The world's largest ball of twine is in Cawker City, Kansas, and you can walk inside it

The ball sits in a small park in the middle of Cawker City, a town of about 400 people in northwestern Kansas. It measures 40 feet around and weighs roughly 17.5 tons. The structure is enclosed in a gazebo so visitors can approach it year-round, and the interior is hollow — you can actually step inside and look up at the twine wrapped above your head.

The ball started in 1950 when a local farmer named Frank Johnson began rolling twine into a ball as a way to use up leftover baling twine from his farm. He kept adding to it for years. After Johnson died, the town of Cawker City adopted the ball as a community project and continued wrapping it. The ball is still growing — locals and visitors add twine to it regularly, which is why its exact size changes slightly from year to year.

Key Takeaways

  • The ball is located in Cawker City, Kansas, inside a protective gazebo in a public park that is open to visitors during daylight hours.
  • You can walk inside the hollow center of the ball and see the layers of twine wrapped around the core, which was started in 1950.
  • The town continues to add twine to the ball, so its size grows incrementally and the exact measurements change over time.
  • Cawker City is a small rural town in the High Plains, roughly 90 miles northeast of Hays, Kansas, and the ball is the main reason most people visit.

How to find the ball in Cawker City

The ball is located in Mitchell Park, which is in the center of town on Main Street. If you are driving, Cawker City is in Decatur County in the northwestern corner of Kansas. From Hays (the nearest city with a hospital and chain restaurants), take US-183 north for about 90 miles. The drive takes roughly two hours.

Once you reach Cawker City, the ball is impossible to miss — it sits under a large white gazebo in the middle of town. There is a small parking area nearby. The park is open during daylight hours and there is no charge to visit. The town does not staff the site, so you will not find a gift shop or visitor center, though some local businesses nearby may have information about the ball's history.

What to expect when you visit

The gazebo protects the ball from weather but is open on all sides, so you can walk around it freely and take photographs. The interior is accessible — you can step inside the hollow center and look up at the twine layers above you. The space is tight but not claustrophobic, and most people spend 10 to 15 minutes exploring it.

The ball itself is made of sisal twine, which is rough and fibrous. The layers are visible and you can see how the wrapping has been done over decades. On the exterior, you may see newer twine that visitors have added. The gazebo has a roof but no walls, so wind and weather still reach the ball. In winter, snow can accumulate on top of it.

The history of Frank Johnson's project

Frank Johnson, a farmer who lived near Cawker City, started rolling twine in 1950 as a practical way to deal with leftover baling twine from his farm equipment. Rather than discard it, he began winding it into a ball. He worked on it for years, adding to it whenever he had spare time. The ball grew steadily but remained largely unknown outside the when ready area.

Johnson continued the project until his death. After he passed, the residents of Cawker City decided to preserve the ball and keep adding to it as a community effort. The town built the gazebo around it to protect it from the elements and moved it to Mitchell Park so the public could see it. This decision transformed the ball from a farmer's personal project into a local landmark and tourist attraction.

Why Cawker City made the ball a town attraction

Cawker City is a rural farming town in a sparsely populated region of Kansas. Like many small towns on the High Plains, it faced economic challenges as agriculture changed and younger people moved to larger cities. The town recognized that the ball of twine was unusual enough to draw visitors from the highway, and that visitors spend money at local gas stations, diners, and motels.

By adopting the ball as an official attraction and building the gazebo, Cawker City positioned itself as a destination for people interested in roadside oddities and Americana. The ball has become the town's primary draw and is featured in travel guides about quirky American roadside attractions. This has helped keep the town visible and has brought some tourism revenue to local businesses.

Other large balls of twine in the United States

Cawker City's ball is the largest, but it is not the only one. The town of Darwin, Minnesota, has a large ball of twine that was started in 1950 by a farmer named J.C. Pauly. That ball measures about 12 feet in diameter and is housed in a small building. There is also a ball of twine in Weston, Missouri, though it is smaller than both the Kansas and Minnesota versions.

The Cawker City ball holds the record as the world's largest, according to Guinness World Records. The distinction matters to the town, and locals take pride in maintaining and growing the ball. Visitors sometimes ask whether they can add twine to it, and the answer is usually yes — the town welcomes contributions, though there are no formal rules about how or when twine can be added.

Planning a visit to Cawker City

If you are driving through northwestern Kansas or exploring roadside attractions, Cawker City is worth a stop. The visit itself takes 20 to 30 minutes, so it works well as a break during a longer road trip. The town is small and does not have many other attractions, so most people combine it with other stops in the region — nearby towns like Smith Center or Phillipsburg have small museums and local restaurants.

The best time to visit is during daylight hours in spring, summer, or fall. Winter weather in Kansas can be harsh, and snow or ice may make the drive difficult. There are no hotels in Cawker City itself, but Hays (90 miles south) has chain hotels and restaurants. Gas stations in Cawker City are open during normal business hours, so fill up before you arrive if you are coming from a remote area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I touch the ball of twine?

Yes, you can touch it and walk around it freely. The twine is rough and weathered, so be careful if you have sensitive skin. Many visitors take photographs from inside the gazebo and touch the outer layers of twine.

Is there a fee to visit?

No, there is no charge. The park is public and open to visitors during daylight hours. There is no staffed entrance or ticket booth.

Can I add twine to the ball?

Visitors sometimes add twine to the ball, and the town generally welcomes it. There are no formal rules, but it is respectful to ask a local business owner or resident first if you want to make a contribution.

How much twine is in the ball?

The exact amount is not measured, but the ball weighs roughly 17.5 tons and measures 40 feet around. The twine is sisal, which is heavier than synthetic twine, so the weight is significant.

Is the ball still growing?

Yes, the ball continues to grow as visitors and locals add twine to it. The size changes incrementally, so the exact measurements vary slightly from year to year.