Every once in a while on a road trip, you stumble across something so wonderfully bizarre that you just have to stop.
This was one of those moments.
Somewhere along the journey, I found myself standing in front of the World’s Largest Ball of Paint — and naturally, the next logical step was:
“Yep… I’m adding a coat.”
Coat #30,504 (No Pressure)
If you’re not familiar with this masterpiece, the ball didn’t start out as a world record holder. It started as a regular baseball. The mastermind behind the World’s Largest Ball of Paint is Mike Carmichael. This project, according to the brochure Mike gave us, “has turned into a vibrant testament to creativity, community, and the enduring spirit of small-town America.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!
The original ball of paint was started when Mike was just a teen. A baseball he was tossing fell into a bucket of paint. He got the idea to let the paint try and then add another coat. He continued to do that until the ball had 1,000 coats of paint on it. For years the ball was on display at the Knightstown Children’s Home. Years later, the ball was returned to Mike, but by that point he had already started another Ball of Paint.
Fast forward thousands (and thousands) of coats later, and here we are.
When it was my turn, I was handed the brush and told I’d be applying coat #30,504.
No big deal. Just casually contributing to a piece of roadside history that has taken years — decades — to build.
I tried not to mess it up.
A 12,070-Pound Masterpiece
Let’s take a second to appreciate the scale of this thing.
The ball now weighs 12,070 pounds.
That’s not a ball anymore — that’s a paint-based monument.
At this point, it’s less of a “project” and more of a lifestyle choice.
You don’t accidentally end up with a 12,000-pound ball of paint. That takes commitment.
The Experience
There’s something oddly satisfying about adding your own layer to it.
You dip the roller.
You add your coat.
You step back and think…
“I am now part of this.”
Somewhere under thousands of layers of paint, there is now a tiny contribution from me. Will anyone ever see it? Absolutely not.
Does that matter? Not even a little.
Mike gave me a couple of pieces that were cut from the bottom of the ball. You can see all the layers of paint.
Signing the Wall (Because of Course I Did)
As if adding a coat wasn’t enough, I also got to sign the wall.
If you ever find yourself there, look closely near the bottom of the “B” — that’s where I left my mark.
It’s always fun to leave behind a little evidence that you were there… even if it’s surrounded by hundreds of other names doing the exact same thing.
Why Stops Like This Matter
Road trips aren’t just about getting from point A to point B.
They’re about the weird stops. The unexpected finds. The places that make you say, “Wait… this is a thing?”
The World’s Largest Ball of Paint is exactly that.
It’s quirky. It’s a little ridiculous. And it’s absolutely worth the stop.
I even have a certificate to prove that I played a part in the history of the World’s Largest Ball of Paint.
Final Thoughts
Will this experience change my life? Probably not.
Will I ever forget that I helped paint a 12,070-pound ball that is nearly 19 feet in circumference? Also no.
And honestly, that’s what makes it great.
Because sometimes the best travel memories aren’t the big, planned attractions…
They’re the moments where you grab a paint roller and become part of something completely unexpected.
If you would like to visit the World’s Largest Ball of Paint, it is by appointment only. It is located just outside of Indianapolis, at 10696 N. 200 W, in Alexandria, Indiana. There is no admission fee, but Mike still buys all the paint for the ball. Each coat of paint now takes almost 1/2 gallon of paint. A donation is always appreciated to help offset the cost for more paint. He also has T-shirts for sale (yes, I bought one!) To schedule your stop, call Mike Carmichael at 765-724-4088 or 765-551-2292. Additional information is on the World’s Largest Ball of Paint website.
You too can be part of history!
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