to make sure it’s even better next year, and as much as we’ve learned, I’m excited for what’s to come.”
To register or view sales locations, visit the website at https://www.hwy56sales.com/ or contact the Ark at admin@hwy56sales.com or 620-718-2036.
