This week on my road trip across America, I picked up my sister-in-law, Alexandra, in Kansas City and we headed to Nowata, Oklahoma!

What’s in Nowata, you ask?

Why Bowling Ball Yard Art presented by Mr. Chris Barbee!

After his wife passed away several years ago, Chris decided that what started out as a large collection of bowling balls would make a great fence on the outskirts of his yard…

and things just kind of blossomed from there!

Mr. Barbee’s collection is now comprised of OVER 3,000 BOWLING BALLS, about 90% of which have been donated, showing representations of everything from the American flag

to the state of Oklahoma

to the alphabet and a peace sign

to a pool table and the Ten Commandments:

Since he opened his doors 10 years ago he’s had visitors from all 50 states as well as 18 countries! Chris invites all of his guests to mark their hometown on a map located next to his guest book:

Mr. Barbee’s daughter’s boss(!) posted the Bowling Ball Yard Art display on RoadsideAmerica.com several years ago and since then thousands of people have made the trek to Nowata to take in his beautiful artwork. Including us!

I’m so glad I purchased the Roadside America App to find interesting places around the US like Chris’ Bowling Ball Yard Art! Here’s to many more adventures with my new app.

Thank you for the warm welcome, Mr. Barbee!

PS – if you’d like to see more, you can check out Chris’ facebook page here!