Big Things in a Small Town

In the small agricultural city of Casey, Illinois, roadside scale reaches monumental proportions. What began in the late 2000s as a local businessman's campaign to rescue his hometown from economic decline has transformed the community into a living museum of oversized everyday objects. Driven by local contractor Jim Bolin, the project sought to draw motorists off nearby Interstate 70 and into downtown Casey by constructing giant, whimsical creations that demand a second look.

The town's collection includes a variety of massive structures, many of which earned official Guinness World Record designations. Among the standout installations are a giant wind chime, a oversized rocking chair, a massive mailbox, a colossal golf tee, a towering pitchfork, and enormous knitting needles. Rather than using flimsy props or light framing, Bolin and his crew constructed the items using industrial-grade materials, structural steel, telephone poles, and reclaimed timber, giving the pieces a heavy, authentic craft finish.

Walking through downtown Casey offers an interactive scavenger hunt experience. Visitors can climb a staircase inside the World's Largest Mailbox to view the town from above or push down on the lever of a giant pencil. An unusual requirement enforced by record adjudicators was that the items must be fully functional. Consequently, the giant wind chime produces resonant tones when pulled, the massive rocking chair actually sways on its wooden runners, and the giant mailbox opens to accept physical mail.

Today, Casey embraces its identity as the home of "Big Things In A Small Town." New installations continue to appear periodically, designed by local craftsmen using repurposed materials. The downtown district has seen a revival of shops, eateries, and bakeries catering to tourists who arrive daily to measure themselves against the gargantuan everyday objects.