Flea market question.
- Thread starter ruflosn
- Start date
Yes, have been there, it is unreal what you can find there. I have no clue if one like it exists in Iowa.
Have been to Rutledge and What Cheer.
In What Cheer, I walked for two hours to get through the entire thing. It's like a giant upscale yard sale, with tchotchkes, crafts, antiques, and whatever. Did not buy anything, but it cost something to get in, I forget what. Maybe a dollar. Parking is a challenge if you don't pay to park in someone's yard.
Rutledge is far more "rural" in its approach. You can buy live goats, chickens, tools, and other items that you wouldn't find at a sale like What Cheer. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype - I was expecting a scene right out of "Deliverance" or "Justified", full of toothless yokels and the Clampetts biting the heads off bats, and that definitely was not the case. Bought a large lot of chore gloves there for quite a cheap price. Maybe they had fallen off the back of a truck, I don't know.
Now, if I may suggest something REALLY unusual, if you're not really looking to buy "stuff", and do wish to enjoy something unique, it would be the trophy auction at Macon, Missouri, A livestock place there auctions off taxidermy four times a year - and there is also a live animal auction. Saw a beautiful parrot go for $1600. The site charges admission, it's $5 to get in, but it is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. There are also vendors who sell purses and t-shirts for people who need more purses and t-shirts.
In What Cheer, I walked for two hours to get through the entire thing. It's like a giant upscale yard sale, with tchotchkes, crafts, antiques, and whatever. Did not buy anything, but it cost something to get in, I forget what. Maybe a dollar. Parking is a challenge if you don't pay to park in someone's yard.
Rutledge is far more "rural" in its approach. You can buy live goats, chickens, tools, and other items that you wouldn't find at a sale like What Cheer. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype - I was expecting a scene right out of "Deliverance" or "Justified", full of toothless yokels and the Clampetts biting the heads off bats, and that definitely was not the case. Bought a large lot of chore gloves there for quite a cheap price. Maybe they had fallen off the back of a truck, I don't know.
Now, if I may suggest something REALLY unusual, if you're not really looking to buy "stuff", and do wish to enjoy something unique, it would be the trophy auction at Macon, Missouri, A livestock place there auctions off taxidermy four times a year - and there is also a live animal auction. Saw a beautiful parrot go for $1600. The site charges admission, it's $5 to get in, but it is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. There are also vendors who sell purses and t-shirts for people who need more purses and t-shirts.
I set up at What Cheer and it's not what it was 10 or 15 years ago (Ebay, etc.), but is probably the best around Iowa. Go on Friday or Saturday. Charge is $1 on Sat or Sun, but double!!!! $2.00 on Friday. Most of the vendors come and set up on Thursday or Friday. Sunday is not good. 70% of the vendors leave on Saturday night.
Bathrooms are awful, hope you don't have to poop when you're there.
Went to Rutledge once. Would never go back. Very very down market and "rural" is a good description. But then add in "Missouri" and it was not a good experience.
