The proprietors bought a 438-pound fiberglass Muffler Man figure for $3,500 at the annual National Restaurant Association convention.

[10] Seeking to capitalize on America's fascination with the Space Race, they rebranded the restaurant as the "Launching Pad" and had the statue outfitted as an astronaut with helmet and rocket.

A naming contest was held at the local grade school to give the statue a new moniker, and Cathy Thomas's suggestion of "Gemini Giant" was selected as the winner.

[11] Since then, the Giant has become famous iconography of Route 66, often appearing national and international media alongside stories about the Mother Road.

[14] In 2007, Morey Szczecin purchased the Launching Pad and Gemini Giant from Sharon and her husband Jerry Gatties, marking the first time the restaurant and statue were owned by an individual outside of the founding family.

[15] The property would remain vacant until late 2017,[17] when the building, contents, and statue were purchased by the Gemini Giant LLC for a combined $300,000.

The museum is retaining ownership of the Gemini Giant and entered into two year loan agreement with Wilmington, ending on March 20, 2026.

[30] The application was initially refused due to the likelihood of confusion with the prior registered trademark granted to the Launch Pad Brewery located in Colorado.