The Middle-of-Nowhere Illinois Town Where You Can Stand Inside a Functioning Mailbox Taller Than Most Houses

Welcome to Casey, Illinois

This small town of 2,700 turned itself into the home of the world’s largest wind chime, rocking chair, mailbox, and more.

They’re not just random oversized things either; local craftspeople build these massive pieces right here, all to get people to stop and check out their town.

Now, this tiny spot off I-70 has drivers planning their detours around it.

Casey’s Record-Breaking Landmarks

Currently, the place boasts 12 official Guinness World Records for “World’s Largest” objects, including a 56-foot rocking chair and a 30-foot golf tee.

Local fabrication shop Bolin Enterprises creates a new big item every year, and the town celebrates each one with a community-wide unveiling event.

Jim Bolin’s Gas Station Turnaround

Local businessman Jim Bolin built a 55-foot wind chime in 2011 that turned his struggling gas station into Casey’s Candy Depot and tourism center.

Bolin invested over $3 million of his own money into the various attractions, and his daughter now manages the visitor experience program.

Functional World’s Largest Mailbox

The USPS-recognized mailbox stands 32 feet tall, weighs over 5,000 pounds, and gives your mail a special “Mailed from the World’s Largest Mailbox” postmark.

Climb steps to drop mail from the top. The mailbox is emptied twice daily by postal workers. Its door hinges required custom fabrication to support the weight.

Rocking Chair Made from Water Tower

The 56-foot rocking chair that dominates Casey’s skyline was cleverly repurposed from an old municipal water tower that was gonna be demolished.

The transformation required over 1,500 hours of welding work, and the chair contained more than 40,000 pounds of steel.

Four local artists hand-painted the wood grain effect on the metal surfaces, and the seat itself is large enough to hold six full-sized vehicles.

Giant Wooden Shoes for Weddings

The oversized wooden shoes accommodate small wedding parties and host several ceremonies annually.

The shoes are made from reclaimed barn wood from five local historic barns, and each shoe weighs over 1,500 pounds.

The town offers special “Wooden Shoe Wedding” packages, and the shoes include interior lighting for evening ceremonies.

Marathon Through Big Attractions

Participants run past all 12 world record items and receive medals made from the same materials used in the giant objects.

The race route goes through normally closed areas of the fabrication workshops and attracts participants from over 30 states.

Local businesses create special “big” menu items for race weekend, and the race includes a “World’s Largest Medal” for the final finisher.

Casey’s Local Currency: Big Bucks

If you complete a passport by visiting all the attractions, you get the special “Big Bucks” which can be used at participating shops.

Each Big Buck is worth $2 in local shops, and the currency features Jim Bolin’s likeness and images of the record-holding items.

So far, the program’s generated over $200,000 since its introduction.

Local Jobs from Big Creations

Every item is designed and built by local craftspeople at Bolin Enterprises, which employs dozens of welders, carpenters, and artists.

The fabrication shop operates year-round on new attractions and provides apprenticeship programs for local high school students.

Many current employees started as apprentices, and the shop uses advanced 3D modeling software to plan new record attempts.

Rocking Chair’s Annual Motion Event

During the annual “Big Rocking Day” celebration, a hydraulic system activates to make the chair gently rock while fans watch in person and online.

The rocking mechanism requires a 30-point safety check before activation, and engineers spent three months designing the rocking system.

The chair moves just 4 inches forward and back during operation.

Golf Tee with Time Capsule

A sealed time capsule contains items from every household that contributed to its construction, set for opening in 2061.

The golf tee required special permission from the PGA to use their official dimensions scaled up, and the capsule includes soil samples from every county in Illinois.

Scavenger Hunt for Big Items

Casey features dozens of “big but not the biggest” items that make exploring the town like a treasure hunt for adults.

A smartphone app helps you track all 36 oversized objects, and local restaurants serve food on plates twice the normal size.

Even the town’s trash cans are three times larger than standard ones, and the visitor center distributes maps showing all the “almost famous” big things.

Plan Your Visit to Casey’s Land of Giants

Location: Casey sits in eastern Illinois, just off Interstate 70, about halfway between St. Louis and Indianapolis

Admission: No fees though donations are appreciated

Visitor Center Hours: Open daily 9am-5pm (extended to 7pm June-August)

Website: www.bigthingssmalltown.com 

Contact: (217) 932-2700

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