The Iowa 80 Truckstop is proud to be celebrating 60 years of serving truckers and travelers along Interstate 80. Iowa 80 currently serves 5,000 customers per day and has parking spaces for 900 tractor-trailers, 250 cars and 20 buses. Each year in July, the Iowa 80 hosts the Walcott Truckers Jamboree, a 3-day event dedicated to Celebrating America’s Truckers. Last year attendance hit a record 44,000 people. “Without truck drivers doing the job they do, our economy wouldn’t function. We appreciate their hard work and the Walcott Truckers Jamboree is our way of saying Thank You,” says Meier.
Over the years drivers have seen a lot of changes in truckstops and the amenities they offer. For drivers Iowa 80 TA Truckstop has been a home away from home and they’ve watched it transform 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 changed, their friendly service and commitment to truckers has remained the same. Iowa 80 is always focused on serving the professional driver better.
The Iowa 80 TA Truckstop is part of the Iowa 80 Group that also owns Joplin 44 Petro, Joplin, Missouri; Kenly 95 Petro, Kenly, North Carolina; Effingham Chrome Shop, Effingham, Illinois; Truckomats in: N. Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Walcott, Iowa; Joplin, Missouri, Oak Grove, Missouri; Kenly, North Carolina; Hebron, Ohio; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; CAT Scale Company, the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum and the IOWA80.COM mail-order trucking accessories catalog and e-commerce web site.
1964 — Today
Celebrating 60 years of Serving America!
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1964
Iowa 80 Truckstop, Exit 284 in 1964
Location Location Location Meets Innovation and Hard Work
Fueled by the dream of entrepreneurship, Bill and his wife Carolyn moved their young family to Walcott, Iowa, with an unwavering commitment to their truckstop venture. Those formative years saw the birth of the Truckomat truck wash and the inception of the world-renowned Walcott Trucker’s Jamboree. In the early years, there was only a one-bay service area, full-service fuel pumps with fuel “jockeys”, a communal shower, a sleeping room with multiple cots (and a lot of snoring!), and a car and truck wrecker service operating 24 hours a day. The location helped the business to grow—Bill called it “The Perfect Spot”—but it has been a combination of commitment, innovation, hard work, the greatest staff in the world with the greatest customers in the world that has made Iowa 80 Truckstop what it is today.
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1960s
Iowa 80 Service Fleet
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Late 1960s
Moon Family, late 1960s
As their three children, Will, Delia, and Jill, grew, so did the Iowa 80 Truckstop. Truckers became part of the extended Moon family, and the Iowa 80 evolved to meet their needs. The 20th anniversary marked a pivotal moment when Bill and Carolyn Moon, with tenacity and support from friends, acquired Iowa 80 from Standard Oil.
The subsequent two decades, from 1984 to 2004, witnessed a period of growth and change. The whole ownership of the truckstop allowed Iowa 80 to expand the trucker’s store, expand the restaurant, provide individual showers, and increase their parking areas. They also added amenities like a movie theater, arcade, and addition of fax machines revolutionized permit processing, providing a lifeline for truckers in an era before internet access.
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1979
The first Walcott Truckers Jamboree
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1983
The Walcott Truckers Jamboree
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1984
Iowa 80 Truckstop’s remodel
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1980s
Our Truckomat Truck Wash and Jiffy Shop Fuel Center
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1985
Trucks line the Exit 284 ramp to get into the 1985 Walcott Truckers Jamboree
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1987
The Iowa 80 Kitchen could seat 150 people and was located at the west end of the building.
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1992
Iowa 80 Truckstop after an expansion and remodel was complete. More store space was added and a skylight!
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1992
Leadership Change: Navigating Challenges
In 1992, Iowa 80 faced a somber moment with Bill Moon’s passing at the age of 59. His son, Will, took the helm with the blessing of his parents, and under his leadership, Iowa 80 continued to thrive. Carolyn Moon, the force behind the cutting-edge computing capabilities at Iowa 80, remained active until her passing in 2017. She will be remembered for her sharp mind, love for the truckstop, and warm smile that defined her.
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1994
The Iowa 80 Truckstop started their journey to be a destination for travelers and truckers alike. After moving all the diesel fuel pumps, rebuilding the Truckomat of Walcott, and building a new 4-bay service center, the Iowa 80 Truckstop was able to begin remodeling the main building. They started building the trucker superstore, which was 10,000 square feet with 25-foot-tall ceilings.
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1994
Iowa 80 Kitchen first moved to new building
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1997
Iowa 80 Catalog added so drivers could call-in orders.
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1990s
Iowa 80 Truckstop in the 1990s
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1990s
The Trucker's Store is expanded to 18,000 square Feet. Drivers are amazed that there are more than 50,000 different items to browse!
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1990s
Iowa 80 Food Court in the late 1990s
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2003
Iowa 80 Truckstop rebuilds diesel islands and builds the Fuel Center
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2004
Service Center expands to 7 Bays!
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2006
The Super Truck Showroom was added at Iowa 80 Truckstop. It houses more than 30,000 square feet of chrome, stainless, lights and other trucking accessories to browse!
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2014
Carolyn Moon, Delia Moon Meier, and Will Moon at the 50th Anniversary of the Iowa 80 Truckstop
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2015
A beacon in the night. People say you can see the lights of Iowa 80 from miles away
Iowa 80 currently serves 5,000 customers per day and has parking spaces for 900 tractor-trailers, 250 cars and 20 buses. Each year in July, the Iowa 80 hosts the Walcott Truckers Jamboree, a 3-day event dedicated to Celebrating America’s Truckers.
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2023
The Jamboree is a Way to Say Thank You!
Central to its identity is the famous Walcott Truckers Jamboree, growing from a modest gathering to a three-day extravaganza celebrating truck drivers. Delia emphasizes, “Without truck drivers doing the job they do, our economy wouldn’t function. We appreciate their hard work, and the Walcott Truckers Jamboree is our way of saying thank you.”
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2023
Super Truck Beauty Contest entry for the Walcott Truckers Jamboree
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2024
Iowa 80 Truckstop
Founding Years (1964-1984): Shaping the Legacy
In 1964, as “Mary Poppins” graced the silver screen and “Bonanza” and “Bewitched” entertained American families on TV, Iowa 80 Truckstop’s founder, Bill Moon, was shaping a legacy that would transform the truck stop industry. The Moon family’s odyssey with Iowa 80 Truckstop began before the completion of Interstate 80, with Bill Moon selecting the site at what is now Exit 284 while working for Standard Oil.
Transitioning to the 21st Century (1984-2004): The Freedom to Grow
As their three children, Will, Delia, and Jill, grew, so did the Iowa 80 Truckstop. Truckers became part of the extended Moon family, and the Iowa 80 evolved to meet their needs. The 20th anniversary marked a pivotal moment when Bill and Carolyn Moon, with tenacity and support from friends, acquired Iowa 80 from Standard Oil.
The subsequent two decades, from 1984 to 2004, witnessed a period of growth and change. The whole ownership of the truckstop allowed Iowa 80 to expand the trucker’s store, expand the restaurant, provide individual showers, and increase their parking areas. They also added amenities like a movie theater, arcade, and addition of fax machines revolutionized permit processing, providing a lifeline for truckers in an era before internet access.
60th Anniversary (2004-2024): Beyond the Founders Imaginations The Freedom to Grow
Changing, Improving, Growing, Serving
The years between 2004 and 2024 witnessed unprecedented expansions and remodels, transforming the Iowa 80 beyond its founder’s dreams. From a roadside cafe to a 300-seat restaurant with a massive buffet, the Iowa 80 Kitchen is a cornerstone. The truckers’ store evolved into a full-fledged catalog and an internet site, serving truckers 24/7.
Today, Iowa 80 is a sprawling hub of services, featuring a dentist’s office, chiropractor, workout room, laundry facilities, movie theater, and a food court with renowned brands like Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, Orange Julius, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Caribou Coffee & Einstein Bros. Bagels. With parking spaces for 900 tractor-trailers, 250 cars, and 20 buses, the Iowa 80 serves an average of 5,000 customers each day.
The Enduring Family Legacy
“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” resonates through Iowa 80’s journey. The second and third generations of leadership continue the tradition of creating a home away from home for truckers, ensuring that amidst the changes, the truckstop’s friendly service and commitment endure.
As Iowa 80 looks ahead to the next 20 years, the Moon family and their dedicated team are poised to continue celebrating friendships, upholding traditions, honoring the commitment to professional drivers, and making their parents and grandparents proud. With gratitude for the past and a vision for the future, the Iowa 80 Truckstop will remain an iconic destination on the great American highway.
