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Bunyon's Hot Dog Statue

Arch St., Atlanta, IL
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After standing on the roof and later in front of Bunyon's Restaurant in Cicero IL for many years, the giant 19 foot tall Bunyon's Hot Dog statue moved to Atlanta where he stands on Arch St. across from the Palms Grill Cafe. He arrived in Atlanta on loan and has been charming visitors here since shortly after Bunyon's closed in the early 2000' after about 40 years.

So the giant Muffler Man has been staring down at the even more giant hot dog for decades without taking a single bite! Apparently he never actually gets hungry or he has an enormous amount of self control. On the other hand he may be simply trying to figure out where to take that first bite.

Standing outside in all kinds of weather for decades in just a pair of jeans and a short sleeve shirt takes it's toll on a guy. So in the true spirit of Route 66 enthusiasts everywhere a group of volunteers from near and far organized by the IL Route 66 Association converged on the statue in 2012 to do a little repainting and restoration and they did a great job!

The sign in the background for Palm's was was designed by Steve Estes and painted in June 2003 as part of the "LetterRip" on Route 66 in Atlanta.

Ring the Bell! Have you ever tried to "Ring the Bell" at a county fair or traveling carnival where these type of attractions were common, but waited too long only to find out the carnival had packed up and left town? Well here's your chance!

Atlanta has installed a "Hit the Road"version of the game next to the Bunyon's Hot Dog statue across the street from the Palms Grill Cafe. The players success is measure by how far he or she "travels" along the Mother Road as determined by which Route 66 town the steel game piece reaches on the map painted on the backdrop. If it gets to Los Angeles, it rings a bell.

Photo(s): 2012