Feature

story by Lake Media staff

The return of the Snerd

The Ozark Snerd or Hillbilly has come back home to Lake of the Ozarks. According to American Giants, the company that refurbishes aging Muffler Men, he is now fully restored and ready to be set back up. Summer USA, the owners of the giant, are still working out the details of exactly where he will stand, so setup won’t happen till a bit later in the year.

“We are super happy with the way he turned out and glad he’s back home,” a spokesman for American Giants said in a Facebook post. “He’s going to look great standing across the street from the Chief once again.”

Lake Ozark acquired The Chief a few years ago, another Muffler Man refurbished by American Giants. It sits near the entrance to the former Two Bit Town.

RETURN TO GLORY

After months of restoration, and years in storage, the historic giant is headed back to where it stood for many years. Thanks to the efforts of the team at American Giants and the request of Summer USA owner Joe Page, the statue will soon be in place for future generations to enjoy. File photos

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Locals have a couple of names for it — the Country Bumpkin, the Hillbilly or the Ozark Halfwit — but American Giants cofounder Joel Baker said its real name, as indicated in the catalog listing it for sale in the 60s, is Mortimer Snerd. It was based on a ventriloquist dummy. In the 90s RoadsideAmerica.com called it the Happy Halfwit and that nickname stuck with some people.

These statues were originally sold as roadside attractions and advertising icons for businesses such as car dealerships. There are a number of varieties including the classic Paul Bunyan, pirates, cowboys, soldiers and other mascots.

The “snerd” was made in the mid-60s and brought to Bagnell Dam. It stood there until 2013 when it was taken down due to damage and placed into storage. Baker estimates there are maybe 20 snerds in Above: The Chief was restored and placed back on The Strip a few years ago. existence, about 180 complete fiberglass giants, and countless pieces and parts. He has seen full giants sell for $15,000-$20,000 unrestored.

Baker says they restore between 1-3 giants a year from their shop in Southern Illinois but this was their first snerd.

The Lake’s giant had a lot of damage to the boot area, he said. Fiberglass damage and holes had to be repaired or rebuilt, it was sanded down, and brought back to life with several fresh coats of paint.

The other Muffler Man was restored by American Giants after Iguana Watersports commissioned the work. In 2016 Chief Bagnell was restored and put back in its original location near the top of The Strip.

“I appreciate the business owners taking the effort of keeping them alive and restoring them,” Baker said. “I admire them for getting it back up for the community to enjoy it. It’s a big job, it’s a big restoration. It’s something so many people remember from its childhood.”

Keep up with the restoration and learn more about the process by going to American Giants on Facebook or www.usagiants.com.

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