The History of Cornhole

The history of cornhole varies depending on who you ask. Several origin stories exist — some plausible, some questionable. Rather than pick a single definitive account, here are the legends most often told.

The German Carpenter Legend

One popular tale credits a 14th-century German carpenter, sometimes named Matthias Kuepermann, who watched boys tossing heavy rocks into a groundhog hole. Worried someone would get hurt, he created a safer version using corn-filled bags tossed into wooden boards he built himself.

Native American Roots

Some scholars suggest similar games existed among Midwestern Native American tribes. The Blackhawk tribe in Illinois is said to have played a competitive bag-toss game using pigs’ bladders filled with dried beans.

Cincinnati or Kentucky?

Cincinnati residents credit German immigrants who brought the game to Ohio, where it took off among bar patrons. Kentuckians counter that pioneer settlers in their foothills invented it — calling it “Hillbilly Horseshoes” or simply “Bags.”

From Backyard to Nationwide

Wherever it truly began, cornhole has become a nationwide phenomenon — a fixture at tailgates, backyards, bars, tournaments, and even gym classes. The corn-filled cloth bags of the past have given way to durable canvas bags filled with plastic pellets, but the simple, social fun has never changed.