Brookston, Indiana: Indian Muffler Man (Gone)

I read the 6/8/21 tip about the camp taking down the Indian Muffler Man, so I called them to seek further info. I was told that it was decided to remove the statue due to cultural sensitivities (My interpretation, not necessarily the exact words used by the camp person I spoke to). She said that the statue was not sold or otherwise moved, rather it had been disassembled. I did not get any indication that they would entertain a potential buyer, but if there is interest, call them to get a fuller story on his fate. I'm grateful we were able to see him last summer!

He is now gone. I don't know what Camp Tecumseh did with him, but they took him down.

The address works in the GPS but the cell reception was poor. There are plenty of signs to follow to the YMCA camp (which looks like a blast).

I was able to have a nice chat recently with Kyle Linback of Camp Tecumseh, who shared with me a bit more of their Indian Muffler Man's history.

In the early 1970s, the Indian stood at a closed car dealership in Gary, Indiana. Joe Popp of Hobart spotted it and knew immediately that the Indian belonged at Camp Tecumseh. He contacted the owner who told him that the giant had just been sold for $500, but that didn't slow Joe down. He found the new owner and somehow convinced the man to sell it to him for the same price.

He then talked to his friends at Hobart YMCA Indian Guide Nation about his dream of getting the Indian to Camp Tecumseh, and raised all the money to pay for it in one afternoon. Joe then contacted the Marine Corps Reserve Engineer Battalion and they agreed to help transport the Indian to the camp. In May 1973 the Muffler Man was delivered by military trucks to its current location, and the Marine Unit won a National Community Service Award for its help in transportation and setting it up.

The Indian still stands at the camp today, 41 years later.

I submitted a picture of a Muffler Man Indian sighting way back on 08/14/2004, my then 5 year old stood between his legs. This summer I am happy to report the sighting of another MM brave in Brookston, Indiana. Unfortunately he is too high up off the ground to stand by. He is at a YMCA camp "Camp Tecumseh." My now 9 year old spent a week there this June. It is a great camp complete with inspirational signs nailed to the trees as you come and go.