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Open  |  East Troy, WI  |  (262)642-2929

Roadside Landmark Since 2017

Meet Canada Guy

One of only ~180 known Muffler Men left in the world. A genuine piece of American roadside history, standing guard at Gus's Drive-In.

The Origin Story

Born on Route 66

Around 1962, International Fiberglass Company in Venice, California made the first giant - a Paul Bunyan - for a restaurant in Arizona on Route 66. Word spread quickly about how effective this giant was at attracting customers, and businesses across the country lined up to get their own roadside giant.

Retooling new molds was too expensive, so the original fiberglass mold was reused and modified to suit each business. The result: all of the statues share similar and distinguishable qualities, with slight variations depending on who they were made for.

International Fiberglass original advertising International Fiberglass company poster
The Golden Age

Thousands Strong

By the late 1960s, thousands of these giants - at a typical cost of $1,000–$2,800 each - dotted America's roadside. International Fiberglass made cowboys for Phillips 66 stations, Indians for Mohawk gas stations, Vikings for Viking Carpets, and even a giant female statue for Uniroyal Tires.

By 1973, the oil crisis hit America hard. Gas stations closed. Interstates bypassed the two-lane roads where the giants stood. The businesses faded away, and the giants became essentially homeless - sold, abandoned, or simply forgotten in fields, barns, and junkyards.

In 1976, International Fiberglass closed its doors. All of the original molds were destroyed.

The last two Muffler Men made in 1972
~180 Known Survivors
1962 First Giant Made
17hrs Drive to Rescue Him
1yr Restoration Process
The Rediscovery

Found Again

In the late 1990s, a website dedicated to American roadside kitsch began chronicling the locations of the 12 known remaining giants. They were nicknamed "Muffler Men" - as many stood in front of car repair shops holding full-sized mufflers. By 2005 interest surged, with statues being actively sought out and found.

Canada Guy standing fully restored at Gus's Drive-In
His Journey

From Calgary to East Troy

The Gus's Drive-In Muffler Man was originally commissioned by a Phillips 66 Gas Station in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where he stood until the 1970s. From there, he was loaded onto a trailer, towed by a Cadillac to a nearby junkyard, where the owner stood him up and he towered over the property for years.

Time and harsh Canadian winters got the best of him, and he eventually fell. In the summer of 2017, a chance spotting on a YouTube video - showing pieces of the giant laying in junkyard grass - caught the attention of Joel Baker from American Giants, an expert locator and restorer of Muffler Men.

In November 2017, Joel and his crew made the 17-hour journey to the Canadian junkyard to rescue this giant piece of history.

Before the Rescue

Found in a Canadian Junkyard

November 2017 - Joel Baker's team arrives after a 17-hour drive.

The Restoration

Nearly a Year in the Making

What followed was a nearly year-long restoration process - piecing Canada Guy back together piece by piece. With the exception of the milkshake and the hotdog he now holds, Canada Guy has been completely restored to his original condition.

Today, the locations of only about 180 Muffler Men are known worldwide. It is unlikely that many more will ever be discovered, making these giants rare and highly sought after. It is an honor to be the home to such a unique and important piece of roadside history.

The Rescue

Watch the Full Story

Standing Proud

Home at Last

Aerial view of Gus's Drive-In at sunset with Canada Guy standing tall
Come See Him

He's Waiting for You

3131 Main St, East Troy, WI - 30 minutes south of Milwaukee, 15 minutes west of Lake Geneva.

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