Jackhammer Man (Gone)
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

This working man looks ready to tear up a little concrete. Left Field Louie stands 20 feet tall with a giant jackhammer in his hands, making him one of the more unusual Muffler Men around. 11-07

The fiberglass giant originally stood outside an auto dealership in Minnesota holding a muffler. In 2002, he was purchased by the Joliet Jackhammers minor league baseball team and given a new job behind the left field wall at Silver Cross Field.

Whenever the home team hit a home run, Louie's jackhammer came to life with construction sounds and smoke. That probably made him one of the few roadside giants with an actual game-day assignment.

The Jackhammers folded in 2010, and Louie disappeared from the stadium soon afterward. For years, his whereabouts were uncertain.

UPDATE: Left Field Louie was eventually moved to private property in New Lenox, where he still stands today. His baseball days may be over, but the giant jackhammer is still in his hands. 07-26

Roadside Man
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

Here's another roadside giant found near Chicago. These oversized fiberglass figures always seem to catch your eye, especially when they suddenly appear along a busy road. 11-07

Statues like this became popular during the 1960s and 1970s as businesses looked for creative ways to grab the attention of passing motorists. Whether they were holding tools, signs, or simply standing tall, they were hard to ignore and often became local landmarks in their own right.

While the exact history of this particular figure isn't clear, it's another fun reminder of an era when roadside advertising was anything but ordinary. It's easy to imagine families spotting it from the car and asking to pull over for a closer look.

UPDATE: Not sure if this roadside giant is still standing today. Like many fiberglass figures from this era, some have been restored while others have been moved or disappeared over the years. 07-26

Paul Bunyan and Bessie the Cow
Libertyville, IL
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

Here's a pair that's sure to get your attention. Paul Bunyan and Bessie the Cow stand side by side at Lambs Farm in Libertyville, with Bessie looking every bit as impressive as the legendary lumberjack. 11-07

The two fiberglass figures have welcomed visitors for years and have become one of the most recognizable sights at Lambs Farm. Paul towers overhead with his ax in hand, while Bessie makes for a perfect photo companion just a few steps away.

Lambs Farm isn't your typical roadside attraction. Founded in 1961, it's a nonprofit organization that provides vocational and residential opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. Visitors can enjoy the farmyard, shops, bakery, and other attractions while supporting the organization's mission.

The statues have become a favorite stop for generations of families. They're the kind of oversized roadside characters that make you smile and wonder how many people have posed for a photo beside them over the years.

UPDATE: Paul Bunyan and Bessie are still standing at Lambs Farm, where they received a fresh restoration in 2025 and continue welcoming visitors today. 07-26

Indian
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

Check out this friendly roadside Indian waving to traffic along busy Pulaski Road in Chicago. With one hand raised high above the street, he almost looks like he's greeting everyone who drives by. 11-07

The Eye Care Indian is one of the classic fiberglass "Muffler Men" that began appearing across America during the 1960s. Originally installed to advertise a cigar shop, the giant later found a second career when the building became an eye clinic. That's when he received his oversized black-rimmed glasses, making him one of the more recognizable Muffler Men in the Midwest.

Even after the eye clinic closed, the giant remained on the rooftop as the building changed hands. Today it still watches over the intersection, although the old "Eye Can See Now" sign that once hung from his waist is gone.

It's always fun to find one of these old fiberglass giants still doing what they were built to do—catch your eye from a long way off. This one has been waving at Chicago traffic for decades.

UPDATE: The Eye Care Indian is still standing on the rooftop today, glasses and all. He's one of the few classic Muffler Men in the Chicago area that remains in his original location. 07-26

Paul Bunyan
Irish Hills, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's Paul Bunyan looking right at home in the snow. Standing guard in Michigan's Irish Hills, this giant lumberjack appears ready to chop a little firewood—or maybe clear a path after the latest snowfall. 05-08

Paul Bunyan is one of the classic 20-foot-tall fiberglass Muffler Men that became roadside favorites during the 1960s. When this photo was taken, he stood outside Stagecoach Stop USA, a Wild West attraction that entertained travelers along U.S. Route 12 for many years.

Like so many roadside attractions, Stagecoach Stop eventually closed, but fortunately Paul didn't disappear with it. In 2011 he was rescued and moved to nearby Brooklyn, Michigan, where he found a new home outside a sporting goods store.

He's received a fresh coat of paint over the years and even gets dressed for the seasons. During the summer he often holds a giant American flag, while around Christmas he trades that for a decorated tree. It's nice to see an old roadside giant still earning his keep.

UPDATE: Paul Bunyan is still standing today outside Knutson's Sporting Goods in Brooklyn, Michigan. He's been beautifully restored and continues welcoming travelers more than a decade after leaving the Irish Hills. 07-26