Iowa 80 facts for kids

Iowa 80 is known as the world's largest truck stop. It's located in Walcott, Iowa, right off Interstate 80. This huge place covers 220 acres, which is three times bigger than a normal truck stop. About 5,000 people visit Iowa 80 every day! It has a main building that's 67,000 square feet. There's parking for 900 trucks and 15 fuel pumps. It even has a special pump for diesel exhaust fluid. Around 450 people work at this amazing place. Iowa 80 is part of the TravelCenters of America chain.

The facility features separate entrances for truckers and regular commuters.

The Story of Iowa 80

Bill Moon started Iowa 80 in 1964. He was a manager for Standard Oil. He bought the land to build a truck stop along the new Interstate 80. This highway connects San Francisco to New York City. At first, Iowa 80 was a small white building. It had a store for truckers, one repair bay, and a restaurant.

Bill Moon took charge of the truck stop in September 1965. He later bought the land from the company in 1984. Bill Moon passed away in 1992. After that, Iowa 80 became a TravelCenters of America franchise. However, the Moon family still owns and runs it. The Iowa 80 Group also owns other truck stops. These include Joplin Petro in Missouri and Kenly 95 in North Carolina.

What You Can Find at Iowa 80

Outside the Main Building

Iowa 80 has a very large parking lot for trucks. It also has truck scales and many fueling stations. This is normal for a truck stop. There are fifteen fuel stations. These stations have nozzles on both sides. This lets trucks fill both tanks at the same time. Newer trucks need diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). So, the fuel island now has pumps for bulk DEF.

Iowa 80 also has a service center. Here, vehicles can get checked or repaired. They can also get oil changes or new tires. A small convenience store is right on the fuel island. You can even get your truck washed, including the engine! Iowa 80 also has chargers for electric cars. These include Tesla Super Chargers and ChargePoint stations.

CAT Scales for Trucks

CAT (Certified Automated Truck) scales were started by Bill Moon. He was the owner of Iowa 80. Now, CAT is the biggest truck scale network in the world. It has over 2,000 locations in the United States and Canada. There's even a special app called "Weigh My Truck." This app lets truckers get their weight info on their phone. They can also pay for it using the app.

Inside the Main Building

The showroom floor, featuring tricked-out 'show tractors' and a wall of lights.

The Trucker's Warehouse Store

The Iowa 80 building has a huge two-story showroom. It's 30,000 square feet. This is the biggest trucker's store in the country. Here, customers can buy many things. These include chrome parts for trucks, books, DVDs, and phone accessories. They can also find CB radio equipment, clothes, and cleaning supplies.

You can see custom-built show trucks inside. One even spins on a platform! A large wall, 20 by 40 feet, shows 500 bright truck lights. The store also has a shop for vinyl graphics. There's a custom T-shirt shop and an embroidery center too.

Places to Eat

Iowa 80 has many places to eat. These include Blimpie, Wendy's, Caribou Coffee, and Dairy Queen. You can also find Orange Julius, Taco Bell, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Pizza Hut. The Iowa 80 Kitchen offers 'home-cooked' meals. It also has a big salad bar. The Iowa 80 Kitchen serves a million cups of coffee each year. They also serve 90 tons of meat! The restaurant can seat 350 people. A banquet room adds space for 60 more.

Other Helpful Services

Iowa 80 has twenty-four private shower and toilet rooms. You can ask for these at the fuel pump. There's also a game room and a Driver's Den Lounge. The lounge has comfy leather chairs and a fireplace. It's a great place to relax.

Iowa 80 also has a business center. It has fax machines and work stations. You can find logbooks and trip report forms there. There's also a small, free gym. You can watch a movie in the 60-seat theater. There's even a barbershop on site.

You can also find a dentist's office and a chiropractic clinic. The dentist helps truckers who are often on the road. They might not get to see a dentist otherwise. The dentist helps them with pain. The chiropractic clinic offers adjustments. They also do physicals needed for truck drivers. These services are very helpful for people who travel a lot for work.

Images for kids

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  A wide shot of the exterior captures the scope of the building's size.

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  The exit-ramp sign boasts this is the "World's Largest Truckstop".