The Hot Dog Man on historic Route 66
There’s nothing like driving through small-town America and stumbling upon a 19-foot statue of Paul Bunyan holding a giant hot dog.
Kids put down their Gameboys pretty quickly when they look out the car window and see that!
After miles and miles of authentic Midwest agricultural wonders (this is your brain on corn) it’s a bit mind-boggling to stand in tiny downtown Atlanta, Illinois and try to figure out the origins of the thoroughly fake Hot Dog Man.
According to the Logan County tourism Web site, the massive fiberglass dude with a dog used to stand in front of a restaurant called Bunyon’s in Berwyn, Illinois (also on old Route 66) from about 1965 to 2003.
When the restaurant closed, the owner Mr. Stephens agreed to keep the landmark Big Guy standing tall on the fabled Mother Road, so it was moved to a new home in Atlanta, Illinois.
Your family can see it today, presiding majestically over passing tiny people and assorted hot dog fans.
Mustard and relish not included.
Related posts:
- (on Perceptive Travel blog) Vintage ad artwork in Atlanta, Illinois
- (on Perceptive Travel blog) Route 66 maple syrup in Funks Grove
- (on Family Travel) What makes Chicago, Illinois so great for families?
- (on Family Travel) Getting our kicks on Oklahoma’s Route 66
Tags: Atlanta Illinois, Bunyons, hot dog muffler man, old historic Route 66, road trip
March 18th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I could be totally wrong here, but, I could swear there’s one of those in Dallas, TX on Central Expressway in front of some auto mechanic’s place and he’s holding some giant tool or car part - maybe a muffler…
I live in Alabama now, though - otherwise I’d go take a drive and find out and take a pic for you!!
It’s nice when things distract the kids from those games, huh? It’s almost like you can see actual STRANDS of glue from each of their eyeballs and each of their ears, forever connecting them to those blasted things!! Haha!
March 19th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Hi Lisa Marie Mary,
Welcome from Twitter! Yes, I think I read that some company in the 1950s and 1960s made a bunch of those big guys and many were used to hold mufflers in front of auto shops, so you probably DID see such a thing in Dallas.