World’s Largest Ball of Paint
4.8(314)google
5.0(5)yelp
QuirkyWorld RecordPhoto SpotLocal FavoriteIndoor
Overview
A famously unique and quirky roadside attraction located in Alexandria, created by Michael Carmichael and his family since 1977. Visitors can marvel at a massive ball made of over 42,000 layers of colorful paint and even catch a rare opportunity to apply a fresh layer themselves to receive an official certificate.
Practical Info
Every day9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration30-45 minutes
Best TimeYear-round weekdays are ideal, but as you must call ahead to book an appointment to add your own layer of paint, a morning slot is highly recommended for the best lighting and interactive time.
Getting ThereDriving is best; head north from downtown Anderson on IN-9 for about 20 minutes, then turn onto County Road E 300 N to easily locate this quirky attraction.
Travel Tips
- Located in a private backyard, unscheduled walk-ins are strictly banned; phone reservations are mandatory as daily capacity is capped and gated.
- Visitors applying a paint layer must wear provided protective suits and shoe covers; utilizing outside unapproved industrial coatings or custom paint is banned.
- County Road 800 N has narrow lanes and zero shoulders; roadside parking is illegal, and vehicles must pull entirely into the designated gravel driveway.
- This landmark is on private residential property; call at least 48 hours in advance to book a time slot as unannounced walk-ins are strictly turned away.
- The painting room is confined with strong paint fumes; individuals with respiratory sensitivities must bring masks. Wear old clothing as wet paint splatters permanently.
- The residential driveway accommodates only 2 standard cars; oversized RVs and trailers are banned from pulling in and will find no roadside clearance.
Reviews
Positive
- The owners are incredibly warm and friendly, sharing the detailed decades-long history of this paint ball, and it is highly interactive—you even get to paint a layer yourself!
- This is a fun roadside attraction full of quirky American road trip culture, and as a unique, authentic Guinness record, it makes for cool photos on social media.
- Although it's an attraction right by a private home, the site is well-organized and they even prepare a small certificate with a stamp proving which layer you painted.
- Usually there is only one party per appointment, so the atmosphere is very private and relaxed, without any worry about dealing with crowded lines.
Heads up
- Because you must call or email in advance to make an appointment, you will likely be turned away if you are just passing by randomly without a booking.
- The core value here is literally just looking at a giant ball and painting it; for those not into quirky roadside items, it might feel quite boring.
- There are no public restrooms or standard tourist amenities open to the public on-site, as it is essentially more of the owner's private property.
- The attraction is remotely located off a regular country road, and GPS navigation can sometimes be inaccurate, which is inconvenient for visitors unfamiliar with local roads.