Big Stuff in a little town

Casey, Illinois has struck, in my opinion, tourist silver! The small town with a population of around 3,000 people has been building big things since 2011 and drawing road-trippers in for a short detour. The genius in this is that people come, look, eat and tell other people but don't stay and clog up the town for too long-hence the silver medal. This idea of "we build it and they will come" began when Jim Bolin spent 2 years building a 54' tall wind chime. Jim kept building and Guinness has awarded the town with the designation of world's largest for 7 different objects-a rocking chair, mailbox, knitting needles, crochet hook, wind chime, pitchfork, golf tee and clogs.

Casey boasts more big things, that are not the world's largest but still large! There is a pencil that, I'm not sure, but might be No. 2 ( LOL), a giant yardstick, a wooden coin and a big 'ole birdcage with a human sized perch. Jim Bolin's plan has been a success and put Casey "on the map" or, at least, on tripadvisor. The large wooden shoes are in a candy shop, and you know you just have to buy some sugary treats after a glimpse at the shoes, and the knitting needles and crochet hook are in a yarn shop. The Casey folks are still building with a giant gavel on the way and an idea for a super-sized teeter-totter in the park. Jim Bolin also has a teashop where you can find 100 things that start with the letter W. I hope the people of Casey keep capitalizing on "Big Things Small Town" and add a restaurant with the world's largest breakfast menu or an event like the midwest's biggest barbecue. I hope the town keeps going big and if you happen to pass through, you should send a postcard from the world's largest mailbox. Definitely worth a stop-go BIG and go home!!