The thrill of the unknown. The adventure of going where no man (or woman) has gone before. The joy of a long awaited vacation, with nothing but sun and sand for the next two weeks. Oh, the joy of taking a plane to Hawaii, and the horror of you luggage going to Omaha. Nothing against Omaha, but it just isn’t Hawaii. Have you ever wondered just what happened to your lost and unclaimed luggage. Well, you are about to find out.

The name of today’s site is the Unclaimed Baggage Center. Unclaimed Baggage is a one-of-a-kind store nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and bordered by Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Alabama. Founded in 1970 by Doyle and Sue Owens as a part-time business, it soon became a full-time venture. In 1978, the Owens incorporated the company and watched it prosper as one of the great ‘hidden’ bargain centers for smart and savvy shoppers. Over one million items pass through its turnstiles every year, the majority of it being clothing. But about 40% of it is electronics, jewelry, sporting goods, and luggage. The majority of the items are from airlines that have exhausted all means of contacting owners, and have declared them unclaimed after 90 days.

This is a popular storefront but is has some interesting online fun. There is a “What Is It?” contest to try and identify an article they have found. There is a spot to see some of the unusual items they have found, as well as the “Peek in the Bag,” where you can see an actual cash register receipt so you know what people are really buying at the store. The Warp-o-Meter gives this site a 7.5 for the fun of it. If you want buried treasure, this is the place for you.

[tags]vacation,warp-o-meter,luggage,warped.info,lost luggage,unclaimed baggage,buried treasure[/tags]