Lottery hopefuls flock to 'Miracle Mile' in Fond du Lac

FOND DU LAC - The Mega Millions $355 million jackpot is the fourth largest prize in U.S. lottery history. The jackpot is worth about $224 million if taken in a lump sum.

Whenever the jackpot gets big, Ma & Pa's on Fond du Lac's 'Miracle Mile' gets even busier. The store has sold about two dozen large lottery winners, including a $206 million Powerball jackpot in 2006.

"There were two straight days once when we sold 90,000 tickets," said Mike Forsyth, one of the store's managers. "We've had calls, 'can you send tickets to Texas?' But we can't do that."

Forsyth has pretty much seen it all in 10 years at the store, including a winning ticket himself. He won $67,000 dollars on a Badger 5 ticket in 2006.

"I split it with a guy. By the time it was all said and done we got about $22,000," said Forsyth.

"They're so lucky here, I'm hoping some of that luck rubs off on me," said Carmen French of Fond du Lac, who bought some tickets at Ma & Pa's.

The largest Mega Millions jackpot was $390 million in 2007. Odds of winning the jackpot are about 176-million to one.