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How did you and your family create the "World's Largest Truckstop"?
Delia Meier: "In 1963, my dad, Bill Moon, was working for Amoco, helping them pick sites for truckstops. Interstate 80 near Walcott, Iowa was still under construction, but Dad believed this location would be 'the perfect spot.'
"Amoco built a truckstop here in 1964, but the business grew to be too much for the original operators, and they wanted to get out.
"Dad talked Amoco into leasing Iowa 80 to him in 1965 and our family has been running it ever since."
Your annual Jamboree is probably the world's largest "trucker appreciation day." How did it come about?
"Dad came up with that idea late in the 70s. Truckers are our most important customers. While a lot of travel centers along the interstates try to cater to every kind of traveler, we've always focused on truckers. And they've treated us very well in return.
"So, Dad thought we should say 'Thank you.' We held our first Jamboree in 1979 and we've done it every year since then."
How many people come through during those two days in July?
"It's impossible to count exactly, because there is no admission charge or tickets, but we estimate the crowd at about 30,000."
That's nearly half the size of the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville!
"Yes, but our show is mostly for fun and mostly to thank our customers, America's truckers. It's a lot of work and expense for us, but we believe it pays off.
"We've grown to be America's biggest truckstop and we continue to grow every year. Truckers like coming here, stopping here, staying overnight here. We believe that's because we treat them like members of our family.
"The Jamboree is a milestone for us. Every year, it seems, is divided into the things we need to get done in time for the Jamboree, and the things we can't start on until after the Jamboree is over.
"We try to make each Jamboree better than the last. Because that's what our customers deserve." |
