Libertyville, Illinois: Muffler Man and Bessie the Cow

I took this digital photo of the Bunyan statue at Lambs Farm in Libertyville, Illinois on October 14, 2002. I know you already have a photo of this statue, but mine came out so well that I thought you might like a copy!

At Lamb's Farm, a Bunyan Muffler Man is accompanied, not by Babe the Blue Ox, but by a fiberglass "Bessie" the brown cow, and a fiberglass milk bottle. Lamb's Farm is a community for mentally handicapped adults, a tourist attraction since 1961.

Lamb's Farm is mainly a petting zoo with LOTS of goats. A mini-train ride winds past beautiful wild flowers and a decaying fiberglass horse and bear. The place is perfect for a 2 and 3 and a half year old (like my daughters). It will probably continue to be popular with them until the age of 6 or 7.

Last month as we were driving north on the Tri-State Tollway to Wisconsin (I-94), we were passing Lamb's Farm, a home for handicapped adults that runs several roadside attractions. They have a petting zoo, mini-railroad, pet store, water ski show area, and mini golf. My wife turned to me and said "Look, a muffler man!" They apparently have one in the mini golf area. I did not see it myself. I told her to describe his hand configuration and it sounded correct. I was surprised because my wife had never really seemed to listen to me when I prattled along about muffler men.