Stella Atom Uniroyal Gal

Tulsa’s Buck Atom Muffler Man might not be an original Route 66 roadside attraction, but since being installed in 2019 he has risen to the stars among his Mother Road peers. In fact, he’s so popular that he has attracted visitors from around the globe and now, his very own girlfriend. In June 2024 the Stella Atom Uniroyal Gal landed in Tulsa and has lassoed herself into his, along with every visiting traveler’s, hearts.

Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66 opened on Route 66 in 2018. The quirky souvenir shop is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma in a repurposed classic 1950’s PEMCO gas station. A year after opening the shop’s mascot, a space cowboy named Buck Atom, was brought to life in the most spectacular of ways: with a giant fiberglass Buck Atom Space Cowboy Muffler Man.

Buck instantly became a Route 66 icon, but the shop’s owner, Mary Beth Babcock, had even bigger plans for the space. She has been filling her Route 66 souvenir shop with more and more roadside attractions ever since, including Piggy Stardust (a fiberglass pig) and a Robots on 66 robot. She even bought the house next door, turned it into Buck’s Cosmic Crash Pad AirBNB and then converted it into an antique shop.

But one thing was notably missing from both her shop and all of Route 66: a Uniroyal Gal. While there are plenty of muffler MEN on Route 66, the Mother Road was desperate for a big strong woman…at least one of the fiberglass variety.

In 2023 Mary Beth hatched the idea to add another roadside attraction to her mix and conceptualized Stella Atom: a 19-foot custom-made space cowgirl Uniroyal Gal.

The Miss Uniroyal Gal is a particular type of roadside attraction. These giant women were originally created by International Fiberglass and are similar to their male Muffler Man counterparts, though, obviously female. It is said that the original sculptor modeled the design after Jackie Kennedy and they were made to interchangeably wear a bikini or a slightly more modest shirt and top.

While the Tulsa Uniroyal Gal is not an original, it is an “original.” The design was custom-made in 2024 by Mark Cline from Enchanted Castle Studios (who also created the custom muffler man, Buck Atom, who stands near her).

Every inch of the roadside attraction was designed to pay homage to Route 66, Tulsa, and Mary Beth’s family. The boots are painted with Oklahoma wildflowers and yellow Swallowtail butterflies to honor her late mother. Her red dress was inspired by a vintage Western dress. Her belt buckle is the Route 66 shield and a Tulsa flag is immortalized on her back. She even wears accessories by local artists, like a gigantic cuff make by Beverly Wissen of Genuine Oklahoma Souvenirs and a shooting-star-shooting ray gun made by Josh Waddell of 3 Bulls Upcycling.

Stella Atom was installed in Tulsa on June 28, 2024. Muffler men restorers (re)Giant brought Stella in to install in front of a thick crowd of locals and travelers who cheered when the final bolt fastened her into place. Later in the day a dedication was held with remarks from Renee McKenney (the president of Tulsa Regional Tourism), Rhys Martin (president of the Route 66 Association), Michael Wallace (journalist, historian, and voice of the Sherrif in Pixar’s Cars), and Mary Beth Babcock.

Buck flanks the east side of the converted 1950s PEMCO service station and now Stella flanks the west, bringing a giant dose of girl power to Tulsa and Route 66.

P.S. If you’re visiting the Stella Atom Uniroyal Gal in Tulsa, Oklahoma, look for our Silly America fundraising brick at her base!

Photos of Stella Atom Uniroyal Gal in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Photos of Stella Atom Space Cowgirl Install and Unveiling

I was lucky enough to visit Buck Atom’s on the day of Stella’s unveiling. It was a fun day watching her get motored in, stopping for up-close photos in front of Buck Atom, and being lifted in the air to install. Later in the day I watched the dedication ceremony and stayed for the fun party surrounding her arrival!

Plan Your Oklahoma Road Trip

Planning an Oklahoma road trip to visit Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios, the Stella Atom Uniroyal Gal, and all the best Route 66 attractions in Oklahoma? Plan your road trip with these road trip resources, road trip planning articles, and Route 66 road trip planners.

Roadside Attractions Near Stella Atom Uniroyal Gal