Paul Bunyon Hot Dog Muffler Man

In the early 1960s a California fiberglass company began turning out enormous statues of a standing man, originally holding an axe as Paul Bunyan the lumberjack. Roadside businesses across the country snapped them up to catch the eyes of passing motorists, and the figures were often modified to hold whatever the business sold, a muffler, a tire, a rocket, or in this case a giant hot dog. Because so many ended up outside muffler shops, they came to be known collectively as Muffler Men.

The giants have the same basic pose, arms bent as if holding something in front, one palm up and one palm down, and a broad, friendly face. As the interstate highways drew traffic away from old roads and businesses closed, many of these statues disappeared or fell into disrepair. Those that survive have become beloved landmarks and objects of affection for roadside-Americana enthusiasts, who track and celebrate the remaining figures across the country.

This giant began his working life not on Route 66 but in the Chicago area. For decades he stood outside a hot dog restaurant in Cicero, holding aloft the oversized frankfurter that gave him his identity, a familiar sight to generations of Chicagoans. When the restaurant closed, the statue's future was uncertain.

The town of Atlanta, a small community proud of its Route 66 heritage, acquired the giant and brought him to its downtown in the mid-2000s. Restored and re-erected, he became an instant attraction, drawing travelers off the highway to pose beside him. His move gave both the statue a new home and the town a signature landmark, a happy match of roadside relic and Mother Road town.

Atlanta is one of the more charming small towns along the Illinois stretch of Route 66, and the giant is only its most famous feature. The compact downtown holds other treasures, including a restored octagonal public library that is one of the few of its shape in the country, and a historic Seth Thomas clock. The town has embraced its Route 66 identity, and a short walk turns up murals, vintage details, and other reminders of the highway's heyday.

The Illinois portion of Route 66 runs through the heart of the state, and towns like Atlanta, Lincoln, and Pontiac have preserved the diners, signs, and oddities that make the Mother Road such a draw. The hot dog giant fits perfectly into this landscape of nostalgia, a larger-than-life character presiding over a town that has kept the road's spirit alive.

A visit to the giant is quick and rewarding, the sort of stop that punctuates a road trip with a smile and a photo. He stands in the open in downtown Atlanta, easy to reach and hard to miss, and travelers routinely pause to crane their necks and frame a picture with the towering figure and his colossal hot dog.

Because it is a brief stop, the giant pairs naturally with the rest of Atlanta's downtown and with other Route 66 sights up and down the corridor. Whether you are a dedicated Mother Road traveler or simply passing through central Illinois, the hot dog Muffler Man is a delightful and distinctly American roadside encounter.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.