Sale of Claudia Sanders Dinner House, Blackwood Hall called off

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The historic Claudia Sanders Dinner House and the residence, Blackwood Hall, will no longer be sold after being put up for auction in July.

The Shelbyville restaurant, along with the on-site home where Harland "Colonel" Sanders lived and operated what became KFC's headquarters, was offered through a sealed-bid process that ran through 11:59 p.m. July 31.

"We are deeply grateful for the support of our community and remain committed to preserving the tradition and hospitality that Claudia Sanders Dinner House is known for," the Settle family said in a statement Sunday.

"We understand this has been a concern for many in our community, and we appreciate the continued support and encouragement we've received. We are happy to share that we will continue operating as we always have and look forward to welcoming our guests for years to come. Thank you for being part of the Claudia Sanders Dinner House family."

The property included 3.01 acres of commercially zoned real estate with two structures. They included a 5,000-square-foot residence belonging to Harland and Claudia Sanders from 1959 to 1984 — named Blackwood Hall — and a nearly 25,000-square-foot restaurant and banquet hall.

The sale also included the operating restaurant business, furniture, fixtures and equipment, intellectual property and trademark rights.

Harland and Claudia Sanders moved to the property from Corbin, Kentucky. There, they opened the Claudia Sanders Dinner House in 1959, which also served as the first KFC headquarters. The property also became the couple's home for more than 25 years. It has attracted customers from across the country for more than 60 years.

The Settle family purchased the historic properties directly from Mr. and Mrs. Sanders in 1974. Some of the artifacts up for auction were Sanders' personal planner, handwritten recipes, letters and correspondence from U.S. presidents, and his signature bow tie.

The live auction for nearly 100 personal items tied to Sanders took place July 28.