The first time we visited the White Cloud Flea Market, blind faith in MapQuest directions led us…read moredown a gravel road into a rural landscape like none we had ever seen before. Fecund fields as far as the eye could see, broken only by the occasional abandoned homestead. Modern construction simply had not reached these forlorn back roads. We drove for miles, gaping as we passed yet another disintegrating farmhouse and crumbling stone barn. Each time we were compelled to slow the car and stare, wondering what the decay concealed, speculating about the home's history and demise. We were both fascinated and unnerved by the ghostly setting, and breathed a collective sigh of relief when luxury SUV's began to appear, parked on both sides of this lonely road in the middle of nowhere. We had arrived in White Cloud. Not quite a ghost town, modern day White Cloud has less than 200 residents. At one time, it was home to over 2,000 people, and its docks were an integral stop for steamships traveling up and down the Missouri River. Local legend says that Lewis and Clark carved their names into rock somewhere near the city site when they scouted the area in 1804. It is a lovely location. The Missouri River winds peacefully through rolling hills. It would be a great spot for a weekend getaway, if the town was not completely void of activity 357 days of the year. Twice a year, the barren streets of White Cloud fill with day-trippers, treasure hunters, and moneyed decorators looking for a bit of history to take home from the semi-annual White Cloud Flea Market. Nearby Sparks, KS, holds a large antique market on the same days. Storefronts that are normally silent and locked open their doors on these two special weekends to sell their dust covered wares and welcome the swarms of visitors that converge from nearby states. The best pickings are small collectibles and unusual chotskies. A few stands do sell larger items like furniture, but the majority of vendors have old toys, tools, books, house wares, jewelry, etc. If you are a serious shopper, the Sparks flea market covers the most ground, but browsing in White Cloud is more fun. Reasonable prices and a vast selection make it worth the long, but scenic drive from KC. The first year we made the trip on a whim and didn't consider provisions. Luckily, a church in White Cloud was selling fresh fry bread tacos. This year we took a picnic lunch and ate in the functional, but clearly neglected White Cloud city park. To supplement a picnic, there are also vendors selling funnel cakes, sun tea, and a variety of hot dogs. Photos and more on my blog: http://thefamilyunit.tumblr.com/

Enjoyed the Flea Market. I will never go back because of the trumped up offense of Parking,…read moreStanding, stopping in prohibited area. There were no signage that was visible on that Saturday morning we arrived. 40+ vehicles parked in the same area. Is this a small town way of creating revenue? I'll never go back to White Cloud nor Troy County, and if anyone asks me about the flea market, I'll fill them in on the bogus charges we received. My family had spent over $200 each other f the 4 times we went to the flea market in the past 3 years. I'm positive I won't be the only patron that will not step or drive in that county again. The district attorney's office seemed to acknowledge there were a large number of folks that received the same letter with no citations. That is not the way to generate income for your county.

They have a wide variety of antiques and the prices are very reasonable. The staff is so helpful…read moreand friendly you will enjoy your visit.

Stopped in here on a whim. Had driven by many times, as it's on Main Street, and finally decided to…read moredrop in. The small shop was busy! Lots of women (and one man:-) we're checking out the items. I liked the clothes. They were modern, easy-to-wear, casual dressy and great for many ages. The accessory options were fun and colorful. Prices were very reasonable. Staff was super friendly without being pushy. Super cute place. Please support your local businesses.

Oh my goodness, we love this little gem of a store! It's ranked in my top 3 favorite things about…read morevisiting my daughter in Maryville during her college years. They have the cutest stuff from clothing to accessories to some small home decor items. I find it to be a great place to get gifts! They also have the sweetest dog!