Roadside Americana · Kansas
World’s Largest Ball of Twine
A nine-ton community ball of twine
TypeGiant Roadside Colossus
StateKansas
WhenYear-round
How to visitFree; covered gazebo on the main street
A nine-ton sphere of sisal twine in Cawker City, Kansas, started by one farmer in 1953 and still growing — visitors are handed twine to add their own wraps. The platonic ideal of the great-plains roadside stop.
The photo
Adding your own wrap to the ball.
Pair it with
- Cawker City
- Waconda Lake
- Glen Elder State Park
- US-24
Roadside attractions keep their own quirky hours and can change owners, close, or move — confirm it’s open before a long detour, respect private property and art, and leave it as iconic as you found it.
Build a trip around roadside stops like this.
Roamward turns spots like this into a real road trip on your phone — the scenic drive, the stops, and the detours, planned around the vibe you’re after. Get early access: