Los Angeles Roadside Oddity

Chicken Boy: The Towering Man-Chicken Mascot of Route 66

Los Angeles, California, United States

By the Wicked Cool Places editors · Published Fri, Aug 28, 2026

Why it’s cool

This 22-foot-tall fiberglass hybrid is a rescued relic of mid-century roadside culture. Often called the Statue of Liberty of Los Angeles, the man-chicken mascot serves as a whimsical guardian of the historic Route 66.

West Coast Hidden Gem

A tall fiberglass statue of a man with a chicken head holding a yellow bucket atop a restaurant roof.

High above the pavement of North Figueroa Street, a bizarre sentinel keeps watch over the passing traffic. This is Chicken Boy, a 22-foot-tall fiberglass figure that combines the muscular physique of a man with the head of a giant rooster.

The city also features other examples of programmatic architecture like the Idle Hour. Clutched in his hands is a bright yellow bucket, a permanent reminder of his former life as a fast-food mascot.

While he may look like a strange fever dream, he is actually a cherished piece of California roadside history.

Why It Stands Out

The story of this avian hybrid begins with the Muffler Men, a series of oversized fiberglass statues that once lined the highways of America to grab the attention of motorists. Originally designed as a Paul Bunyan figure, this specific statue was customized to promote a fried chicken restaurant in downtown Los Angeles.

When the eatery shut its doors in 1984, the future of the man-chicken seemed bleak. He faced the very real possibility of being destroyed or sold for parts.

Local artist Amy Inouye stepped in to save the figure, recognizing its value as a piece of folk art. A similar commitment to preservation can be found at the Heritage Square Museum.

She spent years lobbying for its preservation and eventually took ownership of the massive sculpture. For two decades, the disassembled hero waited in storage, lacking a permanent place to stand.

It was not until 2007 that a successful fundraising effort and a team of volunteers helped hoist the towering sculpture onto the roof of the Future Studio Gallery. This location is particularly fitting because it sits along a historic stretch of Route 66, the same legendary highway where many of his fiberglass cousins once stood.

Before You Go

You can find Chicken Boy perched on top of the Future Studio Gallery in the Highland Park area. The neighborhood is also home to Galco's Soda Pop Stop.

While he is visible from the street at any time, fans of the statue often gather on September 1 to celebrate his official birthday. The figure has become such a local icon that he is frequently referred to as the Los Angeles version of the Statue of Liberty.

He remains a testament to the community's dedication to preserving the weird and wonderful elements of the city's past.

Questions worth answering

What exactly am I looking at on North Figueroa Street?

You'll see a twenty-two foot tall fiberglass figure with a rooster head and a muscular human body. He holds a yellow bucket to mark his past life as a restaurant advertisement.

How did this statue end up on a roof in Highland Park?

An artist named Amy Inouye rescued the piece when the original eatery closed in 1984. After twenty years in storage, it was moved to the Future Studio Gallery roof in 2007.

Is there a specific time of year to visit?

The statue is visible from the sidewalk whenever you like. If you want a crowd, show up on September 1 to celebrate his birthday with other fans.

Why is this fiberglass bird considered a local landmark?

He's a rare survivor from the era of Muffler Men statues that once lined American highways. Locals call him the Statue of Liberty for Los Angeles because he guards this stretch of Route 66.

Visit Snapshot

Chicken Boy is located on the roof of the Future Studio Gallery on North Figueroa Street. The statue is visible from the sidewalk at all times.

If you want to join the local festivities, visit on September 1 to celebrate the statue's official birthday.

Location

Los Angeles, California

Editorial source

Chicken Boy

Standing sentinel over the City of Angels is a feathery guardian whose precious yellow bucket is always at the ready whenever visitors look up in search of an oddity. This hero's name is Chicken Boy.

Part man, part chicken, the 22-foot-tall fiberglass figure stands atop the Future Studio Gallery located along a stretch of Route 66. The amalgamated mascot was originally one of the once-ubiquitous Muffler Men, a group of notable customized statues which populated the famed Mother Road, but it was modified to advertise a fried chicken restaurant that shared his name.

Once the restaurant closed in 1984, the avian hybrid's future was uncertain, but thanks to the efforts of local artist Amy Inouye, a woman who had long admired the whimsical chimera, the fiberglass figure was saved from the scrapheap. After much lobbying and an attempt to have the figure entered into a museum, Inouye was finally granted custody, and the homeless Chicken Boy was placed in storage, awaiting a new home.

Unfortunately, a suitable place was not found for some two decades. In 2007, Chicken Boy's long dark tale ended when he was placed in his current location with the help of volunteers and donations.

Today, he is still a celebrated piece of L.A. strangeness that is beloved by many. In fact, September 1 has even been declared to be his birthday–just in case anyone wants to throw him a party.