Let’s Chat About Minnesota’s Giant Ball of Twine
Hey there! Let’s take a moment to reminisce on something I miss dearly—regular travel, especially finding quirky places along the way. Ever since I got into a comfy routine back in New York City, I’ve not been able to hop from city to city like I used to.
You see, while I got to travel a lot with that crazy circus tour, it turned out to be a bit costly. That meant I had to think outside the box, especially while hanging around for that pesky train to arrive.
And that’s when I reignited my love for bizarre roadside attractions! So, let’s jump straight into the zany spot I wanted to discuss today—it’s none other than the colossal:
WORLD’S BIGGEST BALL OF TWINE!
I know, I know. It might seem odd that I’m so giddy about twine, but bear with me.
So, there’s a bit of a twine-tangle as to which ball holds the crown. We’ve got the Minnesota ball, all 8.7 tons, 11 feet high of it, and with an impressive diameter of 40 feet! The mind-boggling part? A single man, Francis Johnson, was behind this twine masterpiece. Anyone trekking to Darwin, Minnesota, where it’s located, won’t be surprised that he could take on such a hobby, given the bare surroundings (except, of course, for the mini-detour to the world’s largest fiberglass chicken—also a fun spot!).
In 1994, the Kansas twine ball rolled in to steal Minnesota’s glory. But, interestingly enough, it was a collective effort from the entire community and weighs less than Minnesota’s. It’s just a bit taller and sports a wider diameter.
Minnesota’s twine ball, however, ticks all the boxes of an incredible roadside attraction. No admission fee! A cute museum dedicated to it! Even twine ball shot glasses to remember your trip. Plus, you get to leave a note in the guestbook and get a funny picture. My best buddy was crazy enough to join me—our broke grad students status made it a perfect spring break adventure.
A cherry on top, if you time your visit right and land in Darwin, MN, on the second Saturday in August, you can even catch the Twine Ball Festival – and yes, you heard correctly!
Sadly, I couldn’t make it to the festival, but our visit was a perfect addition to our budget-friendly spring break. We even had a theme song for the trip by Weird Al Yankovic! How great is that?
What about you, folks? Have you road tripped before? What’s the most unusual thing you’ve come across while on the road?