World's Actual Largest Basket

Early this month I posted about a sighting of what I claimed was the world's largest basket... my claim was bogus (really?!). And I have been directed to what actually is the "World's largest basket". This basket is a 7-story basket shaped building and home of the corporate headquarters of Longaberger Basket Company in Newark, Ohio.

One website states:
"The basket is a replica - 160 times larger- of Longaberger's Medium Market Basket. It's 192 ft. long by 126 ft. wide at the bottom, spreading to 208-ft. long by 142-ft. wide at the roofline. It is a magnificent sight- especially at night.

We'd like to think that job satisfaction is higher than normal at Longaberger's. After all, no matter how menial your daily labors or how incompetent your boss, you still work in a giant basket."

I am just going to ask... Who wouldn't like to work in a giant basket?

This website also illuminates that OH is known for all their large baskets... who knew? Visitors come carrying baskets... to look at giant baskets. Very odd hobby.

"Another reason that aliens could be confused about the relative importance of designer party baskets on this planet are the hordes of basket carrying zombies that routinely make pilgrimages to [the] woven Mecca. Over a half-million fans, many members of the "Collectors Club," visit HQ and other area Longaberger landmarks each year, carrying baskets, ready to remortgage the house for more, and hoping to get an autograph.

The entire region around Newark is basket-happy, thanks to the Longabergers. The World's Largest Apple Basket -over 29 feet tall - stands at the Longaberger Homestead in Frazeysburg, OH. 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.

In nearby Dresden, on Main St. and 5th, you'll find the old HQ still standing, a house-sized picnic basket- 23-ft. tall and 48-ft. long. This huge basket was the first architectural creation of the Longaberger juggernaut.

The Big Easter Basket up in Lorain, OH is not a Longaberger creation, and it is a tad amateurish when compared to the other big baskets. Still, at 9 ft. high and 10 ft. wide, it suggests that big baskets have something to do with the soul of Ohio, not just the market-savviness of the Longaberger Basket Company. [Note: Giant eggs are placed in the Lorain basket, but only between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.]"

How dare they have giant eggs in the basket any other time...