Paul Bunyon Man in Atlanta

Standing 19 feet tall and clutching a giant hot dog, this Paul Bunyon statue (not “bunyan” purposely spelled with an “o”). It is one of Illinois Route 66’s famous "Muffler Man" Statues, joining others like the Gemini Giant in Wilmington and the Lauterbach Giant in Springfield.

For more than 35 years it was proudly owned by Hamlet Arthur "Art" Stephens, the proprietor of Bunyon's, a drive-in restaurant in Cicero on Route 66 just southwest of Chicago. Art left the restaurant business in 2002, and the statue ended up being moved to downtown Atlanta.

Bunyon's statue is located in Atlanta on Arch Street, across from the Palms Grill Café, which features fine fare from The Mother Road’s golden age. It is a frequent stop for Route 66 travelers, and a popular "photo op"!

The Lumi Giant at the Country-Aire Restaurant

Lumi and her husband Nick Beckteshi are the owners of the Country-Aire Restaurant at 608 E South Street in Atlanta. On August 16, 2024, a 19’ high waitress, in the likeness of Lumi, was erected on the west side of the restaurant. The waitress is holding her Illinois State Fair Champion Baker award winning apple pie! She has many other details, such as a waitress cap, cat eyeglasses and an order pad.

Follow the Country-Aire Restaurant on Facebook ... and phone 217.648.5330

The Lumi Giant in Atlanta

American Giants Museum

The Atlanta Betterment Fund organization is providing a home for the American Giants Museum in the City of Atlanta, Illinois. The new, one-of-a-kind experience will be located at the corner of Arch & Vine Streets, on a 1926 alignment of Route 66 in downtown Atlanta.

The American Giants Museum tells the story of the kitschy and quirky “Muffler Man/Bunyan Giant” statues that sprang up in the 1960s as advertising gimmicks across the USA.

Shown below is an exterior view of the museum, and one of the first "giants" on display on the museum grounds in the spring of 2023. The giant is the 21-foot-tall Snerd, an Alfred E. Newman-looking figure named for Edgar Bergan's sidekick, Mortimer Snerd. Another addition has been the "Texaco Big Friend" on the left side of the museum.

Grand opening was held on Memorial Day weekend in 2024. For more information, opening dates and times, visit the website of the American Giants Museum

The Lauterbach Giant in Springfield, Illinois

Springfield has lots to see for Route 66 travelers, from the Lincoln Presidential Museum to the State Capitol and so much more.

Lauterbach Tire and Auto Service has a fiberglass "muffler man" giant standing in the parking lot. He used to hold a tire, but was recently upgraded to be more patriotic with a U.S. flag. It is located at 1569 Wabash Avenue in Springfield.

For more information on area tourism ... Springfield Convention & Visitor Bureau website

Lauterbach Giant

Big Ron at Motorheads Bar, Grill and Museum

Motorheads is located at 600 Toronto Road in Springfield. Another attraction was added at Motorheads, "Big Ron", built by giant designer Mark Cline, and erected on August 1, 2024 underneath the large Route 66 shield. Read more at the Motorheads website and Motorheads on Facebook.

The Uniroyal Girl and Beach Boy in Livingston, Illinois

The Pink Elephant Antique Mall is located in the former Livingston High School building, and offers wares from than 50 antique dealers. A quaint diner onsite offers burgers, nachos, sandwiches, and refreshments. Outside, visitors are welcomed by a giant "Uniroyal Gal" and a nearby "Beach Boy" and "Harley" man. It is located at 908 Veterans Memorial Drive in Livingston.

More information about the Pink Elephant

Uranus, Missouri

Uranus is a tourist attraction in unincorporated rural Pulaski County along the former U.S. Route 66. "It's Not a Town, It's a Destination."

And in 2021 a 20-foot "Muffler Man" was installed ... the Mega Mayor of Uranus!

Uranus Route 66 Information Website

Chef Muffler Man

This 25-foot tall "Muffler Man" carries a spatula and meat fork, and wears a chef's hat.

Located at the Route 66 Food Truck Park, 1530 East St. Louis Street in Springfield, Missouri

"Big A", the Texaco Giant, at Gearhead Curios in Galena, Kansas

Gearhead Curios is located at 520 South Main Street (Route 66 and Jefferson Highway) in Galena in a restored Texaco filling station. The building was constructed out of native stone in 1939, and served Route 66 travelers for decades under the ownership of Logan Thompson.

The station closed shortly after 2000, but renovations were begun by Aaron Perry in 2018. In April of 2021 a neon lighting celebration was held. The official ribbon cutting was held on June 17, 2023, culminating five-year's worth of renovation and restoration. Today, it offers Route 66 curios, artwork for the Gearhead and a place to gather to share stories. Plus clean, unique restrooms! The 1951 blue Hudson Hornet "Doc" parked there is a popular photo-op for Route 66 travelers!

For more information, phone 785.554.7694 and visit Gearhead Curios on Facebook

Installation and celebration of the newest giant along Route 66, "Big A", the Texaco Giant, was held on September 8, 2024 at Gearheads.

"Big Bill" at the Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, Oklahoma

The newest "Muffler Man" on Route 66 was installed at the family-owned Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, Oklahoma, in June of 2023. He towers about 24 feet in height; at his feet is a large suitcase.

Alan and Beth Hilburn own and operate the cafe. "Big Bill" is named after the late Bill Wood, Beth's father.

In November of 2022, in coordination with Mobil1, the Hi-Way Cafe set a Guinness World Record for the “Most Stickers on a Car”. Using a 1963 American Rambler and over 100 volunteers the cafe placed 60,066 half inch stickers over the body of the car and was declared a Guinness World Record Holder. This car is currently housed inside the cafe in the “garage” where customers can dine around the car. The Hi-Way Cafe is also home to a “Giving Wall”. This is a program where people can donate prepaid meals for customers that cannot afford a meal.

In March of 2023, thanks in part to grants from the National Park Service's Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program, the Hi-Way Cafe was able to relight its restored iconic neon sign.

The Cafe is located at 437918 E Highway 60, about two miles west of Vinita. Learn more at the Hi-Way Cafe website and the Hi-Way Cafe on Facebook. Phone 918.256.5465

Meadow Gold Mack the Friendly Lumberjack

Another "giant" has arrived in Tulsa! The grand opening for Meadow Gold Mack was held on August 24, 2024, at 1306 E. 11th Street. As part of the festivities, the area is celebrating a new 20-foot tall "muffler man" on Route 66 ... Meadow Gold Mack the Friendly Lumberjack.

Meadow Gold Mack's Route 66 Outpost resides just below the world renowned Meadow Gold neon sign on Route 66 in the heart of Tulsa, just across the street from the famous Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios. The Outpost features a cool variety of mini shops within one big space, with fun Meadow Gold Mack merchandise, vintage shops, plants, vintage books, ice cream, coffee, and much more! When in Tulsa, be sure to stop and shop in the store, or shop online at the Meadow Gold Mack Store

For more information and news, visit the Meadow Gold Mack Website and Meadow Gold Mack on Facebook

The Giants Display Between El Reno and Calumet, Oklahoma

Calumet and Geary were on the 1926 alignment of Route 66, however by 1933 they were bypassed by a direct alignment from El Reno to Bridgeport.

Today, between El Reno and Calumet, is "The Giants Display" along Route 66 eastbound. The display area features 18-foot tall color cutouts of two Muffler Men and a Uniroyal Gal. The characters were painted by California artist John Cerney in 2019.

The Giant Native American

This giant Native American statue is located at the Indian Trading Post and Art Gallery at 825 South Walbaum Road in Calumet, Oklahoma. It was previously located at the David Howe Auto dealership off Route 66 until 2010.

The Trading Post features Native American themed apparel, hand-beaded jewelry, and other memorabilia. This nostalgic store also carries Native American art from a large number of nearby tribes including pottery, paintings and other great pieces. Phone the Trading Post at 405.884.5599 for more information, and about opening times.

Lumberjack Man in Albuquerque

This giant lumberjack man holding an ax is located on the roof of the May Cafe in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 27-foot tall giant sits atop a 20-foot tall platform. The cafe, which specializes in Vietnamese cuisine, is located at 111 Louisiana Boulevard SE, near the intersection with Central Avenue. Before housing the May Cafe, the building was the home of Shofner Lumber Company, who originally erected the lumberjack man.

More information about the restaurant can be found at the May Cafe website

Lumberjack Muffler Man in Flagstaff

The 20-foot tall Louie the Lumberjack Muffler Man is located on the Northern Arizona University (NAU) campus in Flagstaff, Arizona, not far from Route 66. The lumberjack is the mascot of the University; one of these lumberjacks stands outside, and one inside, the Walkup Skydome stadium. The pair was formerly located outside of the Lumberjack Cafe (now called Granny's Closet) on Route 66.

Chicken Boy in Los Angeles

The 22-foot high, fiberglass Chicken Boy, is part man and part chicken, and holds a yellow bucket of chicken. Chicken Boy was originally located on the roof of the Chicken Boy restaurant on Broadway in Los Angeles. It was later put in storage, and then relocated to its current site atop the Future Studio Gallery, on 5558 North Figueroa Avenue, part of Historic Route 66, in the Highland Park area. It is commonly called the "Statue of Liberty of Los Angeles".