Two Kansas roadside attractions make national top 10 list
Two Kansas novelties have made USA Today’s list of the 10 best roadside attractions in the country — the only state to be mentioned twice.
The Wheat Jesus Billboard in Colby was named the eighth best attraction, while the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City came in third. Roadside attractions were nominated by a panel of travel experts, narrowed down by USA Today editors and voted on by readers.
Here’s what to know about these unique tourist attractions.
THE WHEAT JESUS BILLBOARD
Located next to I-70 just south of Colby in northwestern Kansas, this artistic billboard depicts Jesus standing in a field holding a stalk of wheat. The billboard, which bears no words, is double-sided and can be seen by drivers going both directions on the highway.
Local couple Tuffy and Linda Kay Taylor paid to put up the design in 2009, and they keep it maintained and illuminated overnight, ensuring travelers at all hours will see the image. Wheat Jesus himself was painted by local artist Phyllis Shanks of Concordia.
“Everybody has their own beliefs,” Linda Taylor told the Lawrence
Journal-World in 2009, explaining why the billboard bears only an image and no words.
Since its construction, the billboard has become a beloved landmark for locals and road-trippers alike. Some online have even given it the nickname “Wheatus.”
WORLD’S LARGEST BALL OF TWINE
Located at 719 Wisconsin St. in Cawker City, this north-central Kansas attraction has several challenges to its title in other states — but it is still considered the largest ball of twine by both diameter and estimated weight.
Farmer Frank Stoeber started rolling the massive ball in 1953, and it has
been growing ever since: Every year, visitors are invited to help add strands of twine to this interactive exhibit. The twine is pre-measured and weighed so the ball’s total
weight and yardage can be kept up to date.
The massive twine ball is free to visit and is located outdoors under a constructed pavilion in the center of Cawker City, a
town of around 455 people as of 2022.
Do you have more questions about places to visit in Kansas or Missouri? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.