This Enormous Basket Is One Of Ohio’s Most Delightfully Odd Roadside Surprises
Ohio roadside attractions rarely ask permission before getting weird.
Then this enormous Longaberger basket appears in a small town, looking like it rolled out of a giant’s picnic and decided to stay. It is strange.
It is charming. It is absolutely worth pulling over for.
Big basket energy, tiny-town road trip joy.
The surprise does not stop at the landmark, either. Nearby, a little shop keeps the basket story going with collectibles, protectors, local history, and the kind of owner who can turn a quick browse into a full conversation.
Come for the photo. Leave with a better appreciation for Ohio’s oddball side, and maybe a basket you did not plan on buying.
The Giant Longaberger Basket That Started It All
There are roadside attractions, and then there is this one.
Sitting on the corner of Fifth and Main Streets in Dresden, Ohio, stands a Longaberger basket so enormous it genuinely looks like someone shrunk a neighborhood house and wove it from wood strips.
This basket was dedicated in 1980 and earned a listing in the 1990 Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Largest Basket. A basket in Saudi Arabia has since claimed the record, but that does not make this one any less impressive to see in person.
The first time I spotted it, my brain genuinely refused to process what my eyes were seeing. It is free to view, and there is wheelchair-accessible parking nearby, which makes it easy for everyone to enjoy.
You can find Baskets N More, the shop associated with this landmark, right at 506 Main St, Dresden, OH 43821, just a short walk from where the giant basket stands proudly.
Inside The Shop: A Basket Lover’s Dream
The moment you step through the door at Baskets N More, the sheer variety of baskets on display is enough to make any collector’s jaw drop.
Every nook and cranny of this store is filled with Longaberger baskets in sizes ranging from tiny novelty pieces to full-sized statement items.
The shop carries a wide range of basket protectors as well, which are the plastic liners that keep your baskets in good condition, and these are notoriously hard to find elsewhere at reasonable prices.
I found myself doing a slow loop around the store twice just to make sure I had not missed anything tucked behind a display.
The layout feels personal and curated rather than mass-produced, and that quality shows in every corner. Longtime Longaberger collectors will recognize pieces here that they have been hunting for years.
Whether you are a serious collector or just basket-curious, the selection alone makes this shop worth the detour on any road trip through central Ohio.
The Owner Who Makes Every Visit Memorable
Not every shop has someone behind the counter who can rattle off basket names from a photograph without blinking, but Baskets N More does.
The owner here has a level of product knowledge that borders on legendary among the Longaberger collector community.
During my visit, I watched her identify a basket from a blurry photo someone had pulled up on their phone, naming it instantly and pointing out a matching protector on the shelf nearby.
That kind of expertise is rare, and it makes the shopping experience feel like talking to a trusted friend rather than a salesperson.
She also went out of her way to help a customer complete a purchase over the phone so the buyer could take an item home for a family member the same day.
That personal touch is exactly what keeps people coming back, and it is the kind of service that big online retailers simply cannot replicate.
Small-town hospitality at its absolute finest.
Longaberger Baskets And Why They Matter Here
Dresden holds a special place in American craft history as the hometown of the Longaberger Company, which made handwoven maple wood baskets famous across the country starting in the 1970s.
The brand became a cultural phenomenon, with millions of collectors building entire communities around buying, trading, and displaying these baskets.
Baskets N More taps directly into that heritage, offering a carefully selected inventory that serves both longtime collectors and curious newcomers.
Many of the baskets here come with their original paperwork or tags, adding to their collectible value and making the find feel extra satisfying.
I had only a passing familiarity with Longaberger baskets before visiting, but spending time in this shop genuinely deepened my appreciation for the craftsmanship involved. Each basket is woven by hand, and the quality is immediately obvious when you hold one.
Dresden is essentially the heartland of American basketmaking, and Baskets N More is one of the best places in town to experience that legacy up close.
Basket Protectors: The Hidden Treasure Of The Store
Here is something not everyone knows about Longaberger collecting: the plastic protectors that line the baskets are almost as sought-after as the baskets themselves.
They come in dozens of sizes and shapes, and finding the right one for a specific basket can feel like tracking down a needle in a haystack.
Baskets N More stocks an impressive range of these protectors, and the owner knows her inventory well enough to match you with the right one quickly.
I overheard a conversation where someone described a basket they had at home, and within two minutes they were holding the exact protector they needed.
For people who shop online, the store also ships orders promptly, with multiple customers noting they received their packages within a week of ordering. The prices are fair, which is a refreshing change from some of the inflated listings you find elsewhere.
If you have been sitting on a basket that needs a protector, this shop is genuinely worth a call or a visit to sort it out once and for all.
A Road Trip Stop Worth Planning Around
Dresden sits in Muskingum County in east-central Ohio, and while it may not show up on every traveler’s radar, it absolutely should.
The town has a relaxed, unhurried pace that feels like a genuine breath of fresh air compared to bigger tourist destinations.
Main Street itself is the kind of place where you can park, wander, and actually enjoy being somewhere without rushing. Baskets N More fits perfectly into that rhythm, offering the kind of slow, satisfying browse that you simply cannot replicate online.
The drive into Dresden from any direction is pleasant, passing through rolling Ohio countryside that adds to the overall charm of the trip.
I made a morning of it, arriving when the shop opened and spending a good hour inside before grabbing lunch nearby.
The shop is open all year, with current hours listed as 10 AM to 4 PM Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 5 PM Friday and Saturday, and 12 PM to 4 PM Sunday.
A road trip without at least one unexpected find is just a drive.
What To Expect When You Browse The Shelves
Browsing Baskets N More is an experience that rewards patience and curiosity. The shelves are packed densely, and it genuinely pays to slow down and look carefully because smaller, rarer pieces are often tucked behind larger ones.
Families with kids have noted that even young grandchildren got excited hunting through the displays, finding small Longaberger baskets priced well within a reasonable range.
That kind of cross-generational appeal says a lot about the atmosphere the shop creates naturally.
The store also carries a variety of decorative and seasonal items alongside the baskets, so even if you arrive thinking you are not a basket person, you might leave with something unexpected.
Prices vary depending on the piece, but the general consensus among visitors is that the shop is fairly priced and sometimes surprisingly affordable.
My personal advice is to give yourself at least 45 minutes here, because rushing through means you will almost certainly miss something worth finding.
The Guinness Record Story Behind The Basket
The story behind the giant basket is more interesting than it first appears.
The Longaberger Company created the massive basket as a tribute to the craft that built the company and the town, and it was dedicated in 1980 before earning recognition in the 1990 Guinness Book of World Records.
At the time, nothing like it existed anywhere in the world, and the sheer ambition of building a basket the size of a house says something about how seriously Dresden took its basketmaking identity.
The record has since moved to a newer, larger basket in Saudi Arabia, but the Dresden basket remains a beloved local landmark with real historical meaning.
Standing next to it in person gives you a completely different sense of scale than any photo can capture. The weave details are visible up close, and the whole structure has a warmth to it that feels handmade rather than industrial.
It is the kind of roadside attraction that makes you glad you looked up from the GPS and paid attention to where you actually were.
Planning Your Visit To Baskets N More
A few practical details can make your visit to Baskets N More go much more smoothly.
The shop is open all year, with current hours listed as Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 4 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday from 12 PM to 4 PM, with holidays closed and hours subject to weather and staffing.
The phone number is 740-754-1244, and the website at dresdensbasketsandmore.com lets you browse and order online if you cannot make the trip in person. Shipping is available, and based on customer feedback, orders tend to arrive promptly and in good condition.
Parking is easy in downtown Dresden, and the shop is right on Main Street, making it simple to find without any complicated navigation.
If you are combining the visit with a look at the giant basket nearby, plan to spend a couple of hours in the area so you can do both without feeling rushed.
The address is 506 Main St, Dresden, OH 43821, and the store’s selection makes it especially appealing for Longaberger collectors. A good basket is worth every mile of the drive.