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Other International Fiberglass Statues (page 6)

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These 15-foot-tall Pioneer statues were originally produced for Wagon Ho! restaurants. The fast-food chain was established in Birmingham in 1968. The company apparently moved its headquarters to St. Petersburg, FL later that year. There were plans to build 51 restaurants by mid-1969 and another 200 units by the end of 1970. However, the company quickly ran into financial trouble and I believe there were only about five locations built in Florida, the one in Birmingham, AL, and a few others in the Vancouver, BC area. By 1970, the company had folded. In 1976, there was still a location operating as Jim Boast Dodge in Bradenton, FL. However, none of these covered wagon buildings still exist in any recognizable form.

All of these locations featured covered wagon style buildings with these statues seated in front. Wagon Ho! called the character the Wagon Master. The statues may have been modeled after the Western movie star George "Gabby" Hayes. Contrary to many on-line accounts, these statues did not hold anything in their hands originally or while they were used by Wagon-Ho! There are only seven statues known to still exist (see below). These International Fiberglass photos are courtesy of Terry Nelson: 1, 2, and 3.

Pioneer
Moody, AL (now Hayward, CA)

2007:
2020:
This Pioneer statue came from the Wagon Ho! location in Birmingham. When that location closed, the statue was moved to a Mexican restaurant. It stood in front of Cherry Construction for many years. These photos are from 2007. In 2017, the statue was sold to Bruce Kennedy. It is now displayed at his business, Bell Plastics, with many other International Fiberglass statues. [map]

Pioneer
Surrey, BC		 Pioneer [gone]
Pinellas Park, FL		 Pioneer
Zephyrhills, FL
This Pioneer statue in Surrey was originally located at a Wagon Ho! in Surrey which opened in 1969. It wasn't open long. There were a few other locations in the Vancouver area. This statue is now located on private property. [map]

This Pioneer statue in Pinellas Park was originally installed at the Wagon Ho! in South Pasadena, FL. In 1975, the statue was sold to Gulf Golf in Treasure Island, FL. At that point, the statue was transformed into a pirate known as "Sneaky Pete." The mini golf closed in 2005 and the statue was sold for $3,000. It was moved to the First Security used car lot in Pinellas Park, FL. It was still there in 2011 when the property was put up for sale. It was gone by 2017. [photo thanks Robby Delius]

This Pioneer statue in Zephyrhills is installed at Baker Acres RV Resort. He was found on the property by the new owners in 2016. The statue was restored and installed in 2019. A chair was created for him at that time. It's possible that this statue is the same one that was in Pinellas Park. [map]

Pioneer
Gravois Mills, MO
This Pioneer is installed at the entrance to the Bass Point Resort. It has been there since at least 2014. It was likely installed earlier at Frontier City's Chuckwagon Restaurant in Laurie, MO. [map]

Pioneer
Rainsville, AL
This Pioneer was purchased at a flea market in Florida around 2005 by the owner of the Barter Post furniture store. It was installed on the roof of the store around 2012. Around 2018, the store moved to a new location and the statue was brought along. The store closed in 2025 but the statue remains. [map]

There are two other known seated Pioneer statues in Quesnel, BC and at a wedding venue in Lakeland, FL.

The Pioneer statues shown below appear to be a standing version of the ones that were produced for Wagon Ho! restaurants. I have read that the Pioneer statues were created by Unique Fiberglass Figures which was located in Rocky Mount, NC. However, I have seen photos and convincing promotional material that International Fiberglass was the originator of these statues. Perhaps Unique Fiberglass Figures copied the statues or acquired a mold and created the standing version. Unique Fiberglass Figures, later known as Fiberglass Figures, called their Pioneer statue "The Big Man". According to one source, the last seated version was made in 1980 and that mold was then broken. It's also unknown if the standing version of these statues held anything in its hands. I have also read that Unique Fiberglass Figures used the standing Pioneer mold to create a pirate statue for an Outer Banks restaurant. I don't know if this is the same statue that was located at Forbes Carpet Golf in Nags Head, NC which is now in a private collection in Kill Devil Hills, NC.

Pioneer
Linwood, NC
Pioneer [for sale]
Hillsborough, NC
Pioneer
Edneyville, NC
 Pioneer [gone]
Roanoke Rapids, NC
Pioneer
Pigeon Forge, TN (now Wytheville, VA)
I believe there are only four standing versions of the Pioneer models still on public display. There are at least two others in private collections. There was one at Funway Amusement Park in Fort Walton, FL but I don't know what happened to that statue or if it is one of these. In addition to the three shown above, there is one at Pirate Land Camping Resort at the mini golf in Myrtle Beach, SC.

The Pioneer in Linwood is installed at Bill's Truck Stop. The statue is called "Billy Bob." It has been strapped to poles to keep him upright ever since Hurricane Hugo in 1989. [map]

The Pioneer in Hillsborough was originally installed in Virginia. In the 1970s, it was moved to Daniel Boone Country (later Daniel Boone Village) which was a complex of antique shops and tourist attractions. The statue was known as Daniel Boone. In 2022, the statue was moved to a private collection in Four Oaks, NC. In 2024, the statue was put up for sale again.

This Pioneer statue in Edneyville is located just a mile or so east of Bub Hyder's Ranch.

This Pioneer statue in Roanoke Rapids stood on the roof of Elmo Garner Jewelers in town until around 1989. He was then moved to the Roanoke Valley Sudan Shriners' Club. An oil drum was added to his hat to simulate a fez. The statue was repainted around 2008. It was gone by 2019. For more, see this website.

The Pioneer statue in Pigeon Forge had been accessorized with a knife and the remains of a sword. The statue was located at the long-closed Bunnyland miniature golf course. The statue was removed around 2016. This statue is now located at Deer Trail Park & Campground in Wytheville, VA. He now holds a flag instead of the sword but he still has the knife attached to his belt. For more, see this website. [photos thanks Joel Baker]

More International Fiberglass Statues:
Ali Baba: 1, 2 (Los Angeles, CA) [gone]
Uncle Sam statues (Ottawa Lake, MI & Lake George, NY)
Jesse James (for Jesse James Territory in Sullivan, MO): 1, 2, 3 (private collection; Cuba, MO) [photos thanks Terry Nelson]
A&W Burger Family (various locations)
Bugle Boy (location unknown) [photo thanks Terry Nelson]

John Cerney mural tribute (Calumet, OK)

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