Muffler Man - Bunyan
Crystal Lake, Illinois
After a career as a theme park huckster, this Bunyan Muffler Man has retired to a life of gardening.
Unlike most water theme parks, Ozzie Water Park, north of Palatine along US Hwy 12, offered a little diversity (both a Bunyan and an Indian Muffler Man!) -- but apparently not enough to keep it in business. The Bunyan there had been reported brandishing a double-head ax; he was unarmed during our visit in 2005. He stood in a confusing themed playland -- an old west "Blacksmith" shop facade on one side, and a series of basketball hoops set on garishly painted houses on the other.
The Bunyan had no feet. In his right hand a small yellow ball was balanced. Approaching for a closer look, we failed to notice the giant wooden bucket on a platform to our left that had just completed filling to the brim with water.
In 2009, we heard that a Bunyan and an Indian had turned up in Crystal Lake, IL. The Bunyan had a significant paint/makeover, including a facial hair trim to lose the mustache. He stands on cinder blocks (still no feet), but that's our guy.