Big Things in Muncie, Indiana
Click on a picture to embiggen. All photos copyright, Steph Mineart. Not to be used without permission.
Muncie, Indiana has an unusually large number of "Big Things" for a relatively small town. I went to Ball State University in Muncie, so I remembered a lot of these, and took a trip in February, 2001 to try to get them all photographed. It took me a while to find some of them, and in the process, I stumbled across a few I didn't even remember from my college days.
Big Things I still need to Get In Muncie:
- Giant Tin Man at a Junkyard/Car Parts Place - Valarie tells me he's located at Kilgore Ave. at the corner at 1st St.
- Flat Truck - on Centennial Ave near the train tracks
The body of a truck where it was just the two side panels of the truck welded together; when you were driving up to it, it looked like a parked truck, but as you drove by, you realized it was skinny. - Statue of Larry Bird at Oasis Bar - I guess he's a classic Muncie icon, but he's in rough shape.
Big Jack of Jack Smith and Son RV Sales & Service
Big Jack is located off of I-69 at the 332 Exit to Muncie. He's a brother to Mr. Bendo and qualifies as a true "Muffler Man" according to roadsideamerica.com.
Mr. Lumberjack of Timber's Bar
Mr. Lumberjack used to be outside a lumberyard, but now he stands guard at Timbers Bar where Tillotson meets I-32 in Muncie.
Corey the Car Salesman of of Pam Reason Car Sales
Corey is located on 25th Street on Muncie just of of South Madison. He's not an original "Muffler Man", but he's a big guy, and similar. He had just be installed at the Car lot when I visited. There are several guys in the style of Corey around central Indiana, including one in Connersville, Indiana.
Oldest McDonalds Sign
One of the oldest McDonalds signs in the country.
Giant Frog of Carpet and Tile Place
located on Granville road; this frog's cute but looking a bit old.
Purple Hippo of Pet Center
located on east McGalliard near the mall.
Giant Indian Statue
Big Jesus Statue
It doesn't look that big in this photo, but it is; it's probably 12 feet tall.
Flying Uniform Delivery Van of Cintas Uniform Company
On South Madison street, this van is way up in the air, but the wheels turn as though it's driving.
FYI - From Muncie, Indiana
The McDonalds' sign in Muncie is now, indeed, the oldest in the nation for the hamburger chain. The next to the last sign was located in Huntsville, Alabama until April 25, 2008 when it was relocated to the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Unfortunately, the Larry Bird statue is no longer standing....only the shoes remain. The weather finally took its toll.
You should return during the Christmas season when the lumberjack is dressed like Santa and then you would have a picture of a Big Santa, also santa is driving the Cintas van during the season. People in Muncie like to dress up their advertising props for Christmas.
frog on granville is gone now as well ... removed when they remodeled the business and they tried to preserve it but it fell apart; larry bird at oasis gone; there is a NEW big fish outside captain d's on mcgalliard; do you need a pic of the tin guy and the truck? the flat truck has been moved and seemingly abandoned near where the tin man is located. would be happy to provide footage unless the capture is part of the fun!