Land of the Giants – World’s largest attractions stand tall in Casey, Illinois

World’s Largest Things in Casey, Illinois

For most people, Casey is an exit in south-central Illinois, about halfway between St. Louis and Indianapolis. But to fans of world’s largest objects, the world’s largest Things in Casey, Illinois are a must-see. Tour buses carrying dozens of people from around the Midwest pull up in a parking lot downtown, near a giant rocking chair and wind chimes.

Casey is home to eight attractions certified by Guinness World Records as the largest in the world. The idea for them came from Jim Bolin, who wanted to do something to help the city of about 2,700. So, he set out to create the first item, a wind chime. Unveiled in 2011, the wind chime stands at about 55 feet tall , with the chimes hanging about 48 feet above ground.

Across the street stands the world’s largest rocking chair. At about 32 feet tall, the chair weighs more than 40,000 lbs. It was created from recycled products. The chair displaced a rocking chair on Route 66 near Fanning, MO, as the world’s largest.

Most of the world’s largest attractions call downtown home – wooden shoes, crochet hook, knitting needles and a mailbox, as well as the chimes and rocking chair.

Located near Richards Farm Restaurant, the world’s largest pitchfork is about 60 feet long. It was the first we saw after enjoying a tasty lunch at the restaurant.

When visiting the local golf course, you may not want to try to tee off at the world’s largest golf tee (unless you have a ladder to climb the 30 feet to the top of the tee).

The Big Things in a Small Town Workshop (Bolin’s “laboratory”) completed a giant gavel that they plan to have recognized as the world’s largest. It would supplant one in Columbus, Ohio.

‘Big’ attractions

In addition to the world’s largest attractions, Casey offers visitors a plethora of large items to view. A 32-foot long pencil will give you an itch to want to write something (don’t touch it). A large bird cage is located a few feet away. Farther down the street, a large minion will entice you to enter one of the town’s stores.

A yardstick that measures 36 feet long is located near the main street. A couple blocks south is a spinning top.

On our way out of town, we had to stop at a large wooden coin appropriately located near a bank. A short distance away is one of the most beautiful rocking horses you will ever see. Though nowhere near being a world’s largest attraction, the rocking horse is painted with unique layers that create different colors as you look at it from different angles.

We enjoyed the few hours we spent in Casey. I appreciate having a travel partner in Lisa, who loves roadside oddities as much as I do. If you’re a world’s largest attraction fan or roadside oddity geek (like Lisa), you need to plan a trip to Casey, about a two-hour drive both St. Louis and Indianapolis. It’s a great day trip from either city.

For more information on the attractions, please visit www.bigthingssmalltown.com or www.cityofcaseyil.org.