For those of you who follow along on the silliness I post from the road at the Retro Roadmap Facebook page, you’ll know that I ran into this tall drink of water this weekend. Say howdy to the Cowboy of Cowtown NJ!
I haven’t been to the rodeo proper at Cowtown, but it’s a family owned and operated rodeo show that started in 1929, and gets my thumbs up for bringing a bit of western charm to the southern portion of New Jersey. And perhaps for inspiring the beginning of this little ditty which was stuck in my head all day.
(Don’t be fooled by the “Farmers Market” sign however, as I only saw a farmer or two hawking veggies. Instead there were all sorts of low quality mass produced imported goods, not really worth the time it would take to walk through. Just thought I’d let you know!)
According to Roadgoddess Debra Jane Seltzers invaluable Roadside Architecture website, this gent has been guarding the entrance to Cowtown since 1975.
And while he’s a Cowboy, he’s also part of a select species of roadside giants known as Muffler Men.
My giant cowboy hat is doffed to another one of my fave road trip resource, the legendary Roadside America website and their unparalleled Muffler Man resource page . Here you can learn all you ever wanted to know, and more – about these “fiberglass titans” – and all sorts of other roadside oddities that liven up any retro roadtrip!
But what’s a cowboy, without a cow? Never fear, there’s also a giant cow statue on site – just out of roping distance – git along little doggie!
So if you’re looking to start a collection of photos posing in front of these guardians of the guardrail, head to Cowtown and say Howdy.
And if you want to be in with the in-crowd, why not mosey over to the Retro Roadmap Facebook page and press LIKE?
Cowtown Rodeo Muffler Man
780 U.S. 40
Pilesgrove, NJ 08098
(856) 769-3200
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