subject: Origins of the Cornhole Game [print this page] Origins of the Cornhole Game Origins of the Cornhole Game
What is the true origin of the cornhole game? This is a great question and one for which you will find many different answers, as well as a great deal of passion. Some argue that the origins of the cornhole game are rooted in Cincinnati, Ohio. By whom apparently is still a bit of a mystery, however, when it comes to this claim. The annual cornhole tournament is held in Ohio, though this in itself does not make a solid claim to originality for the state of Ohio.
Other individuals will make a case for the game having been created or perhaps rediscovered- sometime during the last century in Kentucky. The debate over whether the origins of cornhole come from Ohio or Kentucky or actually another Midwestern town in Indiana or Illinois, might actually all be moot. It appears that this exciting game that is great for tailgates, birthday parties, and family get-togethers, actually originated several hundred years ago in Germany.
Still, this claim, or possibility has not been proven to this date, but there is strong evidence that it may have indeed begun much longer ago than some of its most fervent and ardent fans from Ohio or Kentucky would care to admit. Yet history was not kind to the cornhole game or its true origins.
Simply looking at the recreation of that era in history offers some slight indicators that it is certainly possible that the game found its roots in Europe even long before America was discovered by Columbus.
However or wherever or whenever cornhole was created or rediscovered is mostly just a moot point. It's boom in popularity should be. Cornhole grew in popularity during the past two decades on the back of tailgaters all throughout the Midwest. The cornhole game became a staple of sports fans from all over who enjoy the hours leading up to major sporting events, such as college football games, professional football games, and even baseball games (there's a scoring version of the cornhole game that is played over nine innings or rounds- and in which only cornholes throws that go through the hole- score runs').
Cornhole's origins and growth are largely due to its simplicity, portability, and ability to be played by people of any age, any athletic ability or lack thereof- and beginners and experienced players alike can compete against one another, with some adjustments for handicaps being made, if they so choose.
The game may be a recent invention or it could be hundreds of years old, which is more likely, but its popularity has soared because it is fun to play with family, friends, and even strangers hanging out before the big game.
