Once upon a time, Valley ATV founder Paul Staats was an engine hobbyist who enjoyed ATVs and small-engine repair.
Until one day, in the summer of 1994, Paul and his wife, Mary Lou, started up Valley ATV in a small pole shed. As the business celebrates its 27th anniversary in July, it has become the largest Polaris dealership in Ohio.
"What once was just a hobby after a long day of farming has turned into a full-fledged, thriving business," the Staatses told the Mount Vernon News. "We remember thinking, 'Where will we find the next 50 people to buy an ATV after we sell these?'"
At the time, Paul was a one-man show in the sales, ordering and repair departments. Now, the dealership features an 18-man-strong team, offers a two-story showroom and carries the rank of being in the top 10% for ATV sales in the United States.
"We also just renovated our two-story barn and doubled the size to show our pre-owned units," the Staatses said. "The used barn can now hold over 30 units on each floor, with ample space to walk around each vehicle."
In Valley ATV's showroom, used ATV barn and service bays, you'll find a company that operates like a family — because it mostly is one.
"We are a family-owned and operated company," they said. "Most of the employees are family and we strive to give the customer a friendly, courteous shopping experience."
Having trouble with an ATV? The Valley ATV family has it covered, with all mechanics certified and capable of service on all ATV makes and models.
"The parts staff at Valley ATV prides themselves in making sure that their customers have a well-stocked selection of parts and accessories, to get them what they want when they need it," the founders said.
Valley ATV offers both the Polaris and Can-Am brands, which manufacture ATVs and side-by-sides, and both have vehicles with 1000cc engines and turbo available.
The Staatses noted that the ATV industry has seen a lot of change in the last 16 years. They encourage ATV enthusiasts to check out Valley ATV's website for an opportunity to explore all the new and pre-owned units, colors, styles and accessories that the dealership has to offer.
Once an ATV purchasing journey brings them to the dealership, customers can use the in-house dirt test track to get in a real-life test drive of their new adventure vehicle.
