What) Marble King Incorporated operates seven days a week, three hundred sixty-five days a year. Huge piles of recycled glass glisten outside the factory, sorted by color, from white and clear to blue and even a pile of brown beer bottles. Inside the one-story brick factory, workers dump a container full of recycled glass into a 2,350-degree, gas-fired furnace every 20 minutes, producing a continuous stream of molten glass. Propelled by gravity, the red-hot liquid flows through a channel inside the furnace and is cut into sections that are formed into smooth, spherical shapes. Every day, Marble King uses more than 4 tons of mostly recycled glass to produce about a million marbles in 300 different sizes, types and colors - everything from crystal green cat’s eyes to periwinkle marine crystal marbles. (1)

    The gift shop is located in what was Paden City's first restaurant, which was built in the 1800's. Fox said they had so many visitors stopping in the factory that a separate gift shop almost had to be created to serve them. The small store includes wooden toys, locally made crafts such as purses and home decor and of course, marbles. (2)

    Where) 401 South First Avenue   Open Mon-Fri from 8am - 4:30 pm    1-304-337-2264

    Why) Back in 2009, when I didn't know what a Buckys was, I drove by a used marble store located in York, Nebraska.  That one was closed, but when I got home I learned that there was only one place in all of the United States that was actually making marbles.  I put it onto my list of places I would like to see one day.  Guess what?  We “happened” to be in the area so I got to go in and fill up my pockets with marbles.