This piece is part of a series of articles submitted to The Local Tourist through a cooperation with a 400-level travel writing class at Purdue University.
By Krista Kingery
As the car cruised down the highway to the soft lull of Billy Joel, I laid my head against the window, closed my eyes, and asked my mom for the fourth time, “Are we there yet?”
My question was answered when I opened my eyes and saw a pair of giant antlers sprouting from the side of the road.
Even if your eyes don’t stray from the road, it is hard to miss the small town of Casey Illinois. Casey sits about 35 miles southwest of Terre Haute, Indiana, on Interstate 70.
Casey Illinois, Home of World’s Largest Things
How Casey Illinois became home to so many big things
Once an oil boomtown along the National Road, Casey’s industry began to decline with the construction of I-70 in the early 1970s. For many years, it served as a fuel stop for weary travelers trekking cross-country.
The town struggled until 2011 when a local businessman decided to open a tea shop.
Now, how does a tea shop turn into a town with large antlers on the side of the road?
Simple: there had to be a way to attract business to the tea shop from the interstate. Why not make a World’s Largest item and put up a billboard?
Jim Bolin, clearly an outside-the-box businessman, spent two years constructing the World’s Largest Wind Chime.
Creating something 54 feet tall and functional is no easy feat. In order for the Wind Chime to hold that title, it has to function as a normal size wind chime would.
Press from all over Central Illinois came into town the day the wind chime was unveiled. This press granted Casey a bit of fame, and Bolin was not ready to let it fade out.
Over the years he continued to build more large structures for the town to bring in tourism.
Now, the antlers mentioned above are actually not part of the 12 World’s Largest items in Casey, but instead considered a member of the runner-up group of “Big Things” in Casey.
Along with the antlers, items as mundane as a mousetrap or as trendy as a Pokémon and Minion have been supersized.
But the main attractions are, of course, the World’s Largest. A handful of World’s Largest items from a mailbox (that actually serves as a post office—with the outpost location as The World’s Largest Mailbox) to a teeter totter are hard to miss in the town.
If we’re being honest, Casey is a very small town trying to put itself on the map. There is something admirable about Bolin trying to increase attention to the town while also helping its economy.
And, as the place gets more recognition, more small businesses continue to open up.
Bolin said:
“It is a great feeling to have visitors who appreciate what we are doing here. Businesses are incredibly supportive of each other. The success of one means success for all of us.”
Tips for Visiting Casey Illinois
Here are my tips for having the best day possible in Casey, Illinois:
Go with someone (or people) who appreciate(s) being silly.
Casey Illinois is full of silly little photo opportunities, and let’s be honest, the World’s Largest items are quite funny (and memorable) things to look at. Choosing who to accompany you on a trip to this town is crucial.
The attractions in this town are meant to be entertainment, and the memories you take home are meant to capture that entertainment aspect.
I mean, did you really see a massive birdcage if you don’t have a picture of you swinging in it to prove it? The answer is probably not.
I brought my mom with me on this trip for a cute mother-daughter date and was not disappointed with the experience. My mom was more than eager to take all of the goofy photos of me (to post on her Facebook later, of course) and she was even willing to let me take a few of her.
I knew I couldn’t leave without letting her have a photoshoot with the large Minion in town since almost all adults think they are the funniest things ever.
Follow the signs (literally).
While most of the big attractions are concentrated along the main street in town, some are littered on side streets or even a five-or-so minute drive away.
Luckily, there are signs all over town pointing you to their must-visit sights. This is very helpful for directionally challenged people like my mom and me.
Some of these big things will peep over the two story buildings in town and you won’t need directions for how to find them, but some are more hidden than others.
My mom and I almost missed the World’s Largest key because it is tucked away on a side street and blocked by a building. If it wasn’t for a sign pointing us in the right direction, we would’ve been wandering around for a while searching.
While you should follow the signs, you should also let yourself wander off the beaten path. There are many other attractions that are geared to buildings in the town that don’t have signs.
If we hadn’t accidentally got lost, we wouldn’t have seen the bookworm in front of the library. That incident taught us to follow the signs, but also be aware of our surroundings because you never know what may be out there waiting.
Talk to the locals and other tourists.
I know talking isn’t for everyone, but a little chit-chat never hurt anyone. Even if it’s a short “Hi, hey, hello” as you pass someone on the street, it makes the experience better.
After all, you are all there to see the same things, so you already have one thing in common.
I spoke with a staff member at the Whitling Whimsy Cafe, Eliana Stewart, and just started a casual conversation about the town and what it’s like living there.
I first asked her the impossible question of which was her favorite “Big Thing” in town, and her answer did not disappoint.
“I work right next to the Wind Chime, and it’s really fun to watch children come up and ring them. I will say though, the Teeter Totter would have to be my favorite. It actually works and it’s huge.”
It was Eliana who told me that in order to hold the record of the World’s Largest Item, every item has to work as it would in normal size.
She also explained how much these attractions have done for the town, saying “A lot of local businesses would not be in business if the Big Things were not in town.
The tourism it brings is what keeps the town alive. There is a noticeable difference between tourism season and off season, but without the tourists, the town wouldn’t be able to sustain itself.”
Related: Discover what it means to be a Local Tourist
Stop in the shops and cafes.
Although the town is small, there is plenty to do besides just gawking at the giant structures. In fact, several of these items are located within shops along Main Street to encourage visitors to pop in and meander about. My mom and I did just that.
At the Whitling Whimsy Cafe, which just so happens to be the tea shop owned by the Bolin family, we ordered a couple smoothies and a few cookies to split. All of it was delicious and the service was fast and friendly.
We made an effort to stop in every shop that we saw. Casey’s Candy Depot is located in the town’s old train depot and is home to the World’s Largest Wooden Shoes.
Aside from the shoes, which – for the record – I swear could fit four grown adults inside each of them, the shelves are full of both classic old-timey candies and more mainstream candies.
Don’t miss these Big Things
If for some reason you only have an hour, or you’re just rushing for time, here is my absolute must-visit list of Big Things in Casey.
The first would have to be the World’s Largest Rocking Chair. It can be found right on Main Street and it’s a whopping 56 feet tall! It weighs about 46,200 pounds. I mean, this thing is bigger than you can even imagine.
I had to take a minute and just stand under it and gawk. The coolest fact about this big thing: it actually rocks back and forth.
The next must-see on my list would be the World’s Largest Mailbox. The fact that it is a real working post office? So unique! Also, the view of town and the other big items from inside the mailbox is a sight that cannot be beat.
Another addition to my list of things you have to check out is the World’s Largest Barbershop Pole. Nothing catches your attention like a giant colorful spinning pole.
This retro attraction is sitting, coincidentally, right in front of the barbershop in Casey along Main Street.
The final item I consider to be one of the best in Casey is the big birdcage. Now this doesn’t hold a title of World’s Largest, but it is still a huge birdcage.
Even better? It’s a birdcage that you can actually swing in. And if we’re being honest, swinging around in a birdcage is fun no matter how old you are.
After a long day in Casey shopping to our heart’s content and taking in all of the sights, my mom and I began our journey home. I was once again lulled to sleep by the grooves in the payment and the soft sound of Billy Joel in the background.
Right before my eyes fluttered shut, the same antlers that welcomed me into the town were seeing me out.
To find out more about Casey, Illinois, visit Big Things Small Town.
Casey Illinois Guinness World Record Holders
Casey is home to twelve world’s largest attractions that are Guinness World Record holders:
- World’s Largest Wind Chime
- World’s Largest Golf Tee
- World’s Largest Pitchfork
- World’s Largest Rocking Chair
- World’s Largest Wooden Shoes
- World’s Largest Mailbox
- World’s Largest Gavel
- World’s Largest Truck Key
- World’s Largest Barbershop Pole
- World’s Largest Teeter Totter
- World’s Largest Golf Driver
- World’s Largest Swizzle Spoon
Where is Casey Illinois?
Casey is located south of I-70 in Illinois and on the Historic National Road (US-40).
Where to stay in Casey
Find accommodations for your world’s largest things adventure.
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