The Craziest World Record in Every State

Alabama: Biggest bubble ever blown

Mom might have told you to stop playing with your bubble gum, but Chad Fell from Alabama never listened. Instead, he kept practicing and eventually blew the biggest pink bubble ever, coming in at 50.8 cm (that’s 20 inches), at Double Springs High School in Winston County, Alabama. How did he pull it off? Simple: with a mere three pieces of Dubble-Bubble gum.

Alaska: Largest brown bear in the world

When you think of Alaska, it’s natural to think of frigid temperatures. The state has already smashed records for the most glaciers, reaching a peak of almost 100,000. And that’s not the only record they’ve won: Katmai National Park has one of the world’s largest populations of brown bears. One of those bears, a female named 128 Grazer, is the largest brown bear on the planet. She weighs an estimated 320 kg (that’s approximately 705 pounds).

Arizona: Most tattoos in 24 hours by a single artist

Proudly rocking that inconspicuous tat you got a few days after your 18th birthday? While most people only dabble with tattoos, some allow them to be the art that depicts their life, with their body as a canvas. And the Michelangelo of these creations? Tattoo artists, of course. In fact, one artist in Arizona, Hollis Cantrell, is so handy with a needle that he managed to ink 801 tattoos in 24 hours.

Arkansas: Longest time to hold the deep squat position

While most people squat to work on their, erm, backside, Gabby Rushing from Little Rock, Arkansas, gets down low for health. She has Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a health condition commonly known as POTS. She started doing the exercise when she was 14 to help manage her symptoms. Then, in 2022, she turned her “greatest weakness into her greatest strength” by beating the world record, for a total of 2 hours, 47 minutes and 7 seconds. If your legs are burning just reading that, you’re not alone.

California: Most extensive bunny collection

If you don’t like bunnies, don’t visit Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski. The California couple has a bunny collection totaling 40,550 items. The story behind their collection is sweet. Since Candace refers to Steve as her “honey bunny,” Steve gifted her the first bunny for Valentine’s Day in 1993. Today, their $1.7 million collection—comprising anything from stuffed toys and jewelry to movie posters and ceramics—is stored in The Bunny Museum, also known as “The Hoppiest Place in the World.”

Colorado: Largest gathering of people wearing false mustaches

A staple of every wedding reception photo booth is the fake mustache. But no matter how many people are on the guest list, they probably can’t beat the world record set by the Denver Broncos at the University of Colorado Health. Here, they gathered 6,471 people, all wearing pseudo mustaches to earn their claim to fame.

Connecticut: Largest wedding cake in the world

Dance your heart away at your best friend’s wedding—so hard that you need two slices of cake to keep you going? We feel ya. But if you want, say, 200 slices, you’d need a massive cake to get that sugar high. Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, took home the prize for the world’s largest wedding cake at the New England Bridal Showcase. Just how big was it? Big, as in, 15,032 pounds.

Delaware: Oldest woman to cross America by bicycle

Known for its pretty beaches, Delaware is an ideal place to ride a bike. Or, you know, finish the journey of a lifetime at the age of 67. For Lynnea C. Salvo, who holds the world record for the oldest person to cross America by bike, it was quite the experience. She rode from Oceanside, California, to Bethany Beach, Delaware, covering 3,163 miles.

Florida: Largest pitcher of sangria

There’s no doubt that the Sunshine State is hot, hot, hot. With temps on the beach or at a state fair rising upward of 100 degrees on the steamiest days of summer, there’s nothing like cooling off with a refreshingly cold beverage. So it’s probably no surprise that the largest pitcher of sangria was made by the staff at Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Tampa. It could serve a wedding party, coming in at 9 feet tall and consisting of wine, chopped fruit, brandy and some added sweetener.

Georgia: Longest golf cart

A popular pastime in Georgia—after watching or playing football—is golfing. With plenty of lush lawns and inexpensive tee times, it’s a friendly and competitive way to pass those Southern days. To bring all their buddies along (and hey, to earn a world record!), the folks at Mike’s Golf Carts in Perry, Georgia, created the world’s longest golf cart. It measures 31 feet, 6.74 inches, bumper to bumper.

Hawaii: Largest wave surfed

If you’re going to break a world record in surfing, it makes sense to try it in Hawaii, right? In Maui, Aaron Gold successfully surfed a wave that measured 63 feet from trough to crest, without the aid of a tow. Since this particular break is known as “Jaws,” it’s even more impressive as a dangerous, even death-defying, feat. Cowabunga!

Idaho: Largest straw bale maze

Known for its potatoes and other farming, Idaho is also a good destination for a fall getaway with the family, and a trip to the Gem State isn’t complete without a straw maze. But hey, why do a typical maze when you can do a massive one? In Rupert, Idaho, Garden Cents created the “Mega Maze” and beat the world record for the biggest straw bale maze ever. They did it with 3,202 bales of straw, and the finished maze measured 1.6 miles.

Illinois: Largest popcorn ball

A popcorn ball might be what you consider a popular gift for your co-workers and extended relatives at the holidays, but for the employees of The Popcorn Factory in Lake Forest, the challenge of making an epic display earned them bragging rights. The record-setting popcorn ball weighed a whopping 3,423 pounds!

Indiana: Most rump jumps

With a big state comes a big record (and a slightly weird one too), like the most rump jumps. What is a rump jump, you ask? It’s a jump rope maneuver where the person jumps up from their butt, er, rump. After setting the record for 56 rump jumps, David Fisher turned his passion for jump roping into a full-fledged career. Now known as The Rope Warrior, he travels around spreading the word about this unique activity.

Iowa: Longest temporary mini golf hole

UScellular, a company in Des Moines, set a hole-in-one when they created a 507-foot mini golf hole, smashing the previous record of 492 feet. This wasn’t just for show though—hundreds of residents visited the downtown area on a Saturday and enjoyed a long game of mini golf.

Kansas: Longest tail on a horse

The residents of this square state of many farms know a thing or two about horses. From breeding them to breaking them in for rides through cornfields as the sun sets, horses are a treasured part of Kansas life. And hey, a lady’s trusted companion needs a pretty hairstyle! Crystal Socha from Augusta took home the world record for the longest tail on a horse, named Summer Breeze, coming in at 12 feet, 6 inches.

Kentucky: Shortest woman to give birth

The average age of a first-time mom in this southern state is lower than most other parts of the country, at 23.8. And while creating a family has no age limit, it’s also good to know it doesn’t have a height requirement either. Stacey Herald, who is only 28.5 inches—that’s 2.375 feet!—gave birth to a healthy baby girl in Dry Ridge, via caesarean.

Louisiana: Largest serving of gumbo

Comfort food reigns in Louisiana, and the city of Shreveport is proud to hold the record for the world’s largest serving of gumbo. Created by chef John Folse at the Walk Ons Independence Bowl tailgate party in 2018, the helping of seafood stew weighed in at 6,800 pounds. Even tastier? All proceeds went to charity.

Maine: Most corn husked in a minute

Need to get some lobster and corn-on-the-cob on the dinner table before the kiddos start whining that they’re hungry? We bet you can’t beat the world record for the most corn husked in a minute: 13! The winner of this title is Michael Diggins Jr. from Scarborough, Maine, and he’s the first record-holder for the claim.

Maryland: Largest crab cake

When it comes to crab records, it has to be a Chesapeake Bay state that takes home the, er, cake. In fact, the largest crab cake ever created weighed 300 pounds and was made by Handy International Incorporated in Timonium, Maryland. And, of course, it was made with Maryland blue crab meat.

Massachusetts: Largest stir-fry

Apart from the Boston Marathon, tourists flock to Boston for its excellent food. Stir-fry should be on every menu, as the state created the largest stir-fry, in 2011. This sizable feat was accomplished by the University of Massachusetts Dining Services, and the finished product weighed in at 4,010 pounds. The pan they used was 14 feet in diameter and 18 inches deep!

Michigan: Largest sandwich

The Midwest not only loves its meat and cheese, they also love putting them together (with mayo and mustard, duh) as their go-to lunch. But to fill your office (or several offices), you’ll need more than just two pieces of bread thrown together. Wild Woods Chill & Grill in Roseville, Michigan, took home the prize for the largest sandwich, with a concoction weighing 5,440 pounds. Inside was 150 pounds of mustard, 1,032 pounds of corned beef, 260 pounds of cheese and 530 pounds of lettuce, surrounded by 3,568 pounds of bread.

Minnesota: Largest collection of cow-related items

As the producer of many crops spread over many farms, Minnesota isn’t shy about their love for farm animals. But maybe no one is quite as attached to their black-and-white-spotted obsession as Ruth Klossner from Lafayette. She’s been collecting cow-related items for more than 32 years and has amassed everything from costumes and figurines to stuffed animals and much, much (much) more. How much? 15,000 items worth—and counting.

Mississippi: Fastest time to travel the length of the Mississippi River by canoe

You no doubt remember singing M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i in grade school when you were learning about the 50 states. Though locals probably don’t need to burst out in song to remember the spelling of their own state name, they do love the longest river in the United States. Mississippian Traci Lynn Martin paddled the length of the infamous river, from Minnesota to Mile Zero in the Gulf of Mexico, via canoe in 55 days, 8 hours and 17 minutes.

Missouri: Largest barbecue/grilling lesson

Missouri takes a note from its neighbor, Kansas, on how to make barbecue: smoked slowly and covered with a thick tomato-and-molasses-based sauce. It’s no surprise, then, that Missouri takes home the world record for teaching how to master the craft to a large crowd. In Kansas City, 336 people attended a lesson led by Smithfield that included two recipes: Smithfield prime back ribs and roasted garlic, and herb-marinated pork chops.

Montana: Longest ramp jump by a truck cab

To make sure we have the goods that most of us use each and every day, tractor-trailer trucks must trek across the country delivering to various stores. With highways galore, many of these drivers pass through Montana, which is why it makes sense that a record about truck cabs (that’s where the driver sits) would take place in this state. Gregg Godfrey earned the record for longest ramp jump by a truck cab at the Evel Knievel Days Event in Butte, jumping his vehicle 166 feet!

Nebraska: Widest tornado damage path

Warning: If Twister freaks you out, you might not want to read about this world record … or even visit Nebraska. In 2004, Nebraska earned this daunting title after the Hallam Nebraska tornado touched down, creating a 2.49-mile damage path, the widest in history. During that time, more than 56 tornadoes tormented the Midwest, but this one was the baddest of them all, causing destruction up to 4 km wide.

Nevada: Largest margarita

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and that is equally true for a giant margarita that no one could pack in their carry-on if they wanted to. Margaritaville created an 8,500-pound margarita that was 16 feet, 11 inches by 10 feet. Inside? All your favorite ingredients: tequila, margarita mix, triple sec and lemon-margarita mix. How did they pull it off? It was thanks to 60 people over 300 hours. After finishing their creation, they named her Lucky Rita and served her around the party for the grand opening of the Margaritaville Casino at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.

New Hampshire: Most lit jack-‘o-lanterns on display

There may be no better place to celebrate Halloween than New Hampshire. That is, if you dig a cute jack-o’-lantern. The City of Keene, represented by Let It Shine, Inc., teamed together to light up 30,581 pumpkins, a record that Keene has broken eight times since its original attempt.

New Jersey: Holiest tongue

If at first you do succeed, try and try again? Such is the story of Francesco Vacca from Lyndhurst. He first achieved his eccentric records—yes, plural—for most piercings in his tongue by showing off 16 holes. He then upped the ante and got two more, and then an additional two in early 2017, bringing his grand total to 20. We just have to wonder: How does he eat?!

New Mexico: Largest Native American reservation in the U.S.

Still home to many Native Americans, New Mexico holds the world record for the largest reservation in the country, spanning 10 million acres, or 15,000 square miles. To put that into digestible terms, that’s the size of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts combined. It’s home to the Navajo Indians, with an estimated tribe population of 269,202.

New York: Longest trading suspension

The iconic ringing of the bell to open the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange is an honor bestowed upon celebrities and executives, but for four-and-a-half months in 1914, the NY Stock Exchange closed its doors. Although it was a difficult time financially, it was for good reason: The pause coincided with the start of World War I.

North Carolina: Most different beer brands on tap

Known for great barbecue, beautiful beaches and picturesque mountains, North Carolina is also growing its reputation as a beer powerhouse. So much so that the Raleigh Beer Garden took home the prize title for the most beer brands on tap in 2015. They feature 203 breweries and 369 beers—and to earn this title, a sample had to be tasted from each one.

North Dakota: Most people making snow angels simultaneously

What better way to celebrate that first crisp, white snowfall than to make angels out of the magic? That was the idea the State Historical Society of North Dakota had in 2007, when they gathered 8,962 people to make classic snow angels simultaneously.

Ohio: Most people bobbing for apples

To say so long to summer and welcome autumn with open arms, a county fair is a fine idea. In addition to corn mazes and pumpkin picking, apple bobbing is a popular attraction. But it was the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio in Jackson that made history when they gathered 597 people to bob for apples at the same time!

Oklahoma: Largest parade of fire trucks

No matter which state you write on the back of envelopes, paying respect and gratitude to the brave men and women who risk their lives in dangerous situations is a given. But in Oklahoma, the Atoka Fire Department wanted a way to demonstrate just how many people step up to the plate in that heavy fireman gear. The 220 vehicles that gathered in a parade won them a world record—and plenty of well-deserved pride too.

Oregon: Largest collection of firefighter patches

Retired Deputy Fire Marshal Bob Brooks has a passion for collecting firefighter patches. In 2023, his collection earned him a world record for his firefighter patch collection, with a total of 14,095. It has taken him more than 40 years to compile the collection of his dreams.

Pennsylvania: Largest s’more

With plenty of hiking trails and ideal fall weather and foliage, Pennsylvania knows how to host an autumn celebration. And what campfire gathering is complete without mushy-delicious s’mores to accompany it? The Deer Run Camping Resort in Gardners, Pennsylvania, took this fireside treat to the extreme, earning the world record for the largest s’more made to date. It took 104 volunteers to make the 267-pound beauty.

Rhode Island: Largest sock

If you’ve ever visited Rhode Island off-season in the dead of winter, you know how frigid temperatures can get. You may even wish you could crawl into a warm, insulated sock and hide away from the cold. Well, with this world record, set by the charity organization Project Undercover, you could have! To raise awareness of those in need in the area, they created a 32-foot 7-inch by 22-foot 6-inch by 8-foot 2-inch cream-and-brown-colored sock, using 600 feet of cotton and 42,000 feet of cotton thread.

South Carolina: Hottest chile pepper

Though Charleston is a place to check off your bucket list, might we suggest venturing to the Lowcountry in any season other than summer? South Carolina is known for scorching Southern sun—and apparently, fire-breathing chiles. In fact, a local producer, Ed Currie from the PuckerButt Pepper Company, has their “Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper,” which is the world’s hottest chile pepper. Just how hot? It earned 1,569,300 Scoville Heat Units. Whew, baby!

South Dakota: Most wins of the mashed potato wrestling championships

Ever heard of the Mashed Potato Wrestling Championships? If not, now you know. Every year, folks mash around in hopes of taking home the spud. But the guy to win the most? The ironically named Steve O’Gratin, who has won four times, both in Barnesville, Minnesota, and most recently, Clark, South Dakota. OK, his real name is Steve Barone, and he’s the founder of the Mashed Potato Wrestling Federation, giving him a home-court advantage. And in case you were wondering, there’s no waste after all that rolling around in potatoes: They use inedible floor sweepings from factories or outdated flakes that can’t be sold. Whatever is leftover is fed to cattle.

Tennessee: Most cherry stems knotted by tongue in one minute

“You must be from Tennessee, because you’re the only 10 I see” is an age-old pickup line, but it might not be as effective as this world record in Gatlinburg. Al Gliniecki managed to tie 14 cherry stems in 60 seconds at the Guinness World Records Museum in Gatlinburg. Talk about bragging rights!

Texas: Longest distance traveled on a slip-‘n-slide

Summertime in the South is as sweet as apple pie and sweet tea, but it sure does come with some grueling sweat sessions. What better way to cool down from that Texas humidity than on a slip-‘n-slide? That was the idea behind Trinity River Vision Authority’s world record feat: They traveled 2,541,060 feet in one hour on a slip-‘n-slide. How? One by one, 1,486 people slid down the inflatable.

Utah: Most vertical feet skied in a year

You’re never too old to outgrow the fun of a good ‘ole trip to the slopes. But what’s better than a casual trip down the mountain? A frequent visit, like the world-record breaking feat by Utah’s Tom Hart. He has reached 10 million feet and keeps going.

Vermont: Largest snow softball tournament

The only thing more Vermont than maple syrup is snow, and one team made frozen magic in Barre, Vermont. The Freezing Fun for Families Co-Ed Softball Tournament organized a three-day event in which 795 players from 61 teams played softball with snow, setting the world record.

Virginia: Largest simultaneous yo-yo event

Once you get the hang of this classic kids toy, it’s tough to stop the up-and-down tango. Yomega Corporation and Boys’ Life Magazine made history when they organized the world’s largest simultaneous yo-yo event in Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, attracting 2,036 yo-yoers.

Washington: Most expensive hot dog

If you stop by a street vendor in a major city to grab a hot dog, you’ll probably pay $2 to $3. A little pricey when you can get a pack for about $5 and grill them at home, but worth the cash if you’re starving after sightseeing. But would you pay $169? At that price, Tokyo Dog in Seattle won the record for the most expensive hot dog.

West Virginia: First brick-paved road

Follow the yellow-bricked road … to Charleston, West Virginia. That’s where the first-ever brick road was constructed, in 1873. This was first done as an experiment, but since it went so well, they paved the rest of the block. Soon, word spread around the globe.

Wisconsin: Largest scoop of ice cream

Though Wisconsin is known for cheese more than ice cream, it does take milk to make both—and so Kemps in Cedarburg sought to create the biggest scoop ever. It came in at 3,010 pounds, 5 feet, 6 inches tall and 6 feet, 2 inches wide. The flavor? An easy-to-eat strawberry.

Wyoming: Oldest national park

Out in the Wild, Wild West of Wyoming is where you can find the nation’s oldest national park, Yellowstone National Park. Part of just about everyone’s travel bucket list, this beauty was founded in 1872 and covers 3,470 miles.

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