Entry No. 32 — the Chicago file — filed under: roadside-oddity

Gemini Giant

A helmeted fiberglass astronaut cradling a rocket, the Gemini Giant is one of the original Space-Race-era 'Muffler Men' and a beloved Route 66 landmark. After the closure of the Launching Pad drive-in where he stood for decades, the giant was auctioned in 2024 for $275,000 and rescued, then reinstalled at the entrance to South Island Park in late 2024. A small Route 66 visitor shop called The Landing Pad opened nearby in 2025.

The move: Take a photo beneath the rocket-toting astronaut, then duck into the nearby Landing Pad shop for Route 66 kitsch before exploring South Island Park.

📍 Before you go Free to see anytime; the Landing Pad gift shop runs Thu-Mon noon-6pm, May-November. About 55 miles southwest of Chicago.

• 📍 Wilmington, IL
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 201 Bridge St, Wilmington, IL 60481

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-23