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Big Chief – Giant Cigar Store Indian in Oak Lawn, Illinois

The giant cigar store Indian outside of Cardinal Liquor Barn in Oak Lawn, Illinois is known by locals as “Big Chief.” And, he’s kind of a big deal.

The Indian was built by a company called Creative Display in the 1970s. It was originally constructed as an attraction for a cigar store in nearby Chicago Ridge but moved to it’s current locale in 1998. The landmark statue is so cherished by the city that a depiction of it is painted on their water tower.

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

Standing at twenty to thirty feet tall, this Illinois roadside attraction very well might be the world’s largest cigar store Indian. If not, it is definitely the most beloved. So much so that in 2015 this guy got a fresh coat of paint to restore him to his former glory in hopes of many years of serving as a tourist attraction to come.

Big Chief - Giant Cigar Store Indian in Oak Lawn, Illinois

Big Chief - Giant Cigar Store Indian in Oak Lawn, Illinois

Big Chief - Giant Cigar Store Indian in Oak Lawn, Illinois

We visited this roadside attraction on a road trip around Chicago, along with no-gone classics like the Mr. Bendo Muffler Man and The Spindle.

Site: Big Chief, Giant Cigar Store Indian
Address: 9630 SW Hwy, Oak Lawn, IL 60453
Hours: Always Visible
Cost: Free to See

VALerie BROMANN

Founder & Head Road Tripper

Val is the founder and head road tripper at Silly America. Having grown up near Berwyn's famed car kabob, The Spindle, and a restaurant with a cow on its roof, her fascination with roadside attractions started early. Today, Val has visited hundreds roadside attractions across the United States and is constantly on the lookout for the next BIG thing!

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.