A tisket, a tasket, we found a basket. Not an ordinary basket but a world class sized basket. A Longaberger basket to be exact. Mom researched interesting sites not too far from where we were staying for our AKC events last week and she found a “must see” basket.
One clue we had about the popularity of this basket is from our GPS map which has the basket right on the map!
We saw a truly larger than life Longaberger basket. It is crazy amazing and can easily be seen from the highway. Currently it is abandoned but is slated to be renovated and turned into something else. It was built as the headquarters for the company in 1997 and has been empty since the company went bankrupt in 2018. The building is seven stories tall and is a 160x scale replica of the best selling medium market basket.
Our navigator brought along one of her own Longaberger baskets to demonstrate the size of this special basket building. We used it as a prop in our photos.
Here is another photo of the huge basket from the side. The handles are 75 tons and are heated in the winter to keep ice from forming. The gold leaf Longaberger tag is 25 feet long.
We have one last photo of us with Mom and the basket in front of the building. It is truly crazy amazing to see this massive basket. How does someone come up with such a wild idea? It is only sad that the company is out of business and the building sits empty.
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Have seen some of those amazing “images” online of course, but with y’all in perspective, wow. Now, those L-baskets can often be found in thrift stores and are still costly! Have to admit we do prefer “other” styles of baskets and have never been especially fond of these … but adore your photos!
Mom never had one of these baskets as she was living in Germany when they were super popular. Whether one likes them or not, seeing a building that looks like a giant basket is amazing and worth a stop!
Wow! The larger than huge basket is just amazing!
It is crazy amazing and more so in person. What a creative idea he had for his basket company. Too bad they went out of business and the building has been empty for many years.
the handles are 75 tons… oh my what is inside of such a basket? shoes?
Lots and lots of offices but now it is empty. We think they should make a hotel out of it.
Love those pictures. There are a few of those baskets in our house. And, we agree that the empty building is really sad.
It is amazing to see as it really does look like a gigantic basket!
Oh my dogs that is a big basket. I went to a Longaberger parties years ago. It was quite fascinating to hear all about them and I bought one too…Love your photos
Hugs cecilia
But you can now buy the basket of all baskets, it is sitting there in Ohio, looking for a new job. Mom was living in Europe when Longaberger was big here but our navigator has a few of the baskets.
Sweet photos of you adorable doggies with the lovely picnic basket ~ great research Mom~ hugs,
an artist reflects
It is truly an amazing thing to see!
“Back in the day” Mama used to have a friend who collected all kinds of Longaberger baskets. She was so sad when they closed. We are glad to see the big basket is still there and we have put this on our “bucket list” of places to see!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
It is just amazing in person and hard to comprehend. You can see it from the highway. What a great idea but it is sad it sits empty now.
It’s amazing bigly
It is huge!
WOW!!! We were given one of those baskets as a wedding present 34 years ago – it is as beautiful today as it was then. What a cool idea to turn the basket into a factory. I hope it can find new life!!!
The whole office building sits there empty. We think it would make a fun hotel but who knows what will become of it.
We had never heard of the company before — but we knew what those baskets look like and that is one huge one!! You all find the coolest stuff. Well done!! Your friend Chester
Mom was living in Europe when the baskets were big here but she had heard about them. They were sold at parties like Tupperware was. Even if you missed the basket years, this thing is really worth a stop. What an idea that guy had and he executed it perfectly.
What a huge basket. I would have loved to see this in person. Wow. You all look so small in that shot.
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Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. Scritches to the pups and a hug to mom. ♥
It’s seven stories tall and it seriously looks like a real basket. What a crazy thing to build but we loved seeing it.
What an amazing building! It’s very sad about its no longer being in use.
It is really neat to see in person. Hopefully they will find another use for it as it is a shame it is empty.
WOW, that’s some big basket!
It is really fun to see it in person.
Those are the coolest baskets!! LOVE their headquarters. Truly creative architecture.
We are sad the building has been empty for several years and hope someone snatches it up and keeps it because it is so fun to see, especially in person.