Oklahoma City – One of the hottest tickets of the 2025 UMA Motorcoach EXPO because of limited availability wasn’t a session or a keynote address — it was a visit to Village Travel’s brand-new, $14 million bus terminal and maintenance facility.
For Jeff Arensdorf, president of Village Travel, the overwhelming interest made the Feb. 20 event even more memorable.
“We’re just really excited to have our grand opening in conjunction with the UMA,” Arensdorf said of the facility that was completed two months ago. “We’ve had a great turnout, and it’s been fun to see so many people from the industry come to our facility. Hopefully, they’re taking away some tidbits, learning about our business, but also just seeing what it could be like if they were to build a new bus terminal.”
The state-of-the-art, 40,000-square-foot facility represents Village Travel’s forward-thinking approach to charter and tour services. Highlights include a cutting-edge body shop with a top-tier paint booth, a feature that left many visitors impressed.
Driver comfort
The most unusual feature is a pair of hotel rooms built specifically for drivers.
“Our drivers come from all over, and sometimes they need a place to rest after a long day or before heading out on a long tour,” Arensdorf explained. “The hotel rooms provide a comfortable space for them. We’ve only been here for two months, and they’re already being used every week.”
The company also uses the rooms for drivers of its entertainer coaches, who often don’t live locally.
The facility features a 70-seat gathering space designed for customers embarking on nationwide tours that often last more than a week.
“Folks drive here, park their cars, and check in with their tour director,” Arensdorf said. “They get to mingle, enjoy a complimentary breakfast, and then head out on their adventure.”
The facility has 120 parking spaces available.
Village Travel’s trucking division, launched during the pandemic in 2020, also operates from this facility. The 14 trucks primarily haul merchandise and stage equipment, working closely with the company’s entertainer coaches.
‘A great fit’
Arensdorf noted that gaining local approval for the project wasn’t without its challenges.
“The hardest thing was convincing officials that this wasn’t going to be a Greyhound station,” he said. “They hear ‘bus terminal’ and picture line-run customers waiting for buses. But these are customers spending significant money on vacation packages. Once we showed them photos of our Wichita facility, they understood.”
The company opened a similar facility in Wichita in 2019. Arensdorf said the newest facility takes things to another level, thanks to its larger scale and added amenities.
Bus industry vendors have praised the facility. Still, Arensdorf believes this model isn’t for everyone.
“This only works in a large market where tour and charter businesses complement each other,” he said. “But for us, it’s been a great fit.”
Family-owned and operated, Village Travel has seen most of its growth in the past 14 years. Arensdorf and his father acquired the 45-year-old company in 2000, and since then, it has evolved into an industry leader.
“We’re always looking for opportunities,” Arensdorf said. “If something comes along, we jump on it. A little luck helps, but when you achieve economies of scale, it makes a big difference.”
Photos by Jill Kelly of Terrapin Blue. See more photos of Village Travel’s new Oklahoma City facility here.
