Big Things Small Town: Your Complete Guide to Casey Illinois
We found Casey the same way we find a lot of places. Staying up late on a Friday night scrolling through Roadtrippers looking for something new to do on Saturday. We spotted the World’s Largest Rocking Chair first, then the World’s Largest Golf Driver right next to it.
Then another. And another.
We kept zooming in and they just kept appearing. That’s when we realized this was not a coincidence. This was Casey, Illinois, and we needed to go.
Casey is a small town in east-central Illinois with a population of about 2,300 people. It sits right off Interstate 70, about halfway between St. Louis and Indianapolis, and for most drivers it is just an exit sign they pass without thinking twice. That is a mistake. Casey is home to 12 Guinness World Record-holding attractions and over 30 oversized objects scattered around town, all built by one local guy named Jim Bolin who decided his hometown deserved to be on the map.
We have been and it completely lives up to the hype. This is exactly the kind of place we built Lesser Known Adventures to document. Here is everything you need to know before you go.
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The Story Behind Casey’s Big Things
It all started with a wind chime. In 2011, local businessman Jim Bolin wanted to open a sandwich shop but was not sure a small town like Casey could support another restaurant. So he built the World’s Largest Wind Chime out front to draw people off the highway. It worked. The press showed up, people started making detours, and Bolin realized he was onto something.
He kept going. Rocking chair. Mailbox. Pitchfork. Golf tee. One by one, Bolin engineered and built massive objects using the workshops and materials from his pipeline and tank maintenance company. Each one required a Guinness World Records application, documentation, and official certification. Getting 12 of them certified in one small town is, by any measure, a remarkable thing.
Casey was struggling before all this. The interstate bypassed the town in the 1970s and took a lot of traffic and business with it. The big things gave it a second chance. Tour buses pull into Casey’s downtown now. Families drive hours out of their way to see it. The town has embraced the whole thing completely and the result is one of the most fun and genuinely surprising day trips in Illinois.
The 12 World’s Largest Items in Casey Illinois
These are the 12 Guinness World Record holders. All of them are free to visit and most are located right downtown or within a short walk of each other. Pick up a map at bigthingssmalltown.com before you go or grab one at any downtown business when you arrive.
1. World’s Largest Wind Chime
This is where it all started. The wind chime stands 55 feet tall with the chimes themselves hanging about 48 feet above the ground. The longest individual chime is 42 feet long. It is made from five metal tubes and it actually works. You can ring it. On a windy day you can hear it from a long way off. It sits on East Main Street and is usually the first thing people see when they pull into town.
2. World’s Largest Rocking Chair
Across the street from the wind chime is the rocking chair, which stands 32 feet tall and weighs over 40,000 pounds. It is made entirely from wood and it is one of those things that does not fully register until you are standing next to it. People are genuinely tiny next to this thing. Great photo opportunity.
3. World’s Largest Mailbox
This one is fully functional, which was actually a requirement for the Guinness certification. You can climb the stairs in the back and mail a letter from inside the mailbox. It gets its own cancellation stamp that reads “World’s Largest Mailbox, Casey, Illinois.” The red flag on the side goes up when mail has been posted. The mailbox measures 5,743.41 cubic feet and is large enough to climb inside. Bring a postcard and mail it from here.
4. World’s Largest Golf Tee
One of the earlier additions to the collection. It stands on its own near downtown and is hard to miss. Simple, clean, and unmistakably oversized.
5. World’s Largest Pitchfork
Located at Richards Farm Restaurant on the edge of town. Stop here for a meal and see the pitchfork out front. The Pitchfork Burger is the thing to order. Richards Farm is one of the best food stops in the area and worth building your visit around lunch or dinner here.
6. World’s Largest Wooden Shoes
Located inside Casey’s Candy Depot downtown, the wooden shoes are 4 feet 9 inches tall and 11 feet 5 inches long. Each shoe weighs approximately 2,500 pounds and is large enough to hold 15 people inside. The candy shop is worth a stop on its own.
7. World’s Largest Golf Driver
One of the first things I spotted on Roadtrippers that sent me down the Casey rabbit hole. The golf driver is enormous and sits along one of the main roads through town. If you play golf you will appreciate the scale of this one.
8. World’s Largest Barbershop Pole
A working barber pole, scaled up to a size that makes no practical sense whatsoever. That is the whole point. It spins and it is genuinely impressive to stand next to.
9. World’s Largest Gavel
Located nearby in Marshall, Illinois, which is about 10 minutes from Casey. Worth the short drive if you are making a day of it.
10. World’s Largest Truck Key
Also called the World’s Largest Key. A massive metal key that stands on its own downtown. Simple but effective and great for photos.
11. World’s Largest Teeter Totter
Also known as the World’s Longest Teeter Totter. One of the more interactive items in the collection. Kids especially love this one.
12. World’s Largest Swizzle Spoon
Also called the World’s Largest Bar Spoon. A cocktail swizzle spoon scaled up to an absurd size. Another one that sounds strange until you see it in person and then it makes perfect sense for Casey.
The Big Things: More Oversized Attractions
Beyond the 12 Guinness record holders, Casey has over 30 additional oversized objects scattered around town. These do not hold official records but they are worth seeing. Some highlights:
Big Bookworm and Nail Puzzle. A massive worm reading a book, which is charming and weird in equal measure. One of the more photographed non-record items in town.
Big Antlers, Birdcage, and Bat. These line the road into town and are usually some of the first things you see. The antlers are what made one travel writer stop the car the first time they visited Casey.
Big Ear of Corn. Illinois. Of course there is a giant ear of corn.
Knitting Needles and Crochet Hook. These actually held Guinness records from 2013 to 2017 before being surpassed. Still massive and still worth seeing.
Big Horseshoe and Anvil, Big Cactus, Big Ice Cream Cone, Big Glider Plane, Big Mousetrap. The list keeps going. Pick up the official map and turn the whole thing into a scavenger hunt. Families with kids especially love doing it this way.
Where to Eat in Casey Illinois
Richards Farm Restaurant. This is the main food destination in Casey and for good reason. It is a full restaurant with a farm-to-table approach, great burgers, and solid comfort food. The Pitchfork Burger is the signature order and worth getting. The World’s Largest Pitchfork is right outside. Plan your visit around a meal here.
Casey’s Candy Depot. Downtown, home to the World’s Largest Wooden Shoes inside. Good spot for a sweet treat during your walk around town.
Wildflower Bakery and Candy Co. Located at 20 West General Robey, this is another downtown sweet stop with cupcakes, cake pops, and handmade chocolates.
Practical Information Before You Go
Cost: Almost everything in Casey is free to visit. The big things are all outdoors and publicly accessible with no admission fee. You only spend money if you choose to eat or shop.
Getting there: Casey is right off Interstate 70 in east-central Illinois. It is about 3 hours south of Chicago, 1.5 hours east of St. Louis, and 1.5 hours west of Indianapolis. Exit 129 off I-70.
The map: Get one before you go at bigthingssmalltown.com. They also have printable maps at every downtown business. The attractions are spread around town so the map saves a lot of backtracking.
How long does it take: Budget at least half a day. You can see the main Guinness record holders in about 2 hours if you move quickly, but most families spend 3 to 4 hours once you add food, shopping, and time to actually stop and enjoy each one.
Best time to visit: Spring through fall is best since most of the attractions are outdoors. Summer weekends get busy. Weekday visits in late spring or early fall are the sweet spot.
Parking: Free and plentiful throughout downtown. No issues.
Accessibility: Most of the big things are viewable from street level. Some require a short walk on grass or gravel paths.
Tips From Our Visit
We found Casey on Roadtrippers and it is the perfect kind of trip that app is built for. Use code BTR5QTP for $5 off the premium subscription. We use it on every road trip we take, short or long.
Download the map before you leave home. The cell signal in small-town Illinois can be unpredictable and having the map saved saves you time.
Bring some cash. Most places accept cards but a few of the smaller shops and food stands are cash only.
Do the scavenger hunt version with kids. Print the list of all 30-plus big things and check them off as you find them. It turns the whole visit into a game and keeps kids engaged the entire time.
Mail something from the World’s Largest Mailbox. It takes two minutes, it costs you a stamp, and you get a one-of-a-kind postmark that says “World’s Largest Mailbox, Casey, Illinois.” Worth doing.
Get Our Casey Illinois Guide
We put together a Casey Illinois travel guide that covers everything in this post and more. It includes the full big things list, where to eat, tips for visiting with kids, and how to build a full day trip around it. Sign up for our free newsletter here and we will send it straight to your inbox along with our monthly picks for the best Midwest hidden gems worth the drive.
More Illinois Adventures
Casey is one of our favorite stops in Illinois but it is far from the only one. Check out our guide to hidden gems around Chicago for more ideas, or browse our full Illinois adventures archive for everything we have covered across the state.
If you are making a longer road trip of it, Casey sits almost exactly halfway between St. Louis and Indianapolis on I-70 and makes a great stopping point on the Route 66 road trip if you build your route right.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Casey Illinois known for?
Casey Illinois is known for having 12 Guinness World Record-holding oversized attractions in one small town of about 2,300 people. The slogan is “Big Things Small Town” and it is run by local businessman Jim Bolin who started building giant objects in 2011 to bring visitors to the town.
Is Casey Illinois free to visit?
Yes. Almost all of the big things are outdoors and free to see. There is no admission fee. You only spend money if you choose to eat at a restaurant or buy something at one of the downtown shops.
How long should I spend in Casey Illinois?
Most families spend 3 to 4 hours in Casey. You can see the main 12 Guinness record holders in about 2 hours if you move quickly, but factor in time for food, shopping, and actually stopping to enjoy each attraction.
How far is Casey Illinois from Chicago?
Casey is about 3 hours south of Chicago, making it a long but very doable day trip. It sits right off I-57 and I-70 so the drive is easy. It also works well as a stop on a longer road trip heading toward St. Louis or Indianapolis.
Where do I get a map of Casey Illinois big things?
Download one at bigthingssmalltown.com before you leave. You can also pick up a printed copy at any downtown business when you arrive. The map is free.
Is Casey Illinois good for kids?
Yes, kids love it. The scale of everything is exciting for children and the scavenger hunt approach of finding all 30-plus big things keeps them engaged the whole visit. The teeter totter and mailbox are especially popular with younger kids.
Who built the big things in Casey Illinois?
All 12 Guinness World Record items were built by Jim Bolin, a local businessman who was born and raised in Casey. He started with the wind chime in 2011 as a way to draw traffic to his sandwich shop and kept going from there. The project gave the town a genuine second chance after years of economic decline following the interstate bypass in the 1970s.
Resources:
https://www.bigthingssmalltown.com/
List of all the things – https://www.bigthingssmalltown.com/list
City of Casey Illinois https://www.cityofcaseyil.org/
