Welcome to Roadside Icons Midwest. In this section of Roadside Peek, check out the Muffler Men from the great Midwestern part of the United States.

Gemini Giant (Gone)
Wilmington, IL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Wait, who's this 20ft tall fellow in the spaceman outfit standing outside the Launching Pad restaurant? It's none only than the Gemini Giant standing watch over the Mother Road.

Standing watch along historic Route 66, The Gemini Giant has been welcoming travelers to Wilmington, Illinois since 1965. Dressed in his green space suit and holding a giant silver rocket, this 20-foot-tall astronaut has become one of the most recognizable roadside icons on the Mother Road. Photo by RoadsidePeek.com.

The Gemini Giant was built for the Launching Pad Drive-In during the height of America's Space Age. Named after NASA's Project Gemini, he was created as a custom version of the classic Muffler Man, complete with a futuristic helmet collar, rocket emblem, and oversized fiberglass rocket. While countless roadside giants have disappeared over the years, the Gemini Giant has remained a favorite stop for Route 66 travelers from around the world.

In 2024, the future of the giant suddenly became uncertain when the Launching Pad property was auctioned after the restaurant closed. Fearing the statue would be removed from Route 66 forever, preservation groups, local supporters, and the City of Wilmington stepped in to save him. Their efforts paid off, and ownership of the Gemini Giant was transferred to the city, ensuring he would remain right where generations of travelers have come to expect him.

Although the Launching Pad restaurant is currently closed, visitors still stop daily to snap photos with the famous spaceman. Nearly sixty years after he first arrived, the Gemini Giant continues to stand proudly beside the Mother Road, proving that some roadside legends are simply too important to lose.

UPDATE: The Gemini Giant was permanently preserved on-site through a community-led effort in 2024. While the Launching Pad remains closed awaiting its next chapter, the giant continues welcoming Route 66 travelers from his original location. 07-26

Lumberjack Products
Ozarks, MO
Photo courtesy Tim Thompson

This lumberjack poses on Route 66. Perhaps you can request his help the next time you need to chop down some firewood. Mr. Lumberjack Products Man is located at Lumberjack Products near the Ozarks. It tough to catch him under good weather though as it constantly rains in these parts. Like many of the classic roadside advertising figures that once lined America's highways, he was built to grab the attention of passing motorist and he still does just that. His bright colors and larger-than-life presence make him one of the more memorable Route 66 photo stops in the Ozarks.

On a sunny day he's an impressive sight, but catching him under blue skies can be a challenge. Southern Missouri weather has a habit of bringing passing showers, and many visitors know the giant as well under gray skies as they do in the sunshine. Even so, the changing weather somehow adds to the charm, giving every visit a slightly different look.

Whether you're exploring Route 66 or simply passing through the Ozarks, this hardworking lumberjack is worth pulling over for. He stands as another reminder of a time when businesses relied on giant fiberglass figures instead of billboards to catch the attention of travelers.

Stan the Tire Man's Uniroyal Gal (Gone)
Mt. Vernon, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Standing nearly 20 feet tall, Stan the Tire Man's Uniroyal Gal was one of the more unusual roadside giants in Illinois. With her stylish hairdo and cheerful pose, she looked ready to step right into the 1960s. Photo courtesy Don Gardner.

The fiberglass figure was one of only a small number of Uniroyal Gal statues produced by International Fiberglass during the late 1960s. Designed as a companion to the famous Muffler Men, she originally promoted Uniroyal tires before being purchased around 1970 by Stanley "Stan" Zimmer for his Stan the Tire Man business in Salem, Illinois. When the business expanded to Mount Vernon in 2007, the giant made the move as well and continued greeting customers for years.

After the tire shop closed in 2015, the statue began an interesting journey. She was purchased by collector Bruce Kennedy, carefully restored in California, and eventually returned to Mount Vernon in 2022. Unfortunately, that homecoming was short-lived. When the property changed hands again in 2024, the Uniroyal Gal was sold once more and relocated to a private collection in Texas.

Although she no longer stands along the roadside in southern Illinois, the Uniroyal Gal survives thanks to preservation efforts by collectors. Her travels are a reminder that many of America's fiberglass giants have been saved—not always in their original locations, but at least for future generations to enjoy.

UPDATE: The Mount Vernon Uniroyal Gal was auctioned in 2024 and relocated to a private collection in Texas. While she's no longer on public display, the statue has been preserved. 07-26

Lauterbach Big Man
Springfield, IL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Towering above Route 66 in Springfield, Lauterbach Tire business and it's giant roadside man has been greeting travelers for more than six decades. Standing in front of Lauterbach Tire & Auto Service with a giant smile, he's one of the best-known Muffler Men still standing along the Mother Road. Photo by RoadsidePeek.com.

The fiberglass giant began life in the early 1960s as a classic Paul Bunyan-style Muffler Man built by International Fiberglass. He first stood outside Midtown Tire in Springfield before spending more than a decade at the Roundup Motel in nearby Farmersville. In 1978, he made the trip back to Springfield, where he's remained ever since at Lauterbach Tire & Auto Service.

Like many roadside giants, he's changed a bit over the years. Older photos show him proudly holding a giant tire, fitting his role as a tire shop mascot. Today, that tire has been replaced with a towering American flag, giving the familiar landmark a different look while preserving his original purpose of catching the attention of passing motorists.

The giant has also survived his share of adversity. A tornado in 2006 tore his fiberglass head completely off, but rather than retire the landmark, the owners repaired and restored him. Thanks to that effort, he continues to stand watch over Wabash Avenue, welcoming both Route 66 fans and generations of Springfield locals.

UPDATE: The Lauterbach Giant remains in front of Lauterbach Tire & Auto Service, now holding an American flag instead of the giant tire seen in older photographs. 07-26

Bunyon's Hot Dog Giant
Cicero, IL
Photo courtesy Kelly Coalier

Standing proudly along historic Route 66, Bunyon's Hot Dog Giant is one of Illinois' most famous roadside attractions. Holding an oversized hot dog high above passing traffic, this smiling fiberglass giant has been drawing travelers in for decades. Photo courtesy Kelly Coalier.

The 19-foot-tall giant was originally built in the mid-1960s for Bunyon's Drive-In in nearby Cicero, where he stood outside the popular hot dog stand greeting hungry customers. The restaurant's owner intentionally spelled the name "Bunyon" instead of "Bunyan," giving the business its own unique identity while creating one of Route 66's most memorable mascots.

When Bunyon's closed in 2002, there were fears the giant might disappear forever. Instead, the Illinois Route 66 Association stepped in to save him. In 2003, he was carefully relocated to Atlanta, Illinois, where he now stands across from the historic Palms Grill Café. His move ensured that one of Route 66's best-loved Muffler Men would continue welcoming travelers for generations to come.

Today, the giant remains one of the most photographed stops on the Mother Road. Whether you're chasing Route 66 history or simply looking for a fun roadside photo, this oversized hot dog salesman is well worth the stop.

UPDATE: Bunyon's Hot Dog Giant was relocated from Cicero to Atlanta in 2003 and continues to welcome Route 66 travelers from his new home. 07-26