The Timbers Lounge
Muncie, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Here's The Timbers Lounge's Paul Bunyan towering over Muncie, Indiana. His yellow shirt, blue jeans, and enormous boots make this 25-foot lumberjack easy to spot near State Road 32 and Tillotson Avenue. That's quite a greeter for a neighborhood lounge. 06-11

Created by Muncie's Art Forms company, the giant originally advertised Kirby Wood Lumber Company during the 1960s. Unlike the mass-produced International Fiberglass Muffler Men, this fellow was a local creation. Early views place him at Liberty Street and Hoyt Avenue before his later move to the lounge.

UPDATE: Paul Bunyan continues standing outside The Timbers Lounge at 2770 West Kilgore Avenue. His lumberyard assignment ended years ago, but the oversized woodsman remains a familiar Muncie landmark. Fortunately, changing jobs didn't mean retiring this distinctive roadside character. 07-26

Abraham Lincoln
Springfield, IL
Photo courtesy Chibbqking

This tall fellow is Abraham Lincoln, standing 30 feet high at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. Clean-shaven and carrying an oversized axe, he represents Abe's rail-splitting days rather than the familiar president in a stovepipe hat. 05-09

Springfield artist Carl W. Rinnus created “The Rail Splitter” in 1968 for Illinois' 150th anniversary. Fiberglass covers a metal framework, with telephone poles reportedly providing support inside those exceptionally long legs. Although his pose resembles a Muffler Man, this lanky Lincoln is a separate, locally made creation.

UPDATE: The Rail Splitter remains near Gate 1, outside the fairgrounds' Illinois Building. Springfield offers plenty of Lincoln landmarks, but few are quite this conspicuous. After decades of standing ready with his axe, Abe still looks prepared to tackle a substantial pile of rails. 07-26

Sparkle Lube Man
Connersville, IL
Photo courtesy Dave Huber

Dressed in a bright red sport coat and matching hat, The Sparkle Lube Man was hard to miss outside Sparkle Lube Center in Connersville, Indiana. He welcomed passing motorists with a smile and added a little personality to an ordinary stop for car care. Photo courtesy Dave Huber.

Unlike the classic Paul Bunyans and Muffler Men, the Sparkle Lube Man had his own distinctive style. His sharp outfit made him a memorable roadside attraction and the kind of figure that made you take a second look as you drove by.

Not much is known about the history of the business or the statue, and it's unclear if either still survives today. Fortunately, photos like this help preserve another fun piece of roadside Americana from Indiana.

UPDATE: The current status of the Sparkle Lube Center and the Sparkle Lube Man is not known. If you have an update, we'd like to hear it. 07-26