LV Valley RV dealership sold

Kevin Rademacher

Friday, April 1, 2005 | 11:28 a.m.

Wheeler's Las Vegas RV has a new owner.

The recreational vehicle dealership, founded in 1982 by Andy and Marlene Wheeler, has been sold to Chicago-based FreedomRoads LLC.

A series of television advertisements featuring Andy Wheeler and his dogs, Joe Willy and Buddy III, made the dealership a Las Vegas fixture. FreedomRoads is expected to take over the company today, but the local dealership will retain the Wheeler name. The sale price was not disclosed.

Andy Wheeler said in a statement the 130 employees at the dealership would be retained.

"Our employees will be taken care of," Wheeler said.

The Wheeler dealership currently sits on 30 acres at 13175 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Wheeler said it currently is generating about $100 million a year in sales. In its own statement, FreedomRoads said that the Las Vegas purchase represents a significant growth opportunity.

"This is potentially a $200 million market and we are very excited about our prospects there," said Marcus Lemonis, FreedomRoads chief executive, adding that the company plans to double the size of the Las Vegas facility. That will be accomplished with growth in the service, parts and body repair departments, he said.

Wheeler also said FreedomRoad plans to add a camp ground and that the dealership will expand on an additional eight adjacent acres of land.

Meanwhile, Wheeler said he would probably hit the road.

"We're going to travel more," he explained. "Part of the agreement is that we can have a recreational vehicle for our use whenever we want one."

The fate of his commercials, however, is unknown, Wheeler said.