Unclaimed Baggage Center: Alabama’s Treasure Trove of Lost Luggage

Every seasoned traveler has lost their luggage at some point. After a bit of grumbling and a short delay, most people reunite with their lost baggage and carry on. A surprising number of people opt not to reclaim their wayward luggage. In 1970, a few savvy business people in Scottsboro, Alabama decided to gather unclaimed luggage and sell it to the general public. What started as a casual part-time business is now a booming resale shop called the Unclaimed Baggage Center that adds over 7,000 new items a day.

The bulk of the merchandise at the Unclaimed Baggage Center is clothing, The Unclaimed Baggage Center has had some very interesting acquisitions through the years. Employees have come across luggage that contained an engraved tombstone, a full suit of armor, and a live rattlesnake. The rarest and most fascinating items end up in the Unclaimed Baggage Center’s museum, The undeniable star of the Unclaimed Baggage museum is the Hoggle puppet that was used in the Jim Henson film “Labyrinth.”

If you’re searching for an engagement ring, a laptop, a wedding dress, or a $60,000 Rolex watch—the Unclaimed Baggage Center has got you covered. You never know if a designer handbag, rare instrument, or lavish ballgown is going to pop up. One of the best parts of shopping at the Unclaimed Baggage Center is speculating about where all of the lost luggage originated from. Did the owners simply forget to claim their luggage, or did some wild or terrible circumstance befall them? The Unclaimed Baggage Center is essentially the ultimate thrift store. If you live to rummage through other people’s discarded possessions—book yourself a trip to Alabama straight away. Just make sure you keep track of your luggage so that your favorite shirt doesn’t end up in the Unclaimed Baggage Center bargain bin.

Address: Unclaimed Baggage Center, 509 W. Willow St., Scottsboro, Ala.