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Bunyon’s Statue

// June 3rd, 2010 // Travel

This is out great big USA Road trip, and we have had so much fun looking for cheesy USA roadside attractions, and the first we came across was Bunyon’s Statue.

During the heyday of Route 66 travellers passed hundreds of signs, murals and other forms of roadside advertising, each hoping to grab its share of attention. Among the more famous of these stood the fibreglass giants created during the 1960′s by international fibreglass of Venice, California.

Originally designed to hold and axe, the first of these was a "Paul Bunyan" figure, done for the Paul Bunyan cafe on Rt. 66 in Flagstaff Arizona, in about 1962. Most of the statues were derivatives of that one mould. As the retail attention-getters became popular, many of them were placed in front of service stations, holding such things as as automobile mufflers and tires. They soon became known as "The Muffler Men".

In 1965, HA Stephens purchased one of these giants, swapped its original axe for a hotdog and placed it in front of his restaurant on Rt. 66 in Cicero Illinois. Mr Stephens purposely misspelled the name of his business "Bunyons" in order to avoid a potential trademark conflict with the Paul Bunyan Cafe. A legend was born, and over the next 38 years, "Bunyons Statue" became a Rt. 66 landmark.

Stephens with the help of dedicated family and longtime manager Agness Abruzzo, operated Bunyon’s through January 2003. At that time, he sold the real estate and was faced with the prospect of relocating the giant (which still serves as the business’ retail symbol). The family was approached by John and Lenore Weiss representing the Preservation Committee of the Illinois Route 66 Association. Even though large cash offers had been made for the giant, the Stephens’ generously agreed to keep their Bunyon’s Statue on Route 66, so he could remain a Route 66 icon. Because of its central location, enthusiasm and support of Rt 66, Atlanta, Illinois was chosen as the statue’s new home.

Bunyon’s Statue is now on loan to the community of Atlanta, where he graciously welcomes all Route 66 travellers to this friendly, hospitable community.