If you go to a family barbecue or stop by a brewery this summer, there’s probably a slightly competitive game of cornhole happening outside. This popular backyard game has grown exponentially in popularity over the last decade and it doesn’t look like it’s stopping anytime soon. Cornhole fits perfectly with classic American summer activities for its simplicity, transportable setup, and easy rules for any skill level. But where did cornhole come from? There’s a variety of sources claiming who exactly invented cornhole. Some say it was the Native Americans, while others insist it was a fourteenth-century German cabinet maker or a family-man Kentucky farmer.
One of the most interesting (and consistent) legends says that Mr. Matthias Keupermann created the game after seeing local children inventively throw rocks into a groundhog hole for fun. Concerned for their safety, Keupermann used his skills as a cabinet maker to make boards of wood with similar sized holes so that the children could retrieve the rocks over and over again without worrying about the groundhog. He further improved this game by using bags of corn instead of rocks. And thus, the first cornhole set was made. At least according to legend.
Nowadays, if you go to any summertime outdoor event, you’ll likely see a bunch of people playing a friendly game of cornhole. One of America’s favorite outdoor games, cornhole has been Cincinnati’s claim to backyard fun fame for several decades. Many German immigrants also claim to have brought cornhole from the motherland to America during the 20th century, keeping Keupermann’s pastime favorite alive.
The outdoor game’s popularity spread across the United States about ten to fifteen years ago and has now become a staple of backyard barbecues, campgrounds, beaches, and pubs. Great for all ages and abilities, cornhole levels the playing field with its simplicity and easy rules. It’s also easily portable, making it a no-brainer to throw it in the car on the way to a family gathering or bringing it to a sunny beach day. From regulation sized sets to shorter, more convenient sized cornhole boards, there are a variety of options for everyone and any event.
Any way you look at it, this family-friend pastime stands apart from other outdoor yard games for its lack of difficulty, easy transportation, and simple rules. And to be honest, no one really needs to be a pro-athlete to win a game of cornhole.
About Baden Backyard
Baden Backyard is a top-notch source of outdoor backyard games. They offer high-quality and durable outdoor games like the cornhole set, volleyball set, croquet set, and more. Baden Backyard makes summertime activities enjoyable with easy transportation and convenient storage.
To browse outdoor game sets, go to badenbackyard.com