World's Largest Cuckoo Clock

**Updated information about the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock will be added to the bottom of this page as it becomes available.** Skip to End

A restaurant named Alpine Alpa was built near Winesburg, Ohio by Hans and Alice Grossniklaus in 1935. He was a Swiss Cheesemaker.

They decided to add attractions to their restaurant to increase the draw of local tourism.

So, in 1972 they decided to have a cuckoo clock constructed. Not just any cuckoo clock though - a large cuckoo clock. in fact, this clock was so large it has been called the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Measuring 23 feet, 6 inches tall, 24 feet wide and 13 feet, 6 inches deep it was huge!

Other attractions were added to the restaurant as well. In 1983 Sugarcreek artist and painter Tom Miller was called upon to paint several multi-dimensional murals throughout the dinning areas.

In August of 2002 the restaurant was bought by Ann DeHaus, and her daughter and son-in-law LeAnn and Daryl Miller. They changed the name to Grandma's Alpine Homestead.

In August of 2007 the non-functioning clock was moved from the hill behind the restaurant to a new ground level location. It was also given a makeover courtesy of Hampton Hotels Save A Landmark Program.

Sixteen volunteers gave over 80 hours to help restore the clock at a cost of around $20,000.

Then, sometime in 2009, due to extenuating circumstances Grandma's Alpine Homestead closed its doors for good. All the equipment and furnishings were auctioned off.

This auction included the cuckoo clock. Enter Mark Coblentz of Walnut Creek Cheese notoriety. Coblentz purchased the clock in hopes to keep the clock in the area.

Then, Sugarcreek businessman Lavon Daugherty approached Coblentz with the idea of moving the cuckoo to Sugarcreek as an icon of the local Swiss culture.

Plans are now in the works to move the clock to a new location inside a restored antique barn on the corner of East Main and Andreas Drive in Sugarcreek.

Meantime, grants are being sought to finish the restoration project and bring working order to the damaged belts, gears and pulleys of the world's largest cuckoo clock.

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On Tuesday, July 6th the clock officially arrived in Sugarcreek at its new home on Factory Street.

Donations to cover the cost of the move and setting up the new location are being sought. To donate money or labor to help with this project contact Lavon Daugherty at 330-852-9191. _________________________________________________________________

The world's largest cuckoo clock sits in the snow at an empty lot in Sugarcreek beside the Budget's (newspaper) office looking rather forlorn.

Donations are still being sought and various fundraisers are in the works to help bring this local icon back to life.

**Information current as of January 15, 2011**

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