×

Pioneer Trails takes over former Coach USA terminal in Parkersburg

Photo by Brett Dunlap Pioneer Trails recently took over the former Coach USA motorcoach hub in Parkersburg. The terminal, located on Camden Ave. near the Erickson All-Sports Facility, has 20 employees who were hired by the new company and will continue on.

PARKERSBURG — A new company is taking over operations of the former Coach USA terminal in Parkersburg.

Pioneer Trails Inc. of Millersburg, Ohio, is expanding its deluxe motorcoach operations to Parkersburg, filling a void left by the exit of Coach USA at the end of last year. Pioneer Trails’ slogan is “Our business is going places.”

Coach USA informed employees last August the local terminal, located near Erickson All-Sports Facility in south Parkersburg, would be closing.

Terminal Manager Lonnie Randall has been meeting with other motorcoach businesses to see if anyone could take over operations.

The local office opened in 1969 as Park Transit on Camden Street. In 1992, it moved to its current location on Camden Avenue when it was Central Cab/Park Tours and Charter Service. In 2000, owner Jack McNelly sold the business to Coach USA.

Photo by Brett Dunlap The new Pioneer Trails hub in Parkersburg will operate 10 buses, each with Wi-Fi and plug-ins for cellphones and laptop computers.

The building was locally owned and not part of Coach USA, which gave Randall the ability to look for another company to establish operations there.

Randall said he and his people in Parkersburg have built relationships with the community.

The business has done a lot of long distance trips for local high schools and colleges, including Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg South High School, Marietta College, Ohio Valley University, Glenville State and Ohio University for a number of years, Randall said.

Area elementary schools, middle schools, church groups and seniors citizens groups among others have used the business for various trips in West Virginia and out of state.

Through his efforts, Randall was connected with Pioneer owner David Swartzentruber and his son Wendyl, who were presented with an opportunity that could benefit both their business and the Parkersburg crew.

Pioneer Trails has been in business since 1984, when it began a line run from Millersburg to Sarasota, Fla. Swartzentruber partnered with Clyde Sundheimer, first using a large passenger van and then graduating to a motorcoach to make the journey. From that point has grown to the point of running both north and south as many as three times a week during peak season.

Swartzentruber is the sole owner of the company and had previously purchased Green Country Tours and created Lighthouse Tours before the recent addition of Muskingum Coach and its Eagle Rock Tours.

“We were looking to grow our company,” Swartzentruber said. “And while growing two steps in one year may seem like a lot, we really felt it was the right thing to do.”

Swartzentruber said establishing a hub in Parkersburg made sense to do.

“The acquisition of Muskingum Coach went so well that I thought this expansion to Parkersburg would be a viable idea, especially when colleges and tour companies from that area began calling us to book trips in 2017 and asking us to fill the void created by the Coach USA exit,” he said.

Having Randall in place to coordinate drivers at the hub was pivotal for the company.

“Having Lonnie run the terminal should make it a smooth transition,” Swartzentruber said. “Two hours from Millersburg is just about the right distance away for us to be.”

Randall was impressed with Pioneer Trails being a family business and has found the Swartzentrubers to be people of good moral character. Being a family business, they understand the value of good customer relations and work towards that in what they do, he said.

The scheduled closure was due to affect all of the employees at the Parkersburg terminal, including drivers, office personnel and mechanics.

“We have 20 full-time employees, some who have been here over 30 years,” Randall said.

Now with Pioneer Trails in place, those people will continue to be employed and providing for their families as well as the tax base of the community and helping to keep the economy growing, he said.

“It was a big breath of fresh air when we came to an agreement with Pioneer Trails to come into Parkersburg,” Randall said. “It was a relief for a lot of folks, because it affected a lot of people in this area.”

Secretary Donna Falcsik, who had worked at the terminal for 22 years, said she was glad of the new opportunity with Pioneer Trails and being able to stay on.

“They have been like family here,” she said of everyone at the terminal. “I was thrilled I was able o stay on and continue working here.”

Operations from the terminal in Parkersburg began Jan. 1, with a fleet of 10 buses operating from the hub. Swartzentruber will gauge the need for adjustments as they arise over the coming months.

All the buses now have Wi-Fi and outlets to plug in laptops and cellphones.

As for now, Randall and his Parkersburg team will be getting back up to speed and looking toward a productive future as they continue to serve the Parkersburg area.

“It means we can still serve all of the local groups and organizations who need a charter bus for their trips,” he said. “We feel the void that was going to be here without the charter bus service has been filled.

“We do a service for many local schools and colleges, church groups and seniors citizens groups. My biggest concern is making sure these people have safe dependable reliable affordable transportation to get to and from their destination.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today