Big Things, Small Town: Casey, Illinois
I enjoy all kinds of travel, but exploring small towns is one of my favorite excursions! Casey, Illinois has been on my radar for quite some time, and I finally made my way there to see what the BIG fuss is all about in this small town.
Like many small towns in the Midwest, Casey was once a thriving town. But when several factories closed down in the early 2000’s, Casey was hardly a bustling community anymore and it definitely was not a major tourist attraction. In an effort to rebuild the historic downtown, a BIG Idea took shape.
In 2011 the World’s Largest Wind Chime was built in the heart of downtown Casey…and many more BIG things have been added over the years.
You can pull the rope on the massive wind chime to set off a cacophony of sounds!
In addition to the oversized wind chimes, there are now more than 30 BIG attractions to see in and around Casey…and I made it to almost all of them in just a few hours.
It was quickly evident to me why the town’s slogan is “Big Things, Small Town” and why people would travel from all over the country to visit this unique town.
Both young and old alike enjoy visiting Casey and the plethora of Instagram-worthy photo opportunities!
I’m happy to share some photos of my favorite BIG items in Casey, but trust me when I say pictures just don’t do this town justice. You need to make a trip to Casey yourself to experience the grandeur of this small town.
Be sure to print off a map of all the attractions (or you can pick one up in many of the shops in Casey) and check off each BIG item as you spot it!
Guinness World Record Big
There are actually 12 BIG items in Casey (including the wind chimes) that have officially been designated as the World’s Largest by Guinness World Records.
The supersize mailbox was my favorite BIG sighting! Not only does it look pretty cool from street level and have a working red flag on the side…you can also climb up into the mailbox and get a great view of Casey!
There is even a spot inside to mail a letter…making this a functional mailbox.
The oversized rocking chair was another favorite of mine, but this one is for looking at only. No rocking allowed! Still, it is pretty impressive as it towers over the edge of downtown Casey.
When walking through town, you can’t miss the BIG spiraling barber’s pole, appropriately sitting out front of Tina’s Barber Shop.
Golf fanatics will want to swing by Casey’s Welcome Center where just out front is a mighty big golf club.
If you don’t have a map of Casey’s downtown attractions you might miss the World’s Largest Key (as well as a rather massive taco) as it is on a side street. And that would be a shame, because it is pretty impressive!
While most of the BIG items in Casey are found outside, you do have to venture into some shops to peek at a few of them, including the World’s Largest Wooden Shoes.
These giant clogs can be found inside the Wildflour Bakery & Candy Company. Why not grab a sweet treat while you take in all the BIG sights!
Venture about a mile from downtown to the golf course if you want a glimpse at the World’s Largest Golf Tee.
Just Plain Big
While not everything in Casey has been dubbed the World’s Largest, there are many more BIG attractions to spot.
I was happy to see that the massive mousetrap was only capturing eager tourists…and not gigantic rodents!
I didn’t spot any excessive large foul either, but Casey does boast a BIG bird cage, perfect for humans wanting to sit for on a spell on it’s perch.
The youngsters in your group will likely want to snap a photo with the larger-than-life Minion, found next to The Traveling Mug coffee shop.
Venture a few blocks from downtown and you will easily spot the giant but friendly-looking bookworm outside the public library.
There are also a few BIG attractions just off of Interstate 70 that you won’t want to miss…including these giant antlers.
Extend Your Stay
Casey is the perfect small town to visit on a day trip. With most of the BIG attractions concentrated in a 3-5 block area of downtown, you can see many of them and take plenty of pictures in just an hour or two.
But there is even more to do in Casey and the surrounding small towns, so why not make it a weekend getaway like I did!
Spend some time browsing the shops in Casey for home decor, antiques, clothing, or a unique souvenir.
Linger over a caffeinated beverage at Casey Coffee Co.
Grab a hearty snack at Tetzel Prime or lunch at Whitling Whimsy Cafe.
If you are anything like me, you also enjoy scouting out local wineries during your travels.
When visiting Casey, you are in luck as there are 2 wineries in neighboring towns that are worth a stop, Castle Finn Vineyard and Winery and Cameo Vineyards.
Have you been to Casey, Illinois? What was your favorite BIG thing in this small town? And if you haven’t made it to Casey yet…I hope I’ve inspired you to plan a road trip to this unique small town!
Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya
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