KFC founder Colonel Sanders’ Kentucky home, restaurant and engraved pressure cooker are going to auction after one family preserved them for 50 years
Fans of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) have a chance to own an extreemely significant part of the brand’s history. A large collection of items linked to the company’s founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, is set to be auctioned in Kentucky next week.The auction will include Colonel Sanders’ former home, his restaurant, personal belongings, business records, photographs and other memorabilia connected to both Colonel Sanders and his wife, Claudia Sanders. According to the organisers, this is the first time the collection has been made available to the public.The items have been preserved for more than 50 years by the Settle family, who bought the Colonel’s home and business directly from Colonel and Claudia Sanders. The sale is being organised by The Menish Group Auction & Real Estate.According to the organisers, the collection offers a rare look into the personal and business lives of the couple who helped build one of the world’s best-known fast-food brands, Southern Magazine reported. While the famous KFC recipe is not part of the sale, many objects associated with the early years of the business will be auctioned.Colonel Sanders developed his fried chicken cooking method in Kentucky in the late 1930s before building KFC into one of the world’s biggest fast-food brands. After selling the company in 1964, he and Claudia Sanders later moved to Blackwood Hall in Shelbyville, which became the company’s headquarters for a period, according to New York Times.
Home and restaurant among top lots
One of the biggest attractions on auction is Blackwood Hall, the couple’s home in Shelbyville, Kentucky, where they lived for 21 years.Blackwood Hall was more than just the Sanders family’s home. According to New York Times report, Colonel Sanders used the property to train KFC franchise owners, demonstrating his pressure-cooking method, while Claudia Sanders prepared and packed the company’s secret seasoning mix.Also included is the Claudia Sanders Dinner House, a restaurant that has been operating since 1959. Colonel Sanders opened the restaurant in 1968 after selling KFC. It was created so visitors could continue tasting fried chicken prepared the way he believed it should be made, while Claudia Sanders managed the restaurant.Both properties will be sold to the highest bidder as part of the auction.
Blackwood Hall in Shelbyville, Kentucky, was ColoneL’ home for 21 years. (Menish Group photo)
Colonel Sanders’ iconic black neckwear is also up for auction (Andrew Kung Group photo)
KFC memorabilia and personal belongings
The auction will feature several personal items used by Colonel Sanders during his lifetime. These include his well-known black bow tie and suspenders, a vintage KFC cash register, an engraved pressure cooker, and a working planner and datebook.Other items include Colonel Sanders’ Bible, a travelling knife kit, awards, keys to different cities, and a birthday greeting sent by former US President Richard Nixon.In addition, furnishings, historical documents, business records, photographs and other personal artefacts connected to Colonel and Claudia Sanders will be available for bidding.Auction organisers believe Colonel Sanders’ brown leather planner from 1964 could be one of the most valuable items in the sale. The planner contains handwritten notes, including a list of measurements for 11 herbs and spices. However, organisers have said they cannot confirm whether it is the original KFC recipe.The auction also includes several pressure cookers that Colonel Sanders used while developing and demonstrating his cooking method, along with historical documents tracing the growth of the KFC business.
Preview before auction
People interested in the auction will have an opportunity to see the collection before bidding begins. A public preview will be held on Monday, July 27, 2026, from 12 pm to 6 pm. The preview will be open to all visitors who want to see the items on display before the sale.The main auction will take place on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Doors will open at 4 pm, and the auction itself will begin at 6 pm. Organisers said that only qualified registered bidders and approved guests will be allowed to attend the auction in person. The event will be held at 3202 Shelbyville Road, Shelbyville, Kentucky 40065.
