Claudia Sanders Dinner House, historic Colonel Sanders memorabilia going up for auction
SHELBYVILLE, Ky. —
A major piece of Kentucky history is heading to auction later this month.
The auction includes two separate offerings tied to the legacy of Colonel Harland Sanders.
The first offering, the Colonel Sanders Collection, features dozens of artifacts from the personal collection of the Settle family, which has owned and operated Claudia Sanders Dinner House since 1974.
Some highlights include the Colonel’s personal planner, Masonic ring, official Kentucky Colonel Commission Certificate, and even his clip-on bow tie and suspenders.
The collection will be available for public preview on July 23, followed by a live, in-person and online auction on July 28.
The second offering is a sealed-bid auction for the historic Claudia Sanders Dinner House and Blackwood Hall properties.
The dinner house first opened in 1959 after the Colonel and Claudia Sanders moved to Shelbyville from Corbin.
The restaurant became a well-known destination for Southern-style comfort food and was closely tied to the early history of Kentucky Fried Chicken, serving as one of the first headquarters for the growing franchise.
Across the parking lot sits Blackwood Hall, which served as the Sanders’ former home on the grounds and has remained a significant part of the site’s history over the years.
In addition to the two properties, the auction package includes the restaurant and event business, along with furniture, fixtures, intellectual property, and trademarks.
In 2022, the Settle family announced that they planned to retire and list the property for sale.
At the time, they said they hoped a new owner would preserve its legacy, retain employees, and continue the tradition of the historic dining destination.
Sealed bids will be accepted through July 31.
A full catalog of items and bidder registration information is available through the auction website.
Dining and Cooking