Hatch, New Mexico: Muffler Man: Soda Jerk
Fiberglass statue with ice cream cone and hamburger. Former resident of Mark Cline's studio in Natural Bridge, Virginia? We can't be sure. The jerk was MIA for a number of years.
Franciscan RV
- Address:
- 661 N. Franklin St., Hatch, NM
- Directions:
- Franciscan RV. I-25 exit 41, head south towards town on Hwy 26/Franklin St. RV dealership on right. Ask the RV dealer for permission to walk into the back lot where this Muffler Man is located in the open garage.
- Hours:
- M-Sa 8:30-5 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 575-267-1508
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Visitor Tips and News About Muffler Man: Soda Jerk
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Appears to be a Soda Fountain man, holding soft serve in his right hand and a burger in his left. It's in an open garage area at the back of Franciscan RV.
[Diane, 08/04/2019]
Stopped by Hatch to see the Muffler Man at the RV sales lot. I walked around taking pictures of the other fiberglass objects on the lot, including members of the A&W family, as well as Yogi Bear and Ronald McDonald. I stepped inside to read the framed newspaper articles about the giants and told the lady I had come to see the muffler man, and she said "Oh yeah, we have another one out back."
That's when I discovered their soda jerk. Looks like this may be one of Mark Cline's creations, as its white shirt and white pants match a picture of two soda jerks with Mark. Sadly no one was around that day that knew more about him or where he came from. He's not out front but in one of their buildings so you may need to ask permission to see him.
[Joel Baker, 01/13/2012]
We started tracking this Muffler Man abomination when he was selling ice cream in Roanoke. Next, he moved to an outdoor venue in Natural Bridge. Now he is a fixture inside Mark Cline's Enchanted Castle Studios. It's impossible to know what Mark has in store for him...
[Roadsideamerica.com Team, 06/27/2004]
This, I believe, is another Muffler Man. He is standing outside an ice cream stand called THAT'S IT on highway 11 just north of Natural Bridge and beside the Natural Bridge Zoo. His right hand appears to have been rotated upwards to allow him to hold an ice cream cone. But it does appear that some work has been done on the right forearm. Having just read the Smithsonian article last night, our family was excited to run across two Muffler Men in Roanoke and Natural Bridge.
[Bruce Coston, 09/30/2000]This appears to be the missing ice cream mutant from Roanoke...
I was feeling lost and alone in Roanoke, VA. I had been scouting unsuccessfully for locations for a movie when suddenly I looked up to see this handsome fellow -- his square jaw, masculine physique and gentle demeanor immediately lifted my spirits. I have kept his picture close by ever since." This "handsome" fellow is located about two blocks from the Farmers Market and Center in the Square in downtown Roanoke.
[Mary Nelson,Virginia Film Office, 03/08/1998]The Diner where he stood was reported closed in 1999. He has since been taken into the care of the Enchanted Castle Studio in Natural Bridge, Virginia.
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The ice cream cone is different, the left hand reworked and the hamburger new, but we're going to designate this as the one seen in Cline's studio in Virginia until told otherwise!