The Atlas Obscura Podcast 12 Days of Wonder: The Unclaimed Baggage Center
Dec 18, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Jennifer Crittner, a veteran of the Unclaimed Baggage Center, reveals the fascinating world of lost luggage. She shares remarkable tales, including the bizarre discovery of a Hoggle doll and valuable treasures like a platinum Rolex. Listeners will learn how unclaimed bags are processed and the quirky items found inside them, from rattlesnakes to ceremonial artifacts. Jennifer also recounts the center's rise to fame, sparked by a well-timed appearance on Oprah, turning it into a unique shopping destination.
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Hoggle From Labyrinth Turned Up
- Workers opened a suitcase and found the original Hoggle puppet from Labyrinth staring back at them.
- The doll still sits near the store entrance as one of Unclaimed Baggage's most famous finds.
The 90-Day Rule Explains How Items Become Available
- Airlines hold lost luggage 90 days before it legally becomes theirs to dispose of or sell.
- That 90-day window is the reason Unclaimed Baggage can purchase and resell truly unclaimed items.
Openers Encounter Surprises And Hazards
- Openers at Unclaimed Baggage sometimes find hazardous or extraordinary items like live rattlesnakes or a platinum Rolex.
- The most expensive sold item mentioned was a $64,000 men's platinum presidential Rolex sold for $32,000.