If the adage “bigger is better” is true, then Casey (pronounced kay-zee), Illinois, might just be one of the world’s best places to visit, with 12 enormous man-made structures listed as Guinness World Records and 21 other giant sculptures scattered around the little town and its surrounding area.
What to do
When Casey resident Jim Bolin and his family vacationed in Colorado a decade ago, they visited a small-town tea shop. On the return trip, they began talking about how nice it would be to have a similar shop at home, but Bolin realized they needed some creative ideas to make the business a success and also help the town. With a fondness for wind chimes that he inherited from his grandmother, he thought it might be appealing to use them in the new business. “That’s when I decided to build the world’s largest wind chime,” he said. “I thought that would be an oddity for people to come off Interstate 70 to look at it and draw business to the tea and sandwich shop we wanted to open.”
Bolin is vice president of Bolin Enterprises, a pipeline and tank maintenance company, and he had all the materials to make the huge piece. With help from company team members, he crafted it and nearly all the subsequent colossal sculptures in town. They typically use recycled materials, including old telephone poles, oil tanks, and damaged pipes.
When the Whitling Whimsy Café opened in 2012, the 54-foot-tall wind chime sat outside. Guinness World Records honored the wind chime as the world’s largest, and traffic in the little town began to increase. “I thought, ‘What else could I do for my hometown?’ So I (made) a 6-foot-tall crochet hook and 13-foot knitting needles for my wife’s cousin, who has a yarn shop,” Bolin said.
While both pieces were declared world records at the time, they have since been eclipsed. However, 11 other pieces that Bolin helped orchestrate remain as Guinness records, including 12-foot wooden shoes, a 45-foot golf driver, and a 56-foot-tall rocking chair. Visitors can climb into a 32-foot-tall mailbox and imagine the giant who uses a 32-foot pencil.
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Where to shop
A favorite with tourists, Wildflour Bakery and Candy Company offers freshly prepared baked goods, fudge, and oodles of candy choices. Hunt for antiques and collectibles at Deborah’s Attic, which also is home to an ever-changing collection of architectural salvage items like tin ceiling tiles and old windows. Terra Cottage flourishes with unique gifts and plants.
Where to eat
Make sure to sample a side of blueberry applesauce at the Whitling Whimsy Café, which is known for its chicken salad sandwich. Located in a restored barn, Richards Farm Restaurant serves up home-style specialties like fried catfish, steak, and a 1-pound pork chop. Outside the restaurant, the world’s largest pitchfork—as tall as a bowling alley lane is long—pays tribute to Casey’s agricultural community. Deep-dish pizza lovers should check out Greathouse of Pizza, which also has a large pizza slicer out front.
Where to stay
Built in 1890 by the Knights of Pythias, the fraternal organization’s meeting hall was transformed into the boutique 12-room Eighteen-Ninety Sleepover in 2018. Modern amenities complement the original character, including brick walls throughout.
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