If you’ve ever taken a road trip across America, chances are you’ve spotted them—those towering fiberglass giants known as Muffler Men. Created by the International Fiberglass Company in the 1960s, these oversized figures once stood guard at gas stations, tire shops, and diners to grab the attention of passing motorists. While they’re most often associated with Route 66 or Midwestern highways, New England has its own collection of these roadside legends. And let me tell you, they’re worth hunting down.

Some have been lovingly maintained, others cleverly adapted, and a few have vanished into mystery. Let’s take a state-by-state look at where you can still find these giants today.

Before we dive into New England’s giants, let’s set the stage. Muffler Men stand about 18–25 feet tall and came in different “personalities”: the lumberjack with his axe, the cowboy with a lasso or pistol, the Native American chief with a raised hand, or even custom creations like Uniroyal Gals, spacemen, and yes—Frankenstein’s monster. Their original purpose was advertising, but today, they’re beloved roadside attractions, drawing nostalgia seekers and photographers alike.

Not every towering fiberglass figure is a Muffler Man. Here are a few quick tips to spot the real deal:

• Maker: Muffler Men were produced by the International Fiberglass Company in California during the 1960s–70s.

• Height: Most stand 18–25 feet tall.

• Pose: Classic Muffler Men share a signature stance — right palm up, left palm down — originally designed to hold an object like an axe, muffler, or flag.

• Variants: Common versions include Lumberjacks, Cowboys, Indians/Chiefs, and customized mascots (like Pizza Man or Uncle Sam).

• Fiberglass Cousins: Figures like Bangor’s Paul Bunyan or other fiberglass statues may look similar but weren’t made by International Fiberglass — making them roadside cousins rather than true Muffler Men.

👉 Tip: Even if they aren’t official Muffler Men, these giants still carry the same spirit of roadside Americana and are worth pulling over to see.

Bangor is home to a towering 31-foot Paul Bunyan statue, built in 1959 to celebrate the city’s proud history as a logging capital. Made of fiberglass and steel, this Bunyan isn’t a true Muffler Man, but his size and roadside presence often earn him an honorable mention. With his axe in hand and his lumberjack boots planted firmly, he’s one of the most recognizable figures in Maine roadside culture. While not part of the official Muffler Man family, Bangor’s Bunyan captures the same spirit of larger-than-life Americana that makes these giants so memorable.

This Bunyan stands at around 20 feet tall, with the familiar Muffler Man stance: right palm up, left palm down, originally designed to hold a tool. In Rumford’s case, he’s a lumberjack through and through, with an axe in hand and the rugged look that made him the perfect symbol for Maine’s logging heritage.

Rumford’s Paul Bunyan has been a local landmark for decades, greeting travelers near the Androscoggin River Valley. He connects directly to the town’s history in paper-making and logging, industries that shaped much of the region’s economy and identity.

What makes this Bunyan special is that he represents one of the “lumberjack” variants of the Muffler Men line, a style that was especially popular in forested regions. Unlike the Bangor statue, which is a municipal monument, Rumford’s Bunyan is part of the true family of Muffler Men scattered across the U.S., making him an essential stop for collectors and roadside enthusiasts alike.

Known locally as the Big Man or the Green Valley Giant, this towering figure now stands outside a former farm-equipment store on a quiet rural road, not far from Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort—and only about ten minutes from my home.

For locals, he’s more than just a roadside curiosity. Christine Noble-Drosehn, a lifelong Berkshires resident and music teacher, remembers him vividly from her childhood. Her father often visited the store for tractor parts, and she always tagged along, eager to say hello to the Big Man. She recalls that he once held a human-sized pitchfork—“It looked more like a fork than a pitchfork,” she laughs—and notes that he was given a fresh coat of paint in 2017.

The Big Man has lived quite a wild life. Over the years, he’s been shot at, stolen by college students, and even spent some time at a local nudist camp before finally arriving at Green Valley Equipment Co. in Hancock. Battered but not broken, he was refurbished in early 2017 and now stands proudly once again, a true survivor among New England’s roadside giants.

For decades, locals have known him by many names: the Southern Gentleman, the Big White Guy, or simply Plantation Man. After years of moving around western Massachusetts — from Springfield to Chicopee, to storage, and back again — this fiberglass giant has finally made his long-awaited return to East Longmeadow.

For the community, he’s more than a roadside statue. “It’s great to keep the tradition alive,” said Matt Dessereau, managing partner of the tavern. He sees the giant as part of what makes East Longmeadow special — a gathering place for families, neighbors, and visitors during the annual celebration. 

Statue owner and lifelong resident Charlie Arment echoed that sentiment, calling Plantation Man “the heart of the event.” His family has been in East Longmeadow for over 60 years, and the statue now feels like an extension of the town’s tradition of parade, pride, and small-town fun.

Today, Plantation Man stands once again in full patriotic glory, greeting passersby and reminding everyone that roadside icons aren’t just relics of the past — they’re living symbols of community identity and nostalgia.

In 1986, as Benson’s Wild Animal Farm was closing down, one of its towering fiberglass Indians was purchased along with a buffalo. The buyer, a well-known local businessman, owned several popular nightclubs, including the Mohawk Club. When the club began to struggle, he sold it — only to buy it back a year later after the new owner went bankrupt. Eventually, he closed the nightclub for good and converted the space into McNiff Real Estate and Mohawk Village Motors, both of which he ran until his passing in 2004.

The Indian statue itself has lived through its share of adventures. Once, it toppled over, and during a senior prank, high school students even stole its arm. For a time, it remained down and damaged. But eventually, the giant was given a new arm and a fresh coat of paint, and today he once again stands tall, proudly carrying on his roadside legacy.

Some Muffler Men are easy to spot towering along the roadside — but not this one. The Paul Bunyan Muffler Man in Groveland was tricky to track down. While guides listed him in the 1100 block, he’s actually tucked away in the 900 block, visible only if you happen to glance down a driveway.

This figure is one of the “suspiciously shrimpy” Muffler Men, standing at about 14 feet tall, smaller than the typical 18–25 foot giants. He originally wore a hard hat and a shirt emblazoned with “Yvon”, but today he’s been transformed into a classic Bunyan style, complete with an axe. Locals now call him “Dave.”

Though he may be shorter and a little harder to find, Dave proves that Muffler Men don’t need to be huge or flashy to be special — sometimes the thrill is in the hunt.

In Cheshire, local zoning laws strictly limit signs to no more than seven feet tall. Most businesses comply with uniform, colonial-style posts topped with finials and sunburst cutouts. But when the House of Doors set up shop in the early 1980s, the owners, the Sirois brothers, decided to make a much bigger statement — by planting a towering 26-foot Paul Bunyan Muffler Man on their lawn.

The town wasn’t amused. Officials claimed the statue violated the signage ordinance, and arguments quickly followed. But the brothers found a clever loophole: they replaced Bunyan’s axe with an American flag. Their reasoning? “You can build a flagpole as high as you want and the town can’t do anything about it.”

The gamble worked. The town backed down, and the Sirois brothers proudly declared their Bunyan an “official landmark.” Since then, the towering figure has become part of the community’s identity. After 9/11, when flags became especially symbolic, the once-controversial statue turned into a source of patriotic pride.

Today, Cheshire’s Bunyan still stands tall — proof that sometimes the best roadside attractions are born out of creativity, persistence, and just a little bit of defiance.

Norwich is home to one of New England’s best-loved Muffler Men, a 22-foot-tall cowboy known as Big Bob. He first appeared in town in the mid-1960s, standing on the opposite side of Norwich at an amusement park owned by Alex Cohen, who used the giant cowboy to attract visitors.

When the park eventually closed, Big Bob didn’t disappear. In 1982, the owners of Surplus Unlimited — childhood admirers of the statue and friends of Cohen — purchased him and moved him to the front of their store on West Main Street. Ever since, he’s been a landmark for shoppers and travelers alike.

Since his move, Big Bob has taken on a distinctly patriotic identity. He proudly waves an American flag, is anchored with cables to keep overzealous climbers from toppling him (and yes, people have tried), and shines under a spotlight at night. Surplus Unlimited keeps him in excellent condition, even featuring him in their advertising and delivery truck artwork.

After more than half a century in Norwich, Big Bob isn’t just a roadside giant — he’s a community mascot and a cherished reminder of the town’s roadside Americana.

While no confirmed Muffler Men currently stand in these three states, they are still worth keeping an eye on. Muffler Men have a habit of reappearing in unexpected places, and collectors sometimes move them from state to state. Roadside enthusiasts continue to keep watch—because you never know when a forgotten giant might resurface.

What makes Muffler Men so special isn’t just their size—it’s their quirkiness and survival. Many were discarded when businesses closed, but locals saved them, restored them, and gave them new life. Today, spotting one feels like stumbling onto a piece of living roadside history.

For travelers eager to uncover hidden gems beyond the giants, the Roadside America app is a must-have companion. Packed with over 15,000 quirky attractions—everything from fiberglass giants and gravity hills to atomic cannons and giant chairs—it helps you discover must-see stops along your route or nearby your location .

The app’s “Near Me” feature automatically shows attractions within a 25‑point radius, while the “On Route” function lets you plot pickups targeted to your trip plan It’s free to download (US & Canada), with one region included at $2.99 and full access for $6.99 more; maps, directions, hours, reviews, and even user tips are right at your fingertips. Fans rave, saying it “directed us to a ton [of] cool/weird places” and that “the tips from other travelers are extremely helpful” Whether you’re cruising Route 66 or off-roading through the Midwest, this app ensures you never miss a hidden roadside wonder! Roadside America.

New England may not boast the same density of Muffler Men as Route 66, but the giants here are full of character and colorful history. From Bangor’s Bunyan to Planation Man, Norwich’s patriotic cowboy, and Hancock’s Big Man, these fiberglass legends are reminders of a time when businesses turned to roadside creativity to catch your eye.

So next time you’re exploring the backroads of New England, keep your camera ready—you never know when a giant might be waiting around the corner.