Lake Vanare, New York -
Swiss Trail Muffler Man

Swiss Trail Muffler Man

Battered and abused, this one-armed survivor lurks in the trees, waiting for a savior. Roadsideamerica.com Report...

Muffler Man

My brother David and I have recently purchased the campground formerly known as Swiss Trail (now Adirondack Memories Campground). We have resurrected the headless Muffler Man. We call him Paul Bunyan.

We are hoping to find the head and restore him to his full glory. We would be forever grateful for any tips to the whereabouts of his head! [Paul Magliato, 09/24/2010]

[RA: Good luck recovering Paul's noggin. There's something about that guy and his surroundings that encourages spontaneous dismemberment. Perhaps it's the handy saw?]

Muffler Man

The poor condition of the campsite Muffler Man in Lake Luzurne, a few miles from Lake George has further degenerated. Driving past it just three nights ago I realized that the head of the "Paul Bunyan" muffler man had been removed. The figure still stands with a "Campsite" sign propped against the tree, but he is now headless, casting a gloomy impression down upon the road as you drive by. [James LaGoy, 05/22/2004]

[RA: ]

Swiss Trail Muffler Man - Head Case

Some background on the "Swiss Trail" muffler man near Lake George, NY... My parents owned the campground where the Paul Bunyan stands from 1976 to 1985. He was there when we bought the property, then called "Swiss Campsites." We revamped the name to "Swiss Trail Campsites" and had the shirt painted to reflect the new name. I was only 11, so I have no memory of how we got the painting done. Your spotters are good if they found him way up on the rocks in the trees like that. I used to play up there with my sister.

I contacted the current owner of the Swiss Trail Muffler Man (now "Adirondack Memories Campground") last night and he said the man was tragically damaged in a storm last fall (2002). His head actually came off. He moved the head aside, and later, when he was mowing, he noticed that it had been stolen. After that he received three calls inquiring about the headless man. He figured it was whoever had taken the head wanting to get the rest. In his own words, "I was too stubborn for that." I still hope to visit this summer and see the headless and one-armed man marking the entrance to what I used to call home.

Could this be the most tattered M-Man on record? [Lynn Kinsman, 06/24/2003]