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World's Largest Working Wooden Yo-Yo

Hidden inside a gift shop that doubles as a museum, this gargantuan yo-yo can only be operated by crane.

Chico, California

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Paul Schwegler
World’s largest wooden yo-yo, in all its glory   Schweg / Atlas Obscura User
Front door with hours   Schweg / Atlas Obscura User
Back entrance to the museum   Schweg / Atlas Obscura User
A sea of yo-yos   Schweg / Atlas Obscura User
Information about the larger-than-life yo-yo   Schweg / Atlas Obscura User
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Bird in Hand, a gift shop in downtown Chico, is home to the U.S. National Yo-Yo Museum as well as the largest functioning wooden yo-yo in the world. Modeled after Tom Kuhn’s No-Jive Three-in-One, the gargantuan yo-yo earned its place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1982 as the world’s biggest working wooden yo-yo. Not even the strongest of yo-yo-tossing humans could take on this four-foot tall, 256-pound toy; only a giant crane has been able to swing it into action. 

While the larger-than-life yo-yo is one of the shop's main attractions, Bird in Hand has been fascinating yo-yo fans for decades—holding events, classes, and competitions. You can peruse countless yo-yo models, get schooled on ancient and contemporary yo-yo history, and, if you wish, purchase one of your own.

Related Tags

Toys Toy Museums History

Know Before You Go

The museum is open to the public every day, with free yo-yo lessons offered on Saturdays.

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Schweg

Published

July 9, 2020

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