World's Heaviest Ball of Twine: Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin sets world record

July 10, 2022

Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, United States--In Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, James Frank Kotera (who goes by JFK) has spent tens of thousands of hours wrapping twine into a ball with an estimated weight of 24,100 pounds and measuring ten feet high and 22 feet wide, thus setting the world record for being the World's Heaviest Ball of Twine, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"He continues to work on making the ball larger but estimates that it currently weighs more than 20,000 lbs. During the summer months, JFK regularly greets visitors who come to take pictures of the wonder, as he’s often outdoors working on growing this gigantic twine ball," The Bobber reports.

Photo above: Twine ball in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin with creator James Frank Kotera. Photo: Skvader

Over the past 37 years, JFK has spent tens of thousands of hours wrapping twine into a ball in an isolated house in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin.

Lake Nebagamon is a village in Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,069 at the 2010 census.

Photo (2) above and below (3): Eric Rudberg

"Since 1979, JFK has spent three days a week working at a nearby dump and the other four days at home wrapping garbage bags full of twine in gigantic circles," the Atlas Obscura reports.

"In addition to the world’s heaviest twine ball, JFK has also constructed “Junior”, a ball made of string that weighs 47 pounds in honor of Kotera’s birth year, 1947."

"According to JFK, he used to be a drunkard, but that all changed in 1979, when he had a conversation with God who encouraged him to stop drinking and turn to twine. Ever since this conversation, JFK’s painstaking effort has given him the grounds to claim that, in terms of weight, he truly has the world’s biggest balls."

"We spoke with JFK on his 75th birthday in 2022 and asked him how much the ball weighed," the Roadside America reports.

"24,100 pounds," he answered. How does he know that? "I take a whole bunch of twine, put it in a garbage bag, and I weigh the garbage bag." He does this each time he adds twine to the ball, and methodically keeps a running tab.

"The few people that visit the ball of twine will be treated to a casual conversation with JFK, who will insist that he never gets tired of wrapping the twine and plans to never stop until he dies," the slate.com reports.

World's Heaviest Ball of Twine

Address: 8009 S Oakdale Road, Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, United States

Directions: From Superior: Take US 53 south about four miles after it splits with US 2. Turn left on Hwy B. East on Hwy B three miles, then turn right on Hwy P (Ash St.). South almost two miles, then turn left on E. Minnesuing Rd. The first right will be S. Oakdale Rd. The ball is in an open-sided shed, on the southwest corner.

Hours: Visitors welcome, but you have to sign the journal in the Twine Ball mailbox. Local health policies may affect hours and access.

Admission: Free

46.4743, -91.6970

Related WORLD RECORDS:

WISCONSIN WORLD RECORDS

PENNSYLVANIA WORLD RECORDS

TEXAS WORLD RECORDS

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