This Small South Carolina Factory Offers A Tour So Fascinating People Cross Three Counties To Take It

One small factory cranks out up to 5,000 plastic kazoos every single day. It’s also the only plastic kazoo maker in the entire United States.

The best part of the tour is a souvenir you build with your own two hands, start to finish. Every guest gets to choose the parts, assemble their own kazoo, and take home a fun souvenir they helped create.

I like how a silly little instrument gets the full museum treatment here, with more than 150 antique kazoos on display. Some pieces date back to the 1800s, which means your great-great-grandparents may have buzzed along too.

I can’t imagine a more cheerful reason to plan a South Carolina road trip, even if you’ve never touched a kazoo before. So how does a humble hum pull curious people from three counties away?

Million-Kazoo Years Start In A Surprisingly Small Building

Kazoos are an American invention, and one South Carolina company keeps that tradition buzzing like nobody else. The Kazoobie Kazoo Factory, Museum & Gift Shop is home to Kazoobie Kazoos, the only plastic kazoo manufacturer in the United States.

That title alone makes the trip feel a little legendary. Every other plastic kazoo maker you might picture simply doesn’t exist on American soil.

Folks who think kazoos come from some giant overseas plant are in for a surprise. This operation is proudly American, and its output is hard to believe.

The numbers here sound almost made up. The factory produces up to 5,000 plastic kazoos a day and more than 1,000,000 every year.

Those kazoos don’t stay local, either. The company has sold more than 20 million kazoos and ships them to over 35 countries around the world.

So the next time someone hums through a party kazoo in another country, it may have started here. That’s a fun thought to carry home after your visit.

I love that such a playful product comes from a real working factory. It turns a silly noisemaker into something with genuine craft, history, and serious hometown pride behind it.

Your Guide Will Walk You Through Every Step Of The Buzz

Factory floors usually stay behind locked doors, but this one welcomes curious visitors on weekdays. Guided tours run Monday through Friday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m.

Plan for about 45 minutes to an hour once your tour begins. That’s long enough to learn plenty without anyone getting fidgety.

The tour covers how kazoos come together from start to finish. You’ll learn about assembly, printing, and packaging, the three big jobs that turn plastic pieces into finished instruments.

Printing is a sneaky highlight, since it’s how designs land on each kazoo. Seeing a plain tube become a decorated keepsake makes the whole process click.

A short video called How Kazoos Are Made helps set the scene. It gives everyone a quick behind-the-scenes look before the guide takes over.

The tour does carry an admission fee, unlike the free museum and gift shop. Show up a little early so you can browse before your group heads out.

One smart move is saving your shopping for after the tour. You never know which wild instrument will catch your eye along the way.

Build Your Own Kazoo And Take It Home

Most tours end with a goodbye wave, but this one ends with a brand-new instrument in your pocket. Every participant gets to design, build, and keep a custom kazoo.

That means kids, grandparents, and grown-ups all get the same fun job. No one has to sit on the sidelines and watch.

Building your own kazoo turns the lesson into something real. After learning how the factory assembles thousands of kazoos, you get to try it yourself.

The design part lets your personality show up. Your kazoo becomes a tiny trophy that proves you made the trip.

Be warned that homemade kazoos tend to get played immediately. The car ride home may turn into a rolling concert whether the driver likes it or not.

I think this is the smartest part of the whole experience. A souvenir you made yourself always means more than one picked from a bin.

Bring a little patience for younger kids who want everything perfect. A few extra seconds of designing can make their kazoo feel like a masterpiece.

It also makes a great keepsake for scrapbooks or shadow boxes. Some kazoos might even outlast the vacation photos.

Nose Flutes And Kazobos Briefly Steal The Spotlight

Kazoos get top billing, but they aren’t the only noisemakers on the tour. Guides show off a whole lineup of fun instruments, including nose flutes and kazobos.

Yes, a nose flute is exactly what it sounds like. You play it with air from your nose, which is guaranteed to spark giggles.

The kazobo is a kazoo with a horn-shaped bell attached. It gives that familiar buzz a bigger, brassier sound that feels made for a marching band.

Guides also demonstrate different styles of kazoos. Hearing them side by side shows how much sound can come out of one small tube.

These demos turn a factory visit into something closer to a show. It’s part music class, part comedy hour, and fully family friendly.

Musicians will appreciate how these simple instruments still have range. Even serious players might walk away wanting to try a kazoo solo.

Pay attention during the demonstrations if you plan to shop afterward. Whatever sounds best in a guide’s hands probably waits for you in the gift shop.

A little silliness goes a long way on a family trip. Few things break the ice faster than a grown-up playing music through their nose.

Antique Kazoos Prove This Little Buzz Has A Long Memory

Over 150 antique kazoos fill the on-site Kazoo Museum, and some date back to the 1800s. The collection ranks among the largest kazoo collections in the world.

Best of all, entry to the museum costs nothing. You can wander through even if your schedule doesn’t fit a tour.

The exhibits cover more than 160 years of American kazoo history. It’s a surprising amount of story for an instrument most people treat as a party favor.

Memorabilia joins the kazoos to round out the picture. Together they show how this humble hum worked its way into American music and pop culture.

I like how the museum treats the kazoo with real respect. Nobody is laughing at the instrument here, though you’re welcome to smile.

Older visitors may spot designs that look oddly familiar. Younger guests get a fun look at what kids played with long before tablets.

Give yourself time to read the displays instead of rushing through. The details are half the fun, especially the oldest pieces.

Museums don’t have to be quiet and serious to be worth your time. This one proves a small space can hold a mighty amount of history.

The Museum Took A Cross-Country Road Trip Before Landing Here

Seattle, Portland, and then the South Carolina Lowcountry. That’s the travel route of the Kazoo Museum, which has a backstory almost as fun as its exhibits.

Boaz Frankel started the museum in Seattle, Washington, in 2007. A year later, the collection moved to Portland, Oregon.

On October 6, 2010, the Kazoo Museum officially opened inside the Kazoobie Kazoos factory in Beaufort. It finally found a home surrounded by the very thing it celebrates.

The company has its own winding history too. Rick Hubbard and Gayle Andrus founded Kazoobie Kazoos as an internet retailer, launching its website in 1997.

The company later expanded from online retail into manufacturing plastic kazoos in the United States. Operations moved back to Beaufort in 2009, setting the stage for the museum’s arrival.

Stephen Murray later became a co-owner of the business. He and his wife eventually purchased all of the company’s assets.

I believe that kind of history makes a visit feel richer. The building holds a story that kept humming through years of changes.

Knowing the backstory also makes great small talk during the tour. Few people can say they know where a kazoo museum used to live.

Your Shopping Bag Is About To Get A Lot Noisier

Kazoos in every style are only the opening act at the gift shop. Shelves also hold other wind and rhythm instruments, whistles, nose flutes, and kazoo-themed apparel.

Like the museum, the gift shop is free to enter. You can pop in during regular hours even if you skip the tour.

That variety makes it easy to find something for everyone on your list. Music lovers, class clowns, and toddlers all have options here.

Kazoo-themed apparel is a sneaky win for travelers. A shirt is a souvenir that starts conversations long after the trip ends.

Teachers and party planners should take notes, too. Kazoos and rhythm instruments make easy, cheerful additions to classrooms and celebrations.

My advice is to set a budget before you browse. Small instruments add up fast when every one of them is fun to try.

Remember that the shop belongs to the only plastic kazoo maker in the country. Buying a kazoo here means bringing one home from its true hometown.

Gifts from this shop also come with a built-in story. That beats another fridge magnet, and it sounds a whole lot better.

Finding The Buzz Is Easier Than Humming In Tune

Beaufort Industrial Village might not sound like a vacation hotspot, yet that’s exactly where the buzz begins. The Kazoobie Kazoo Factory, Museum & Gift Shop sits at 12 John Galt Road, Beaufort, SC 29906.

The location is handy for drivers coming from different directions. It’s near Highway 21 and Highway 170, two main routes through the area.

Timing matters here, so plan ahead. The museum and gift shop open on weekdays starting at 9 a.m. and stay closed on weekends.

Closing time is usually 5 p.m., though Friday hours can end a bit earlier. A quick check before you leave saves any disappointment.

Tours start at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Morning slots work well if you want the rest of the day free for exploring the South Carolina coast.

Parking is free and roomy. There’s even space for tour buses and RVs, which makes group trips much simpler.

Road trippers heading toward the coast can easily work this into their route. It’s a cheerful break from long stretches behind the wheel.

Pair your visit with a stroll through downtown Beaufort afterward. A morning of kazoos followed by waterfront views makes a pretty great day.

Everyone In The Family Can Join The Fun, Wheels Included

Wheelchair users can enjoy the whole visit, since the facility is accessible from the entrance to the restrooms. Accessible parking is available too.

Nearby public transportation options are also wheelchair accessible. That’s a thoughtful detail that opens the door for more visitors.

Free Wi-Fi is available on site. Older kids can look up kazoo trivia, and parents can check directions for the next stop.

Clean restrooms are a road-trip blessing that nobody should take for granted. Families traveling with little ones will especially appreciate that comfort.

Photos and videos are allowed, so keep your phone ready. Capturing the moment your kid plays their new kazoo for the first time is pure gold.

The mix of history, music, and hands-on making works for many ages. Toddlers enjoy the noise, while grown-ups enjoy the stories behind it.

I can’t imagine a friendlier stop for a mixed group. Grandparents, teens, and kids can all find something to grin about.

South Carolina has plenty of famous sights, but few let you build your own instrument. That’s why this cheerful little factory earns a spot on your weekday plans.