Sightings have been made throughout the land! Big men are on the loose!
Remember the good ol' fiberglass behemoths that used to line the roadside?
From golf men at mini golf courses to lumberjacks outside hardware stores,
these huge roadside men once were a major part of the American landscape.
Jackson Man
Sutter Creek, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Near Highway 88 and Ridge Road, the Hardware Muffler Man keeps watch over passing traffic. At around 14 feet tall, he’s shorter than many of his roadside relatives, but that yellow hard hat still makes him easy to spot. He looks ready to lend a hand, though his assignment has changed a few times over the years.
He has worn a green shirt and blue jeans, then switched to red for a more lumberjack-like look. His hands have held a muffler, an axe, and an American flag at different times. The businesses nearby have changed, too, giving the big guy plenty of reasons to update his wardrobe.
Hardware Guy, Lumberjack Man, and Jackson Man are all names you might hear for him. His location gets listed as Sutter Creek, Martell, or Jackson, but they all point to the same figure at the junction. Look for the hard hat and you’ll know you’ve found him.
UPDATE: The Muffler Man remains near Highway 88 and Ridge Road, ready for whatever outfit or assignment comes next. 09-26
Willits
Big Man
Willits, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Passing through Willits, keep an eye out for the Willits Big Man at the Frontier Days rodeo grounds. The tall cowboy, better known as Cowboy Willy, looks ready for the Frontier
Days Fourth of July festivities with his hat, boots, and branding iron. He’s hard to mistake for an ordinary rodeo spectator.
Willy began life as a fiberglass Muffler Man. Local businessman Lee Persico brought him to Willits in 1967, and the giant was dressed for a new job as a cowboy. Take a closer look at his belt buckle and you’ll find Seabiscuit, the famous racehorse who spent his later years at nearby Ridgewood Ranch.
UPDATE: Cowboy Willy still stands at the rodeo grounds as a familiar face of Willits Frontier Days. For the celebration’s 100th year in 2026, the community raised money for a cowgirl companion named Wilma. Willy may not have to watch the rodeo alone much longer. 09-26
Babe
San Jose, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Cruising along The Alameda in San Jose, it’s hard to miss Babe standing outside Babe’s Mufflers. He has a name patch on his work shirt and a muffler in his hands, just in case anyone needs a clue about the shop. Whether he qualifies as a “babe” is up to the passing drivers, but he certainly knows how to get their attention.
Babe has been on the job since the 1960s. He was made from a familiar Muffler Man figure, then given a look inspired by the shop’s original owner, Roland “Babe” Royer. When the San Jose Sharks have had a big run, Babe has even traded the muffler for a hockey stick. That’s one way to let the neighborhood know which team he’s rooting for.
UPDATE: Babe’s Mufflers is still open, and its giant greeter remains out front. The shop and statue are recognized as a San Jose city landmark, so Babe’s roadside shift looks set to continue. 09-26
Trees of Mystery
Klamath, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Driving Highway 101 through the redwoods near Klamath, it’s hard to miss Trees of Mystery. Paul Bunyan stands beside the road with his friend Babe the Blue Ox, both of them big enough to make the passing cars look like toys. Pull into the parking lot and Paul may even have something to say to you.
Paul stands just over 49 feet tall, while Babe reaches 35 feet to the tips of his horns. They make quite a welcome committee for an attraction devoted to the giant trees behind them. It’s worth stepping out for a photo with the pair before heading along the forest trails, where more characters from the Paul Bunyan tales turn up in redwood carvings.
UPDATE: Trees of Mystery remains open, with Paul and Babe still greeting travelers from Highway 101. The redwoods are the main event, but these two make sure nobody misses the turn. 09-26
June
the Rodeo Man
Livermore, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Last, but certainly not least, of the Californian roadside men is June,
the Rodeo Man. (Now if the rodeo was in April, would we name him April?)
Standing right off a highway in Livermore, June and his big ol' hat is
a can't miss sighting. If you're in the area and it's June, say hello.
June is one of the fiberglass giants known as Muffler Men. Most of his relatives spent their days standing outside auto shops, holding mufflers or tires. This fellow traded that job for a cowboy outfit and a chance to promote the Livermore Rodeo. It’s a good fit, though he might have trouble squeezing into the grandstands.
Another photo of June
Livermore, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The rodeo has been a Livermore tradition since 1918, when its first event raised money for the Red Cross during World War I. Every June, the celebration brings the cowboy hats back out, and June does his part to get everyone’s attention before they reach the grounds. He may not ride or rope, but he’s quite good at standing tall.
There’s a little trick to finding him: June isn’t on display all year. He’s brought out around rodeo time in late spring, then put away when his promotional work is done. Someone driving through Livermore in autumn could miss him entirely and wonder where the giant cowboy went.
June was also found standing next to this golf ball
Livermore, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
UPDATE: Here are a couple of additional photos of June the Rodeo Man from 1999. According to the Livermore Parade site, this muffler man was owned by Gerald Bireley who had two of these men for his Phillips gas station. The muffler men were then sold to the rodeo for use as mascots, of which this one remains.
UPDATE: The Rodeo Man continues to make seasonal appearances for the Livermore Rodeo. If a photo with June is on the itinerary, plan the trip around rodeo season. And if the rodeo ever moves to April, there may be a naming problem to sort out. 09-26
Big Mike Hayward Man
Hayward, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Driving along Mission Boulevard in Hayward, it was hard to miss the Hayward Man outside Tyre Treds. The giant stood near the road, ready to catch the attention of anyone who might need tires or a muffler. No car trouble? There was always the McDonald’s down the street. Big Mike gave travelers something to look at either way.
Mike had another job at the same spot before Tyre Treds came along. When the property was a car wash, he held an enormous scrub brush. Later, the tire shop put a muffler in his hands, and he settled into his new role along Mission Boulevard.
Hayward Man
Hayward, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
After Tyre Treds closed, Mike was left beside the empty shop. Graffiti and damage to one of his legs made it look as though his roadside days might be over. Bell Plastics owner Bruce Kennedy rescued him in 2011, then repaired and set him back on his feet in 2013.
UPDATE: Big Mike remains in Hayward, but he now stands at Bell Plastics on National Avenue with other rescued roadside giants. The tire shop is gone, though its big man found a new place to greet visitors. 09-26
Willits
Big Man
Babe
June
the Rodeo Man
June was also found standing next to this golf ball
Big Mike Hayward Man
Hayward Man
