A 3,000-pound egg has been sitting on a street corner for nearly 80 years, and nobody has tried to crack it. It’s made of concrete, it stands about 10 feet tall, and it once needed 12 men to lift it onto a truck.
I love that a small Indiana town decided its pride deserved a monument shaped like breakfast. The egg even carries a painted slogan bragging about the town’s egg-farming fame.
I believe roadside oddities tell us a lot about the people who build them. This one says hard work, humor, and a whole lot of hens.
There’s also a friendly rivalry with another giant egg across the country. So which one really wins the title of world’s largest?
Let’s crack into it.
Twelve Men, One Truck, and a Very Heavy Breakfast
Most eggs come a dozen to a carton. The Big Egg in Mentone, Indiana, needed a dozen grown men just to load it onto a truck.
That’s because this egg tips the scales at 3,000 pounds, or a full ton and a half. Plenty of small cars weigh less than that, which makes parallel parking next to it feel a little humbling.
The egg stands about 10 feet tall and wears a clean coat of white paint. It sits on a small shrubbed strip at a downtown corner, right where curious drivers can spot it.
Visiting costs nothing, since The Big Egg is a free outdoor public landmark. You can pull over, stretch your legs, and stare at a giant egg without buying a ticket.
I like that there’s no gift shop gate or velvet rope here. It’s just you, the egg, and a small town that clearly enjoys its own sense of humor.
Plan for a short stop, maybe fifteen minutes for photos and a slow walk around it. Then decide if the rest of town deserves a longer look, because it might.
Fair warning, though. Once you’ve seen a one-and-a-half-ton egg, regular breakfast may never feel quite as impressive again.
Sheet Metal Lost the Vote, and Thank Goodness
Back in 1946, a group of local egg farmers had a big idea. Ed Ward, manager of the Northern Indiana CO-OP Association, worked with them to dream up a giant egg.
The job went to Hugh Rickel of Palestine, Indiana. He designed and built the egg late that same year.
Early plans called for sheet metal. That idea got tossed because the team wanted something tougher that could last for decades.
Rickel chose a frame of welded steel rods. Then he covered that skeleton with concrete plaster, creating a shell no hungry raccoon could ever crack.
Looking back, that choice was pretty smart. A sheet metal egg might have dented, rusted, or blown around during a wild Midwest storm.
Instead, the concrete version has held its ground for close to 80 years. That’s a long shelf life for any egg, even a fake one.
I can’t imagine the conversations in that workshop. Somebody had to say, with a straight face, that the egg needed to be stronger.
Next time you see it, think about those steel rods hiding inside. The real magic of this landmark is its sturdy, old-fashioned build that refuses to quit.
Its First Job Was Being a Two-Week Billboard
Here’s a twist many travelers miss. The egg didn’t start its career in Mentone at all.
Its original purpose was advertising. The giant egg was built to promote the Mentone Egg Show and Festival, and it went on display in nearby Warsaw.
For two weeks, it sat on the courthouse lawn there. Folks passing by got a huge, round reminder that something egg-cellent was happening down the road.
That’s old-school marketing at its finest. No social media, no flashy signs, just a ton and a half of concrete making its point.
After the promotion wrapped up, the CO-OP donated land at Main and Morgan Streets. That became the egg’s permanent home, and it hasn’t budged since.
I think there’s something sweet about that path. The egg went out into the world, did its job, and came home to stay.
Moving it took serious muscle, too. Remember those 12 men loading it onto a truck?
Today, the egg still works as an advertisement in its own way. It pulls road-trippers off the highway and into a small Indiana town they might have zoomed past otherwise.
Read the Shell Before You Snap the Selfie
Look closely at the egg’s surface. You’ll find a painted message that sums up the whole town in five words.
The inscription reads “The Egg Basket of the Midwest.” Next to it sits a basket of eggs drawn inside the outline of Indiana.
That little design does a lot of storytelling. It tells you this town didn’t just pick an egg at random for its mascot.
Mentone was platted in 1882. Over the years since, it grew into a real hub for commercial egg production.
So the slogan isn’t a joke, even if the monument makes people giggle. It’s a badge of honor earned by generations of farmers and hard-working hens.
For the best photo, try catching both you and the inscription in the frame. That way your picture explains itself without a long caption.
Kids usually enjoy finding the Indiana outline on the shell. Turn it into a quick game of who spots the basket first.
I like how one painted line connects a roadside giggle to real farm history. It’s proof that a goofy landmark can still carry a serious message about where your breakfast comes from.
Heavier Beats Longer in This Friendly Egg Feud
Every great landmark needs a rival. For Mentone, that rival lives way out in Winlock, Washington.
Winlock also claims a giant egg. Theirs is made of fiberglass and measures about 12 feet long.
Mentone’s egg stands around 10 feet tall, so it loses the length contest. But Mentone fans have a strong comeback ready.
Their concrete egg weighs 3,000 pounds. Winlock’s fiberglass version comes in around 1,200 pounds, which is less than half.
Locally, the Mentone Egg is proudly called the “Largest Egg in the World.” It also goes by the title of world’s largest concrete egg sculpture, which is a lot harder to argue with.
So who really wins? That depends on whether you measure with a tape or a scale.
I’m on team heavy, personally. Anyone can make a big egg, but a ton and a half of solid concrete shows real commitment.
The rivalry stays good-natured, which makes it more fun. If you ever road-trip to both towns, you can be the judge and settle it for yourself, at least in your own family group chat.
Find the Corner Where Main Meets Morgan
Finding the egg is easy once you know the corner. It sits on the southeast corner of East Main Street and South Morgan Street.
East Main Street is also State Road 25. That makes it a handy stop if you’re already cruising through northern Indiana.
Plug 202 E Main St, Mentone, IN 46539 into your map. You’ll land right by the egg in the middle of downtown.
The egg rests on a shrubbed strip in what used to be a bank parking lot. It’s a humble setting, but that’s part of the charm.
Since the land was donated by the CO-OP back in the 1940s, the egg has never moved. It’s been greeting drivers from the same spot for generations.
Keep your eyes open as you roll into town. The egg is big, but trucks or equipment parked nearby can sometimes block your view.
Be careful around traffic when taking photos. A state road runs right past, so stay on the sidewalk and watch the kids.
Honestly, a smart egg hunt starts with the right address. After that, a giant white shell does the rest of the work.
Three Days of Parades, Egg Tosses, and Birthday Cake
Mark your calendar for May 28 through May 30, 2026. That’s when the Mentone Egg Festival returns for another three-day celebration.
This year carries extra meaning. The festival will celebrate the egg’s 80th birthday, which is quite a milestone for something made of concrete.
The lineup is packed. Expect a parade plus a big car, truck, and motorcycle show.
Vendors and crafters set up shop around town. Live entertainment, food, and games keep the energy going all weekend long.
Families will appreciate the kids’ play area. Runners can join the 5K, and grill fans can check out the BBQ cookoff.
Then there’s the egg toss. Few things feel more fitting than tossing raw eggs in a town famous for them.
Pro tip for the toss: soft hands win. Catch the egg gently and pull it toward your body instead of snatching it.
I love that a town this size throws such a lively party. The festival turns a quiet monument into the guest of honor, and everyone gets a reason to show up and cheer for it.
Stretch the Stop Into a Mini Museum Tour
A ten-minute egg photo can easily turn into a whole afternoon. Mentone has a couple of museums worth adding to your list.
The Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum sits right in town.
It honors aviation history and gives the town a surprising extra layer of pride.
Then there’s the Mentone Historical Museum. It shares stories about the town’s past, including its role as the Egg Basket of the Midwest.
Visiting both after seeing the egg makes everything click. You’ll understand why a farming town decided its mascot should weigh a ton and a half.
Museum hours in small towns can change, so check before you go. A quick look online can save you from staring at a locked door.
Kids who think history is boring may change their minds here. Airplanes and giant eggs make for a pretty fun combination.
I believe the best road trips mix silly stops with real stories. Mentone gives you both within a few blocks.
So linger a bit after your egg selfie. The town has more to say than one shiny white shell can fit on its surface.
Grab a Cup and a Souvenir Before You Roll Out
Leaving town without a souvenir feels wrong in a place this proud of its egg. Luckily, you’ve got options.
Souvenir T-shirts featuring the egg are reportedly sold at a shop across the street from the monument. That’s about the easiest shopping trip you’ll ever take.
Wearing an egg shirt back home is a great conversation starter. Somebody will ask, and you’ll get to explain the 3,000-pound story all over again.
Need a pick-me-up for the drive? Egg Town Coffee is another local business that leans into the town’s identity.
Even the coffee shop name tells you how deep the egg pride runs. Mentone doesn’t do anything halfway when breakfast is involved.
Supporting small local shops also helps keep towns like this lively. Your purchase does more good here than at any highway rest stop.
I like ending a roadside stop with something to carry home. A shirt, a coffee, or even just a photo keeps the memory fresh.
The Big Egg won’t fit in your trunk, of course. But a little piece of Mentone, Indiana, absolutely can ride along with you for the next hundred miles.
