RT66:IL - Wilmington's Gemini Giant Traditional Cache

If you are entering the town of Wilmington from the northeast on IL Rt. 53 (Old Route 66) you will suddenly be confronted by The Gemini Giant, named after the NASA space program, and descended from the original mold of Paul Bunyan fiberglass figures made during the 1960's by International Fiberglass in California. The Bunyan giant was modified to become a spaceman and bought by The Launching Pad in Wilmington. So instead of wielding a giant axe, it was given a rocket to hold in its hands, and a space helmet over the face. Legions of similar imposing figures sprang up along two lane highways across the country, promoting businesses from restaurants to automotive shops (predominantly muffler shops), hence the giant figures were eventually nick-named the "Muffler Men". Production lasted only for about a decade, so their numbers are slowly disappearing from the highways and byways. This one has been here for about fifty years, but the restaurant has recently shut down. So for the time being the giant is no longer slowing down traffic to encourage one to come in for a burger or a shake. But it still beckons travelers along the old Mother Road to stop and take a nostalgic photo or two... and maybe to log a geocache.

There's not a whole lot of these giant fiberglass figures remaining along old Route 66. But you won't have to go far to see the next one. It's just down the street at N 41° 18.508 W 088° 08.728, an old Sinclair Dinosaur. You will also find both of these giants listed on the Waymarking website.