Have you ever spotted a giant fiberglass statue standing along the side of the road? Chances are, you found a Muffler Man. Manufactured by International Fiberglass of Venice, California1, the icons stood between eighteen and twenty-five feet tall2 and became some of the most recognizable advertising figures along roadside America. Originally designed to sell practically everything, they haven’t been manufactured in fifty years3. Still, Route 66 is still home to at least four famous Muffler Men4. Now, Richmond can proudly add another to the list.
Before I get to Richmond’s new Muffler Man, I have to confess that Delaware County already has one of its own. Around here, he’s better known as Big Jack, thanks to the many years he spent towering over the former Jack Smith RV dealership at Muncie’s Interstate 69 exit. Despite driving past him countless times over the years, I’ve never stopped to take a proper photograph. Usually, I’m either hurrying home or merging onto the interstate.
Richmond’s Muffler Man, a lumberjack, arrived just last month5. He stands guard outside Uranus Fudge Factory, an insane roadside attraction that first opened along Route 66 in St. Robert, Missouri. After expanding to Anderson in 2022, the company opened its Richmond location two years later. If you’ve ever watched Ren & Stimpy or appreciate unapologetic potty humor like me, you’ll probably feel right at home at Uranus!
Nearly every sign, display, and product is built around a groan-worthy double entendre. If potty humor isn’t your style, though, well, sorry! One thing nearly everyone can agree on, though, is how good the fudge is. I’m not usually a fan, but I’ve tried several varieties at the stores in Anderson and now Richmond. It’s excellent!
Before I write more about the Muffler Man, I have to show you around Uranus. Despits its name, there’s so much more to do and see than candy. For starters, there’s an awesome animatronic Zoltar fortune teller just right of the front door.
Walking into Richmond’s Uranus Fudge Factory is almost a sensory overload. There’s always another display to examine, another joke to read, or another shelf packed with candy, souvenirs, and quirky attractions in every chaotic corner. It’s hard to know where to look.
My eye was first drawn to the old biplane hanging from the roof. I’m not much of an airplane expert, but it looks like a World War I-era French Nieuport 17 to me, or at least, a replica of one.
This Coney Island Shoothout attraction occupies a full corner of the place. I’d love to get my hands on that animatronic bear! DWL Studios cranks these out in 2-, 3-, 6-, 8-, 10- and 12-gun configurations6.
I had fun probing Uranus for different things to do and see. Naturally, the place is home to one of Brian Cook’s Butts on Things vending machines.
Uranus was also home to tons of pickle merch- pick air fresheners, pickle erasers, plush pickles, a stress pickle, and even an Electronic Yodeling Pickle similar to what my Dad once had!
If saltwater taffy is your weakness, Uranus has you covered. Dozens upon dozens of metal buckets -probably fifty in all- overflowed with nearly every flavor imaginable. There were traditional staples like peppermint and vanilla, of course, but other combinations I’d never even considered like peanut butter & jelly.
Here’s more candy. Somehow, despite visiting a place called Uranus Fudge Factory, I completely forgot to photograph the fudge itself. People were swarming around it! The mint chocolate was fantastic.
After my brother and I checked out, we made our way through the Fudge Factory’s vortex tunnel. The experience was completely disorienting: as we crossed the stationary walkway, the tunnel around us spun with glowing blue and purple swirls. I was positive I was tipping over sideways! As a matter of fact, the illusion was so convincing that I thought I’d held my phone perfectly level and centered for this photo.
Back on level ground, John and I briefly toured the grounds of Uranus. If you like lifesize animatronic dinosaurs, you’re in luck! The Fudge Factory has three.
Just past the dino patch stands a 110-foot tall cross7, and the juxtaposition couldn’t be more stark. The 30-ton8 cross was erected in 2009, back when the property was home to New Creations, a Christian church, school, Bible college, and summer camp9. New Creations was established in 1976 and closed forty years later10.
Fortunately, the property found an unlikely second life when Uranus purchased part of the campus in 202411. Visitors browsing candy and merchandise are actually doing so inside New Creations’ former sanctuary! Rather than erasing the property’s past, though, Uranus has embraced one of its most recognizable features. The Fudge Factory has announced plans to restore and re-light the towering monument12.
Between the biplane, the animatronics, the pickle products, the vortex tunnel, the dinosaurs, the giant cross, and, oh yeah- the candy, I had a blast at Uranus Fudge Factory! In fact, I had so much fun that I almost forgot to circle back to the Muffler Man standing out front.
The Richmond giant has a colorful history of its own. It was originally one of at least three Muffler Men built for Tulsa Oil of New England. Perhaps the most unusual feature of Richmond’s giant is hidden in plain sight: instead of the familiar Paul Bunyan-style boots found on most Muffler Men, it wears the Cowboy variant’s normal shoes. It’s an uncommon combination that makes the statue just a little more distinctive than its fiberglass cousins13.
Unfortunately, the giant’s story took a rough turn in Massachusetts. While it was on display at Sea Crest Motors, the Muffler Man lost its head, possibly during a windstorm14. From there, it made its way to the Topsfield Fair, where it was eventually discovered and purchased by a salvage yard. By 2025, the statue was in pieces at Honk’s Martin Road Salvage in Amesbury. That could have been the end of the line, but Joel Baker of American Giants bought the Muffler Man late last year.
Uranus purchased the Muffler Man in October and had it restored by Re-Giant before bringing it to Richmond15. Rather than return it entirely to its original appearance, the company chose to preserve its unique history. The statue retained its Paul Bunyan theme while once again displaying the original Tulsa Oil logo across its chest16.
It’s hard to imagine a more unusual addition to Richmond than Uranus Fudge Factory. An old church property now filled with candy, jokes, dinosaurs, and a rescued Muffler Man probably shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. Whether you stop for the fudge, browse the novelty gifts, test your balance in the vortex tunnel, or simply snap a photo with one of America’s iconic fiberglass giants, Uranus is exactly the sort of delightfully offbeat roadside attraction that makes an ordinary trip more memorable. In a world where so many quirky places have disappeared, it’s refreshing to see someone creating a new one!
Sources Cited
1 Adams, K. (2023, August 13). A Retro Scavenger Hunt Is Rekindling Road Trips Across America. Atlas Obscure. Web. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
2 Slatta, R.W. (2001). The Mythical West: An Encyclopedia of Legend, Lore, and Popular Culture. Bloomsbury Academic [London]. Book.
3 Steinweg, C. (2009, February 4). Some decades-old statues are still around, fueling our Route 66 nostalgia. The NWI Times [Munster]. Web. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
4 Gnerre, S. (2013, October 19). Golf Man becomes Porsche Man in Carson. South Bay History. South Bay Daily Breeze. Web. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
5 Richmond, Indiana: Bunyan Muffler Man (2026, June 14). Roadside America. Web. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
6 Coney Island Shootout (n.d.). DWL Studios. Web. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
7 110-foot cross coming near I-70 (2008, October 25). The Richmond Palladium-Item. p. 14.
8 Giant cross goes up this week (2009, October 11). The Richmond Palladium-Item. p. 9.
9 Sheeley, R.E. (2007, April 9). Sharing a vision for New Creations. The Richmond Palladium-Item. p. 1.
10 Weaver, E. (2024, July 25). Uranus Fudge Factory begins moving into Richmond store. The Richmond Palladium-Item. Pp. A1-A2.
11 Parcel 89-16-36-000-204.007-028 (2026). Office of the Assessor. Wayne County [Richmond]. Web. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
12 (See footnote 10).
13 Massive Northeast Pick! Truck FULL of Vintage Muffler Men! (2025, October 5). American Giants. YouTube. Web. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
14 (See footnote 13).
15 Tulsa Oil Muffler Man – Sold! (2025, October 10). American Giants – Muffler Men. Web. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
16 Uranus Fudge Factory & Shideler, T. (2026, June 30). Personal communication.
My kids appreciate the signs on I-69 for the Anderson location. We need to stop there one of these days.
It’s a trip! Anderson has mini golf.
Do I remember that the original Muffler Man was called Mr. Bendo?
I am another who has seen the signs for the Anderson location. Your report has convinced me that the place is just a hole for crappy candy that only gets customers by its gimmick.
Meant “more than just a hole”
I’m not sure if Mr. Bendo is the original, but it’s definitely an old one. I was sad to read that it got hit by that car.
The gimmick definitely draws tons of customers in, but the fudge and taffy were actually pretty good!
That’s what I think, but Ted and John say the candy is great!
JP later amended his comment- missed a word.
I love this story. I had heard of the Anderson store, and I love fudge but never stopped there before we moved to New Hampshire.
I love the idea of this new location. I’ll probably offend a few people, but I always had a problem with a church/ministry that would spend $100,000 on a giant cross. it’s their money, raised by their efforts but seems a waste when there are real needs that could be met.
The Fudge Factory looks like a fun place to visit and I am sure I would like the mint chocolate fudge.
As a mostly New Englander I appreciate the well documented history of the giant. I know all thsoe places and locations.
Are you familiar with “The Giant Store” that was in Anderson decades ago? They had a huge plastic giant out front of the store. There is also a plastic giant that has kicked around New Castle for decades. Last I knew of it it was in front of the Ice House Bar. But I think it is gone.
The history behind both those giants would make a worthy story.
I never heard of the Giant Store; that’ll be something to look into.
Corey, the giant outside of the Ice House, was in fact sold. I’m not sure where to offhand.
I get what you’re saying about the cross. Not sure it had its desired effect seeing that the whole campus was shuttered seven years post construction.
The Facebook page, “If you grew up in Anderson Indiana” has posts and photos from the Giant store and I believe even has newspaper coverage of the grand opening in 1959. It was quite the thing in the early 1960s. Probably the first “Big Box” store in Anderson, though it was in an old factory. It was located in the 25 hundred block of Fairview. I think the building is gone now. I worked there in 1971 when it had Changed names and become “Tri-State. The sold everything. I was 18/19 nad ran the hardware department and could sell pistols from a giant glass display case. Crazy times!
The history of the original building/factory and then the store would be interesting and what happened to the giant. I have often wondered if was the one in New Castle.
Oh, and for the grand opening they advertise a “70 Grandmother, diving from a 90 ft tower into a “Sea of Flames”! Can you imagine?
Oh wow, I didn’t know any of that! I’ll definitely do some digging!
“I had fun probing Uranus …”
I’m glad. 🫠