Blog Post

World's Largest Basket Building: world record in Newark, Ohio

May 9, 2023

Newark, Ohio, United States--The Big Basket building, in Newark, Ohio, was built as the headquarters of the Longaberger Company, an American manufacturer of handcrafted maple wood baskets and other lifestyle products; the basket is a replica -- 160 times larger -- of Longaberger's Medium Market Basket; it's 192 feet long and 126 feet wide at the bottom, spreading to 208 feet long and 142 feet wide at the roof line, thus setting the world record for being the World's Largest Basket Building (World's Largest Basket Shaped Building), according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"The Big Basket building, in Newark, Ohio, was built as the headquarters of the Longaberger Company, an American manufacturer of handcrafted maple wood baskets and other lifestyle products. It is one of the most famous examples of mimetic or novelty architecture, in which buildings are designed to mimic or represent objects associated with their function," the Designing Buildings says.

"In the case of the Big Basket building, it was designed to replicate the company's best selling product, the Medium Market Basket, but 160 times larger.

"The 180,000 sq. ft. building cost $30 m to construct and was completed in 1997. It is 7-storeys tall with a central atrium and glass ceiling to provide natural light. It is topped by two steel handles, each weighing 75 tons, which are fitted with heating elements to prevent them from freezing and so protecting the glass atrium below from falling ice. On each side of the top of the building are two gold-leaf-painted 'Longaberger' tags measuring 25 x 7 ft."

"The seven-story, basket-shaped building in east Newark, Ohio—once the main office of the now-defunct Longaberger Company—was offering its first public tour since closing in 2016. More than 600 people showed up for the occasion. They came from small towns across Ohio, such as Ironton* and Washington Court House, some driving up to four hours to make it in time. They lined up at 11 a.m. for tours that started at 1 p.m. “People were in tears and hugging each other,” says Joyce Barrett, the executive director of Heritage Ohio, who helped organize the tour. “They were so happy to be back in the Basket.” the Atlas Obscura reports.

"The Big Basket, which opened in 1997, is a scaled-up version of Longaberger’s signature Medium Market Basket. Most of the cherry wood used in the Big Basket came from the grounds of the Longaberger Golf Club in Hanover, according to Jim Klein, a former president of the Longaberger Company who was present at the tour.

“It may appear kitschy on the outside, but it’s absolutely spectacular inside,” Klein says, referencing the 30,000-square-foot atrium and curving, cherry-wood staircase. The Big Basket also boasts two enormous handles, heated during the winter to thaw ice. “The basket is a symbol of overcoming adversity, of what you can achieve,” Klein says, adding that he and his son, like Longaberger himself, have dyslexia."

"The basket is a replica -- 160 times larger -- of Longaberger's Medium Market Basket. It's 192 feet long and 126 feet wide at the bottom, spreading to 208 feet long and 142 feet wide at the roofline. It is a magnificent sight," the Roadside America reports.

"Dave Longaberger, who founded the company, was the business visionary who not only tapped into the demand for hand-woven party baskets, but who dreamed up the idea of running his growing organization from inside of one. Most of his employees, less farsighted than their leader, didn't take Dave's notion seriously when the plan was announced. Perhaps they believed that the house-sized basket in Dresden -- Longaberger's old HQ -- pushed the absolute physical limits of basket-building science.

"The entire region around Newark is remains basket-happy, a legacy of the now long-gone Longabergers. The World's Largest Apple Basket -- over 29 feet tall -- stands at the original Longaberger Homestead in Frazeysburg. It was hand-woven from hardwood maple in 1999. It's become an even better photo op since it was augmented with giant fake apples."

"The seven-story, 180,000-sq.-ft. building was designed by the Longaberger Company and built by NBBJ and Korda Nemeth Engineering. While the building doesn’t look too complicated, there’s a fair bit of detail in the design," the CE Shop says.

"The large handles of the basket are heated in the winter to prevent any damage, and there are two product tags attached to the building that resemble the gold-leafed labels attached to each basket sold by Longaberger. Little details like these are what make this wicker basket building charming, adding to its lighthearted design.

Originally, Longaberger wanted all of the company’s buildings to resemble baskets, but only the headquarters was completed before his death. Through a series of mistakes and decisions the company began to decline, eventually reaching the point where it stopped paying property taxes on the property, and employees moved out of the basket-shaped building in 2016. After years on the market, the building sold for $1.2 million in 2018. The building re-opened briefly for a one-day-only fundraising tour conducted by former Longaberger employees, allowing guests to take in the beautifully odd design."

"The Longaberger Company was once the premiere handmade basket company in the United States. Unfortunately, the once-bustling towns of Dresden and Frazeysburg are shadows of what they once were. The basket-shaped home office is deserted and the Longaberger Homestead that once welcomed thousands of visitors to their events now resembles a ghost town," the Travel Inspired Living says.

"The 185,000 square foot basket sits on 21-acres along State Route 16 and is easily visible from the road. The building originally cost $30 million dollars to build and now sadly stands in disrepair.

"I would love to have stepped inside the lobby when it was open to get a view of the glass atrium and hope whoever purchases the building (yes, it’s for sale folks) restores it and permits visitors."

"The Longaberger Company is an American manufacturer and distributor of handcrafted maple wood baskets and other home and lifestyle products. The company opened in 1973, was acquired in 2013 by CVSL, Inc., and closed in 2018. The following year, Xcel Brands acquired the intellectual property and relaunched the brand, expanding it to include home goods such as furniture, food, jewelry and other handcrafted products.

"Its former corporate headquarters on Ohio's State Route 16 is a local landmark known as the "Big Basket." Built to resemble the company's top-selling product, the "Medium Market Basket", the seven-story edifice is a well-known example of novelty architecture.

"In the 1990s, Longaberger commissioned NBBJ and Korda Nemeth Engineering to build an unusual headquarters on a 21.5-acre lot in eastern Newark: a seven-story building that would resemble one of the company's baskets. The 180,000-square-foot building, located near the intersection of Route 16 and Ohio Route 146,[4] was difficult to design and build because the upper floors were wider than the floors below them; for example, the second floor has 20,000 square feet and the top floor has to 25,000 square feet. The basket handles weigh almost 150 tons and can be heated during cold weather to prevent ice from falling onto the building's glass roof. The building opened in 1997.

"On October 20, 2019, Heritage Ohio – the state's official historic preservation organization – held the first tour of the building since its 2016 closing as part of fundraising efforts. More than 600 people participated. Executive director Joyce Barrett said, “People were in tears and hugging each other” because "they were so happy to be back in the Basket.” In January 2021, the building was back on the market, offered for $6.5 million." (Wikipedia)

"If you drive along Ohio’s Route 16 just east of Newark, you won’t be able to miss this massive picnic basket that sits at 192 feet in length and 126 feet wide at its base, and the top is 208 feet long and 142 feet wide," the Only In Your State reports.

"The word “Longaberger” on the front represents the Longaberger Company, and this building was its headquarters. It was known for making baskets, pottery, iron products, and other home and lifestyle items. Their baskets have been used as gift baskets at events like The Academy Awards, The Emmy Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards.

"The design was challenging as the top floors are wider than the bottom ones. The handles weigh about 150 tons and can be heated in winter so that ice doesn’t fall onto the glass roof. The headquarters are no longer at this location, and it was listed for sale, however, the owner is now hoping to work with the upcoming Intel project to see if it can be used as temporary office space, a hotel, or market-rate housing."

Reviews from TripAdvisor

"Impressive. We were there in October but missed the tour. It is quite unique. We understand the company's old baskets show up in flea markets and antique stores."

"It’s a gigantic basket 🧺 It’s a building. It’s honestly pretty cool if you’re a dork like me or into interesting architecture or used to collect Longaberger baskets. It’s sad to see such a cool building sitting alone and empty."

"So, What are you looking for here? A giant picnic basket! There's no Yogi or Bu-bu...but its a building constructed as a giant basket!"

"This giant basket is 7 stories tall (plus the height of the massive handles) and easily towers over anything else nearby, including all of the nearby trees."

"If close by, it’s worth the drive to go take a picture. It’s not every day you see a 4 story basket. Other than a picture nothing else to see or do there."

Photos: World's Largest Basket Building: world record in Newark, Ohio. Photo:

(1) Jonathan Quilter/Dispatch ;

(2) Aerial Visions;

(3) Highsmith, Carol M./Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. ;

(4) Photo shot by Derek Jensen/Wikimedia;

(5) Pavilion Property Holdings ;

(6) LoopNet ;

(7) Fox News ;

(8,9,10) eOffice ;

World's Largest Basket Building: Newark, Ohio

Address: 1500 East Main St., Newark, OH
Directions: On the south side of Hwy 16, east of town. Exit at either Dayton Rd (from the west) or E. Main St. (from the east) and proceed along E. Main St. to the basket.
Hours: Currently empty. Local health policies may affect hours and access.