Find "Big Things" in the Town of Casey

Find all kinds of “big things” when you take a day trip to the small town of Casey, Illinois

Special thanks to Chambanamoms team member and Southern Illinois expert Mindy Borden for contributing to this article.

If you’re looking for a fun, educational, and food-filled day trip with your kids that won’t leave them complaining of boredom, a visit to Casey is sure to super-size your family fun.

Be sure to take a camera or make sure that you have plenty of storage space on your phone because these stops are Instagram-worthy. Located about 75 miles southeast of Champaign-Urbana off I-70, Casey has become increasingly more notable due to native Jim Bolin, who decided that he wanted to do something to make the town stand out. Using mainly recycled materials and old telephone poles, Bolin has continued to construct items making Casey the home to 12 landmarks receiving Guinness World Record status.

These impressive pieces include the world’s largest wind chime, golf tee, barbershop pole, swizzle spoon and more. The record for the world’s largest knitting needle and crochet hook was held from 2013-17. Find a complete list of the (current) world’s largest items here.

On a nice day, visitors can walk between many of the sites within Casey. Posted signs and directional arrows are visible throughout town in order to guide visitors between landmarks. There is a map online here.

If mobility is of concern for your party, there are trolley tours available in town (call 217-932-5050 for info ahead of time). If you are hoping to see all of the world record sites, you will probably want to drive to a few of them. Nearby Marshall (home of the world’s largest gavel) is about a 20-minute drive south of Casey.

Food and how to structure your visit to Casey Big Things

When planning your trip to Casey, please note that many of the stores are closed on Sundays and Mondays, and some are also closed on Tuesdays. It is important to look at the hours of operation when you plan your trip as they can change seasonally.

Our recommendation is to start near Casey’s Main Street, at the Traveling Mug. The adults in our group enjoy the many flavored coffee options and the kids enjoy their flavored lemonade — blended blueberry lemonades being a consistent favorite. If you still need more to drink, make sure to stop by the beautiful downtown Casey Coffee Co. for their deliciously themed coffees, energy drinks, pizza flatbreads, and more.

While you sip on your coffee, it’s hard to miss the world’s largest mailbox. Make sure to bring a piece of mail to send from the mailbox. The giant flag on the mailbox will rise when mail is inserted. You can climb up inside the mailbox and wave to the town that’s 32 feet, 6.5 inches below. Be sure to have someone take a picture of you and your family from the ground.

Across the street, children love to get inside the giant bird cage with fully operational swing for photo opportunities. Be sure to also check out the world’s largest barber pole nearby for a fun and unique picture. Wildflour Bakery also features gourmet cupcakes, cookies, and other treats.

For lunch, try Tetzel Prime, a fun and unique shop offering gourmet pretzels and dipping sauces. The pick up window looks like an old truck hood on the side of the building. When your order has been completed, listen for the horn to alert you to come to the window to pick up your treat. Patrons may also choose to go inside the shop to order and eat. No trip to Casey is complete for the kids without a trip to The Big Dipper for hand-dipped ice cream.

Farther down Main Street are the world’s largest windchimes (109 E. Main). The 56-foot structure is easy to spot when arriving in town. In the surrounding landscaped area, spectators are able to ring the windchimes and hear the sounds they make.

Directly across the street you will find the world’s largest rocking chair. It weighs more than 46,200 pounds and stands 56 feet, 6 inches tall. And it actually rocks! It took 10 people to rock the chair to qualify for the record because the items have to be functional to be considered for record-worthy status.

The world’s largest teeter totter is located near this area. The top of the teeter totter boasts a great view of the world’s largest rocking chair.

The former world’s largest crochet hook and knitting needles are located outside a local art studio called Under His Wings. The knitting needles weigh roughly 25 pounds each and the crochet hook weighs more than 9 pounds itself. To qualify for the world record in 2013, 10 rows were knitted with the oversized tools.

Many of the other spectator sites are spread across town and will require some driving. The world’s largest golf tee is at Casey Country Club (203 NE 13th St.). Standing more than 30 feet tall and weighing 6,659 pounds, it is an impressive sight in the middle of the golf course. Visitors are able to access fantastic views of the landmark.

From there, drive about a mile to the world’s largest pitchfork. The pitchfork, next to local favorite Richard’s Farm restaurant (607 NE 13th St.), is 60 feet long and weighs 1,940 pounds. It was created to accompany the theme of the restaurant. They have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet.

Other “big things” that weren’t quite record-worthy but are equally impressive: a 13-foot wooden coin at the Casey State Bank (940 Illinois Route 49); a 32-foot, 6-inch pencil; and a 36-foot-long yardstick, a giant bookworm, a large spinning top, mousetrap, and more developing with each stop that we make. These should definitely be checked out on your visit.

There are so many fun things to do and delicious, unique foods and experiences to be had in Casey. Enjoy your day trip!

Find “Big Things” in the Town of Casey

Find all kinds of “big things” when you take a day trip to the small town of Casey, Illinois

Food and how to structure your visit to Casey Big Things

Some ideas on trips you can take with your family: