Muffler Men and His Giant Friends

The Land of Giants

Welcome to the Land of Giants

Exploring Giant Statues Across America, a page dedicated to the fascinating world of oversized roadside attractions. From the iconic Muffler Men standing tall along historic highways to larger-than-life Paul Bunyan figures, cowboy statues, and even quirky custom creations, these giants have become beloved landmarks for travelers and photographers alike. Whether you’re planning a road trip to visit these colossal figures or just curious about their history, this page showcases some of the most famous and unique giant statues across the country. Discover their origins, locations, and fun facts about these towering roadside legends that continue to capture the imagination of adventurers and nostalgia seekers.

Recent Posts

Big Tex: The Giant Cowboy of the Texas State Fair

Big Tex: The Giant Cowboy of the Texas State Fair

Every October, millions of people flock to Dallas for the Texas State Fair — and towering over it all is Big Tex, the 55-foot cowboy with a booming voice and a welcoming wave. Since 1952, Big Tex has been more than just a mascot; he’s a Texas icon, a symbol of hospitality, and the first “Howdy, folks!” that kicks off the fair each fall. His story is full of transformations, surprises, and resilience — just like Texas itself.

The Muffler Men of New England

The Muffler Men of New England

Towering roadside giants known as Muffler Men may be most famous along Route 66, but New England has its own collection of these fiberglass legends. From Bangor’s Babe the Blue Ox to Connecticut’s patriotic cowboy Big Bob, and Massachusetts’ quirky Big White Guy with his many disguises, these statues tell stories of creativity, reinvention, and nostalgia. Each one has its own colorful history—some repainted, some relocated, and others still shrouded in mystery—making them must-see stops for anyone who loves roadside Americana.

The Uniroyal Gals – Female Version of the Muffler Man

The Uniroyal Gals – Female Version of the Muffler Man

Most people know about the towering Muffler Men giants that dot America’s highways, but fewer have heard of their female counterparts — the Uniroyal Gals. Created in the 1960s by the same company that built the Muffler Men, these fiberglass women stood nearly 20 feet tall, hand on hip, welcoming drivers into tire shops and dealerships. Today, only a handful of these rare roadside icons remain, making them a must-see for enthusiasts of vintage Americana and quirky roadside attractions.

The Giants Among Us In Pennsylvania

The Giants Among Us In Pennsylvania

Towering Legends: Exploring Pennsylvania’s Giant Statues

Pennsylvania is home to some truly larger-than-life roadside attractions—literally! From towering Muffler Men to oversized animals and historic figures, these giant statues add a quirky charm to the state’s highways and small towns. Whether you’re road-tripping through the Keystone State or just looking for a fun photo op, these colossal sculptures are worth the detour. In this post, we’ll uncover the stories behind some of Pennsylvania’s most famous giants and where you can find them.

Meet the Muffler Men & Uniroyal Gals

There are about 150 Original Muffler Men in the US and Canada, with new ones being create today.  The onces listed here I have written about  and will be adding more as I go.  I hope to have them all listed here in the furture. The Uniroyal Gals are all listed below.

Earl: Mechanic Muffler Man - Granite City, IL

The official greeter of Granite City, according to his accompanying plaque, Earl is a custom 14-foot-tall Mark Cline Muffler Man, placed at the north end of town in June 2025.

Cigars & Stripes Muffler Man - Berwyn, IL

This Muffler Man is on top of the building holding hot sauce and a wing, while smoking his cigar. Just goes to show they are good for any business.

Rusty Sledgehammer Muffler Man- Granite City, IL

He is a custom made 20 fot tall Muffler Man created by Mark Cline. A tribute to every blue-collar worker” in Granite City. He arrived in June of 2025.

Indian Chief - Vinita, OK

This Muffler Mna stands outside the Hi-way Cafe on RT 66.  Make sure you get a phto  with this chief because he is a rare one.

Big Bill- Vinita, OK

This Muffler Man Stopped his suitcase in this location in August of 2025 at the Hi-way Cafe.

Space Cowboy- Tulsa, OK

This Muffler Man was created by Mark Cline, for buck Atom Gift shop on RT 66.  He is 21 feet tall and arrive in 2019.

Hot Dog Man - Atlanta, IL

He is 19 feet tall once a Paul Bunyon,  He has been watching all the new Muffler Man move in to Atlanta for years.

Gemini Giant- Wilmington, IL

Gemini has been watching over this town since the 1960’s You know your are on the road RT 66 when you see him.

Bob the Cowboy - Tulsa, OK

Bob is 21 Feet Tall  Built by Mark Cline. He arrived in Tulsa August 2025, He stands at Buck Atom  on RT 66.

Sam - Kittanning, PA

Sam has been standing here since 1962 now his future is unknown, the restaurant has been sold to Sheetz in 2025.

Uncle Sam - Rockwood, PA

Uncle Sam lives on a private campground in the Laurel Highlands in PA.  He has been here for quite sometime and has been know to change his looks, At one time he even wore a kilt.

Bunyan Dave - Groveland , MA

This Muffler Man is smaller than most standing at 14 feet his is a little hard to see from the road standing that this contruction equipment company.

Bob the Cowboy

Bob is 21 Feet Tall  Built by Mark Cline. He arrived in Tulsa August 2025, He stands at Buck Atom  on RT 66.

Former Bunyan - Uniontown, PA

Not sure how long he has been in this location, he was relocated from Washington DC. In 2007 he was restored, he beanie was painted over and his lips are now bright red.

Happy Halfwit - Oaks, PA

This is another variation of the Muffler man built by the United Fiberglass company in the 60’s. He oncee stood on the boardwalk in New Jersey. He as damaged in a storn, but was restored and found a new home in August of 2014.

Indian - Shirley , MA

This is another variation of the orginial  Muffler Man. He was moved to this location in 1986 . Many business have come and gone but this Indian stood tall and today is standing alone in and empty  lot that use to be a car dealer until 2004.

Paul Bunyan- Flagstaff, AZ

This is one of two Muffler Men on Northern Arizona University campus. This maybe the First Muffler Man to be made.

Paul Bunyan - Greensburg, PA

This Muffler man has been standing here since the 1960’s and has gone through many different looks, In the 70’s he was a Pittsburgh Steeler and at one point lost his head.

Big Bob Cowboy - Norwich, CT

Big Bob is 22 feet tall and orginial Muffler Man from the 60’s, He has been at this location since 1982.

The Big Man - Hancock, MA

It is unknown how long this Muffler Man has been here, the locals remember him from their childhood and recall he once held a huge pitchfork, In 2017 he was given a new look.

Carl - Normal, IL

Bob is 21 Feet Tall  Built by Mark Cline. He arrived in Tulsa August 2025, He stands at Buck Atom  on RT 66.

Big Chip Ice Cream Man - Coopersburg, PA

He was built by Mark Cline and arrive here in December of 2018.

Paul Bunyan - Cheshire, CT

The owners of this Muffler Man had to get creative to keep this 26 foot gaint standing in their front yard, they made him a flag pole, to get around city ordinances.

Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox- Rumford, ME

This Bunyan stands around 20 feet tal and has watched over this town for quite skome time. Holding he axe. and having Babe by his side.

Uniroyal Gals and Their New Friends

If Only the Gals Could Talk…

Boy, if only the Uniroyal Gals could talk! Imagine the stories they’d share — about the highways they’ve watched over, the towns they’ve called home, and the countless travelers who stopped to stare, snap a photo, or smile as they drove by. From tire shops and farm fields to antique malls, pirate coves, and even Route 66 space stations, these fiberglass queens have lived many lives. Each one carries a history of travel adventures, makeovers, and reinventions that reflect the changing times of roadside America.

Martha Cafe - Blackfoot , Idaho

One of the most unique Uniroyal Gals can be found in Blackfoot, Idaho, standing proudly outside Martha’s Cafe. She’s been a Blackfoot resident for decades and has gone through more than one makeover. Once known for “flaunting her wares” in a bikini, the fiberglass waitress was later given a more modest look — complete with a big, sparkling diamond ring on her finger. Today, she’s less pin-up and more hometown waitress, reflecting the character of the family-run diner she represents.

Large Marge, Normal , IL

New arrival November 2025

Although it took ten years, Carl, the Muffler Man who stands in front of Carl’s Ice Cream, finally got a companion. Her name is Marge, she’s a former Uniroyal Gal, and yes we know she is taller than Carl.

Carl and Marge are both posthumous tributes, named for real people — Carl Garbe and Marge Irwin — who’d once worked at Carl’s Ice Cream, and who likely never imagined that they’d one day be immortalized in giant-size fiberglass.

Tootsie in Bradenton, Florida

Not every Uniroyal Gal’s journey has been straightforward, and few have a story as colorful as Tootsie. Originally, she stood in Downer’s Grove, Illinois, until her owner retired and brought her along to Florida. After his passing, the Gal was inherited by his son, who eventually sold her in 2013 to Tom Edmunds for just $500.

For a while, Tootsie didn’t get much attention. She lay on a transport trailer behind Tom’s sheet metal fabricating shop, her blonde hair and polka-dot bikini fading in the hot Florida sun. In 2015, she was finally put up on display — only to be taken back down two years later when Hurricane Irma threatened the area.

Nitro Girl in Blackwood, New Jersey

This fiberglass giantess had stood outside Werbany Tire Town since 1965, when Ed’s father bought her for just $300. Back then, she resembled the familiar “Jackie Kennedy”–style Gal, dressed in a turquoise skirt and green top, and affectionately known to locals as “The Doll.” She always held a tire, making her the perfect roadside advertisement for the family’s business.

By 2007, however, Ed Jr. sensed it was time for a makeover. With superhero movies on the rise and Wonder Woman rumored to return to the big screen, he decided to get ahead of the trend. In July of that year, he hired artists Karen Baxter and Linda M. Shelley to reimagine the 18-foot-tall figure as Nitro Girl — a superhero-inspired roadside icon.

Suzibelle in Omaha, NE

One of the most enduring Uniroyal Gals is Suzibelle, who has called Omaha, Nebraska home since the 1960s. Like many fiberglass giants, however, her story includes years of being out of sight. For three decades, Suzibelle was kept in storage, away from the public eye.

In 2024, she was finally restored, bringing her back to life as a piece of roadside Americana. Today, Suzibelle isn’t always standing out in the open. Instead, she’s kept in a separate garage — but the owner or manager is known to happily unlock the doors for curious visitors, even encouraging photos.

Uniroyal Gal in Personville, California

In the tiny desert community of Pearsonville, California, a towering fiberglass woman with a classic blonde flip hairdo still keeps watch over what was once dubbed the “Hubcap Capital of the World.” She isn’t tied to any active business today, but she’s an unforgettable roadside sight just the same.

The Gal stands near the remnants of Pearsonville’s heyday, when hubcaps were collected, sold, and displayed in massive numbers. While the town itself has faded into ghost town status, the giant figure remains — fenced off but still visible as of 2021.

Lumi Giant in Atlanta, IL

The statue was commissioned by Nick Beckteshi, owner of the Country Aire Restaurant, after he noticed the steady stream of tourists visiting the nearby museum. Wanting to give visitors another reason to stop, he decided to install a giant of his own — one with a personal twist.

Ruby the Pirate in Batchtown, IL

Like many Uniroyal Gals and Muffler Men, this fiberglass giantess has lived more than one life. She began her journey as a classic Gal before taking on a series of makeovers that reflected the places she called home.

For a time, she stood at Huber’s Farm in Kingsville, Maryland, where she was part of the hayride adventure. Families on the tractor ride would pass by her, and to make her even more memorable, the farm actually made real clothes for her to wear — giving her a seasonal, interactive flair.

Big Amanda in Longview, TX

In Longview, Texas, a female Muffler Man — or rather, a Uniroyal Gal — stands proudly at the entrance of American RV Restoration. Affectionately known as Big Amanda, she’s more than just a fiberglass figure; she’s part of the new generation of Uniroyal Gals, continuing the legacy of these roadside queens well into the 21st century.

While the original Gals of the 1960s were tied to tire shops and car dealerships, Big Amanda has taken on a modern role as the mascot of an RV restoration business. It’s a fitting pairing: RV owners are often road-trippers at heart, and what better way to celebrate the open road than with a fiberglass giantess watching over the property?

Grahyamland Uniroyal Gal in Bolton North Carolina

If you’re traveling through Bolton, North Carolina, keep an eye on the roadside — you may just spot a fiberglass wonderland. Known as Grahamland Fiberglass, this unique property is home to more than 250 fiberglass animals and giant figures, making it one of the largest private collections of its kind in the U.S.

Among the dinosaurs, animals, and whimsical creations, you’ll also find three Uniroyal Gals. These were created using molds from an original Gal near Rocky Mount, ensuring they capture the authentic look and feel of the roadside queens from the 1960s.

JoLean in Northport, Michigan

One of the more unusual Uniroyal Gals you can visit today is JoLean, a classic “Jackie Kennedy”–style fiberglass giantess with a long history of travel and transformation.

She originally stood in Kentucky, before being moved to Ohio, where she spent years lying neglected in a backyard. Purchased at one point for just $150, she might have faded away completely if not for friends of a Michigan business owner who recognized her potential. In 2021, she was fully restored and given a second life as the outdoor mascot of Leelanau County’s first marijuana dispensary.

Tornadoes Cheerleader in Lamesa, TX

In the west Texas town of Lamesa, a rare Uniroyal Gal stands proudly with her signature 1960s flip hairdo. Unlike most of her fiberglass sisters, this Gal has been customized to reflect the spirit of the community — she’s dressed as a Golden Tornadoes cheerleader, complete with the team’s two-fisted cartoon twister mascot emblazoned across her chest.

Lamesa might not be a hotbed for tornado activity, but that hasn’t stopped the town from embracing the theme. The local high school sports teams proudly play as the Golden Tornadoes at Golden Tornado Stadium, and their fiberglass cheerleader adds a perfect roadside twist to this hometown pride.

Vanna Whitewall in Peoria, IL

Standing 17 feet tall along Washington Avenue, Vanna Whitewall is one of the rare surviving Uniroyal Gals from the 1960s. She first arrived in Peoria in 1968, and like many of her fiberglass sisters, she has gone through a few wardrobe changes over the years.

Originally displayed in a bikini, Vanna later switched to a more conservative mini-skirt and blouse before returning to her bright red bikini once again. Unlike some roadside statues that stir controversy, the Peoria community embraced her look with no objections — a red bikini here simply meant “no heat.”

Rosie the Riveter in Tulsa, OK

Rosie the Riveter arrives at The Pearl Shops. Aaron Meek, who owns The Pearl Shops, wanted her to be a Rosie the Riveter because his mother worked at McDonnell Douglas during World War II. 

Rosie is 19 feet Tall and is located near Ike’s Chili and the Pearl shopes on 11th St. 

Uniroyal Gal in El Paso, Texas

On the outskirts of El Paso, Texas, a fiberglass giantess with a striking resemblance to 1960s Jackie Kennedy still stands tall against the desert sky. She is one of a small number of identical Uniroyal Gal statues scattered across the U.S., created by International Fiberglass in the late 1960s to promote Uniroyal Tires.

This particular Gal doesn’t advertise a business anymore — instead, she silently watches over an empty field. With her hand-on-hip stance, perfectly coiffed hair, and timeless outfit, she captures the elegance of her era while embodying the quirky roadside charm of fiberglass giants.

Stella Atom in Tulsa, OK

Meet Stella Atom, the dazzling Space Cowgirl Uniroyal Gal who brings a blast of retro-futuristic flair to Route 66 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She’s the female counterpart to the classic Muffler Men and part of the new generation of Uniroyal Gals, custom-built to capture the spirit of roadside Americana in the modern era.

Created by fiberglass artist Mark Cline, Stella was designed specifically for Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on Route 66, where she now stands proudly alongside Buck Atom, the space cowboy Muffler Man. Together, they form one of the most photogenic roadside duos along the entire Mother Road.

Uniroyal Gal in Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Not all Uniroyal Gals stand proudly along highways or in front of businesses. Some end up in more unusual places — like this one in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

Here, a blonde fiberglass giantess has been customized with Daisy Duke shorts and a bikini top, giving her a bold, playful look. She serves as the centerpiece of the private Men’s Night Out Club, where she stands behind a security fence on gated property.

Uniroyal Gal in Unger, West Virginia

The Farnhams, famous for collecting giants like Muffler Men, Big John, and even a surfer dude, added their Gal to the menagerie in 2008. She joined a growing lineup of fiberglass icons cemented firmly into the West Virginia hills — what George jokingly calls their “lawn ornaments.”

Like the rest of their collection, the Uniroyal Gal isn’t going anywhere. Anchored in concrete and cared for as part of their roadside sanctuary, she represents not just nostalgia but also preservation. While many Gals have been lost or repurposed, the Farnham’s fiberglass queen remains a proud reminder of her 1960s heritage, watching over the two-lane blacktop with a timeless roadside charm.

Wonder Woman in Dallas, GA

One of the most remarkable stories of the Uniroyal Gals is the figure that once stood in Winter Garden, Florida. By 2016, she was no longer gracing a roadside business — instead, she had been tucked away in a backyard, weathered and worn, a fading reminder of her fiberglass glory days.

In February of 2017, collectors stepped in and gave her a second chance. She was purchased, transported, and began the long journey of restoration. Over the course of a year, layers of age and damage were carefully repaired until the Gal was ready to shine again.