Having tea in the home of the World's Biggest Tee: Casey, Ilinois - a small town of big things!

The World's Biggest Mailbox resides in Casey, the small town of big things

This story is big, really BIG!

Last month while my husband, Chris, and I were on a short road trip from Detroit to southern Illinois, a few "local attraction" signs along the highway caught our attention. First, we saw the claim of the "World's Largest Mailbox".  That in itself was impressive enough to tempt us to take a detour. But wait, we found there was more - so MUCH more!

The sign for the MAILBOX was followed by more billboards boasting a host of other "world's biggest" things including a rocking chair, a set of wind chimes, a truck key and a golf tee.  I began to suspect this magical place must surely have a giant magnet as well as we were pulled so strongly off the highway and into Casey, the small town of big things.

The World's Biggest Golf Tee is conveniently located on a golf course in Casey.

According to Enjoy Illinois, the on-line official guide to Illinois, I found that the genesis for these large-scale attractions came from a local businessman who wanted to open a tea shop!

In order to bring visitors to Casey, Jim Bolin, knew he had to "think outside of the box" - and what a big box that was.

World's largest truck key

World's largest wind chimes

Using resources from his family-owned pipeline and tank maintenance business, Bolin built a 54-foot set of working wind chimes, his first "world's biggest" creation, acknowledged by Guiness in 2011. The tearoom, Whitling Whimsey Cafe, followed in 2012, with eleven more big things on the way. 

Casey is currently the official site of twelve Guiness World Records for World's Largest Attractions.

World's Largest Rocking Chair

Big excitement from big things

On our first stop to Casey last month, we visited the mailbox, golf tee and truck key.  Last week, on another trek to southern Illinois, we extended our stay in this alluring town, along with my brother-in-law.  This time, we made it to the Whistling Whimsey for a cup of tea. Situated next to the wind chimes and across from the rocking chair, we had a grand view from the outside patio.

Having tea at the Whitling Whimsey Cafe, next to the World's Largest Wind Chimes

The Whitling Whimsey is more "cafe" than "tearoom", but, like its over-sized neighbors, it's big on charm. 

We had tea in the home of the World's Biggest Tee, Casey, Illinois. A great place to escape the bustle of the highway and take a moment to "smell the roses", whether they are the world's biggest American Beauty's or not.