Kenly 95 TA Truckstop

History

In November 2004, Iowa 80 Group purchased the TravelCenters of America in Kenly, North Carolina. It was renamed Kenly 95 TA Truckstop shortly thereafter and boasts a Country Pride Restaurant, Wendy's, Trucker's Store, 15 private showers, laundry facilities, movie theater, game room, award-winning TA Service Center, Fuel Center, CAT Scale and parking for 250 trucks.

When trucking was just a gleam in some of today's drivers' eyes and Interstate 80 was not yet completed, the Iowa 80 Truckstop was founded. In 1964, Standard Oil built and opened the truck stop, and in September 1965, Bill Moon took over management of the truckstop for Amoco. Like many of the truckstops in existence at the time, Iowa 80 was a small facility that only took up a fraction of what it does today, housing a small truckers store, one lube bay and a restaurant run by the Peel family.

Iowa 80 Truckstop - 1964

-Bill Moon

Under Mr. Moon's keen management, the truckstop began to grow and in 1984 Bill Moon purchased the truckstop from Amoco, that like the industry itself, has been a flurry of activity and expansion ever since. Now that it was theirs, the Moon family was able to remodel, update and expand the restaurant and truckers store. The shop bays were closed to build state of the art private showers and a driver's area, both of which were very rare in a truckstop at this time. In 1989, Iowa 80 added a new store probably most famous for, other than its chrome selection, the 1918 Oldsmobile hoisted above the cashier island.

Three years later, in 1992, Iowa 80 Truckstop expanded its fuel center and became a Truckstops of America franchisee. This move gave Iowa 80 the opportunity to associate with a nationally recognized name and at the same time maintain its independence. Truckstops of America would also serve as a connection to the trucking fleets that had grown over the years. And one year later, Iowa 80 opened its TA Service Center. Sadly, 1992 also marked the year that Mr. Bill Moon passed away, but his family is still operating the truckstop as he would have wanted -- focusing on the customer and you are sure to find someone from the Moon family on the grounds any given day.

First Expansion - 1992

Mr. Moon's focus on the customer is what sparked the beginning of the Walcott Truckers Jamboree in 1979. This huge driver appreciation event has evolved over the years and serves as an example for other truckstops and towns that hold such events. The Jamboree began as the Moon family's way of thanking their driver customers and continues to do so today as a celebration of the trucking industry with a pork chop cook-out, Super Truck Beauty Contest, Live Entertainment, exhibits and an antique truck display that is partially comprised of the Moon family collection. Many of the trucks are displayed year-round in the truckstop building and on the grounds. The place is a tribute to the trucking industry with antique trucks, pumps, toys and hundreds of photos displayed throughout.

With the completion of its $4 million expansion project in 1994, Iowa 80 TA Truckstop widened the gap as the largest truckstop in the world. The truckstop boasts the Iowa 80 Kitchen, it's new 300-seat restaurant with a 50-ft. salad bar, one-of-a-kind Truckers Warehouse Store, 24 private showers, Dolby Surround Sound® movie theater, Driver's Den, Game Room, Embroidery Center, Barber, Dentist, TA Service Center, Truckomat, CAT Scale, Fuel Center, Wendy's Restaurant and Dairy Queen in the Food Court and a Blimpie located in the Fuel Center. Iowa 80's most recent venture is in the mail order business. In 1997, the Iowa 80 Catalog was born. Drivers can now order everything they want from Iowa 80 Truckstop even if their schedule or route doesn't take them to Walcott.

Over the years professional drivers and travelers have seen a lot of changes in truckstops and the amenities they offer. For drivers Iowa 80 TA Truckstop has been a safe haven and they've watched it grow over the years like one of their own children from a small facility into the largest, most respected truckstop in the world. And each one of those drivers know that even though Iowa 80 has grown, their friendly service and commitment to truckers has remained unchanged. Iowa 80 is always focused on serving them better.

Iowa 80 Group owns Iowa 80 TA Truckstop, Walcott, Iowa; Joplin Petro, Joplin, Missouri; Oak Grove 70 Truckstop, Oak Grove, Missouri; Kenly 95 TA Truckstop, Kenly, North Carolina; Truckomats in: N. Little Rock, Arkansas; Temple, Georgia; South Holland, Illinois; Effingham, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Walcott, Iowa; Hebron, Ohio; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Laredo, Texas; CAT Scale Company and IOWA80.COM mail-order catalog and e-commerce web site.