lost luggage Archives

A Tourist Attraction Built on Lost Suitcases

You’ve got to wonder about a state where one of the biggest tourist draws is… lost luggage. America is weird, but Alabama’s Unclaimed Baggage store might just take the crown. Tucked away in Scottsboro, this retail oddity specializes in selling the contents of bags that never made it back to their owners.

If You’re Nervous About Losing Your Own Bag…

I get it—flying to a store full of lost luggage feels like tempting fate. What’s to stop your own suitcase from

joining the lonely, unclaimed masses while you’re browsing the racks? If that thought makes you twitchy, good news: they have an online shop. You can treasure‑hunt from the safety of your couch.

A Business Born From a Pickup Truck and $300

The store has been around for more than 50 years, and its origin story is peak American entrepreneurship. In 1970, Doyle Owens borrowed a pickup truck and $300, then bought his first load of unclaimed bags from a Trailways bus station. By 1978, he’d struck deals with airlines—starting with Eastern Airlines—and the volume (and the weirdness) exploded.

When the South Became a Ski Destination

One of the store’s most famous traditions began in 1981: the annual Ski Sale. Alabama isn’t exactly known for snow, but the store had mountains of lost ski gear looking for a home. Winter sports fans flocked in, and the event became so popular that people now camp out in the parking lot on the first Saturday of November just to be first through the door.

I’m Back! I didn’t expect to be gone quite so long.

Last week was our annual company meeting. I was in San Diego at the company’s expense from Wednesday 1/14- Saturday 1/17. Actually Wednesday was a travel day. I deliberately took an early morning flight because I wanted a chance to see a little of San Diego.

Last year we had the meeting in San Diego too but a winter storm on the east coast delayed my flight so much that it was quite late when I got there. Once the meetings start there’s no time for sight seeing. You are busy from 9 am to midnight.

This year the weather was cold but clear and I had a 5 am flight. I was arriving in San Diego at 11:30 am and would have the afternoon to do some sight-seeing…or so I hoped.

The best laid plans of mice and men can go astray and seems like that applies to my plans too. I guess I should be glad I’m not an army general.

My flights were pleasant and uneventful. I was flying Southwest Airlines and I used their early bird check in so I didn’t have to worry about checking in to get the best seating. It’s $12.95 but it was money well spent. I got great seating. I was also wearing a warm sweater because it was very cold , about 9 degrees, when I left to go to the airport. Sometimes the cabins are a bit cold when you hit 30,000 ft.

We made good time and landed in Chicago ahead of schedule. I had time to grab some breakfast before the 2nd leg of my journey. Chicago to San Diego was smooth too and once again we landed early. Unfortunately we landed without my luggage. 🙁

San Diego was sunny and warm with a sea breeze. A sweater was definitely out of place and by the time I caught the shuttle to the hotel I was in full melt down mode. I checked into my room and settled down to wait for news of my wayward bags. Southwest assured me they weren’t lost just delayed. The best I could do was hang out around the hotel and wait. I needed a change of clothes before I could go exploring.

The call finally came at 4 pm. My bags had made it to the airport and would be delivered to me no later than 8 pm. So much for any sight-seeing. I guess San Diego will have to wait for another year.