KFC founder Colonel Sanders’ home, memorabilia set for auction in Kentucky

Want to own a piece of Kentucky Fried Chicken history?

Colonel Harland Sanders’ personal items, including his home, memorabilia, and a planner with handwritten notes, are set to be auctioned.

Although Sanders only reached the rank of private in the military, he became one of the most famous “colonels” in history, known for his contributions – not to the military service, but the food service industry. His image, featuring a bowtie and white suit, is recognized worldwide. “I don’t care where you are in the world. You know Colonel Sanders,” said Bill Menish, owner of Menish Group, which is running the auction.

The auction includes items from Sanders’ home, such as rings, buttons, watches, and a watch he wore during an appearance on “The Tonight Show.” “They came from his home. These were things he used every single day,” Menish said. “For me, it’s the watches, the rings, the buttons he wore on his lapel. It doesn’t get any more personal than those.”

Also up for sale are Sanders’ personal cutlery set, stored in a leather case for travel, and a pressure cooker he used on the road, which was a game-changer in fast food preparation. “This is his personal cutlery set – it’s in a leather case, meant to be taken on the road, which is exactly what he did with it,” Menish said.

One of the most anticipated items is a 1964 planner in Sanders’ handwriting, which includes a page listing 11 herbs and spices. “With the percentages that are to be put in… now we can’t tell you that’s the secret recipe – I’m not here to say that at all. But when the buyer owns it, I’ll let them decide what they think it is,” Menish said.

Other items include Sanders’ Kentucky Colonel certificate, his Bible, and his Shelbyville mansion, Blackwood, along with the Claudia Sanders Dinner House next door, which remains operational.

Menish highlighted the community’s interest in the future of the restaurant. “A lot of people say, who’s going to be the buyer? And the community saying, will they continue the restaurant as is? I know they hope that they will. I hope they will because it’s phenomenal,” he said.

The items came up for sale after the family that purchased the mansion and dinner house from Sanders in 1974 decided it was time to part with them. The auction offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of the legacy of the man who revolutionized fast food with his image, bowtie, and a list of secrets.

The auction starts Tuesday in Shelbyville, Kentucky.