The History of Waspy’s Truck Stop

Many may not know, but Waspy’s Truck Stop has an abundance of history behind its name. This is what makes Waspy’s such a unique, personable experience for each of our customers. Not only does the name have unique significance, but Waspy’s is a family-owned and operated business, which plays a huge part in the backstory behind the truck stop. Due to the history of Waspy’s Truck Stop, Waspy’s will always remain a staple, locally owned business in the Audubon and Templeton, Iowa communities.

The Story of Waspy’s Truck Stop

So what is the history of Waspy’s Truck Stop? We can thank Lawrence “Waspy” Handlos, a native of a Willey farm, for the creation of Waspy’s Truck Stop.  The idea came to mind when Lawrence “Waspy” Handlos saw the need for a truck stop for the thousands of vehicles that pass by on Highway 141 daily. He knew that fuel, food, and a good rest stop would be a great addition to the Templeton, Iowa area. This single idea turned into a reality and on May 24th, 2017, Waspy’s Truck Stop in Templeton, Iowa opened. Local Audubon area-farmer Lawrence “Waspy” Handlos and his wife, Doris, remain the sole owners of Waspy’s Truck Stop while Brian Handlos, Lawrence and Doris’s son, developed the truck stop.

Templeton, Iowa Location

Waspy’s Truck Stop proudly stands on a full 10 acres at the corner of Country Road and N-18., located at 703 S. Rye Avenue, Templeton, Iowa 51463. Templeton offers:

• Convenience Store
• Multiple Gas and Flex Fuels
• Automatic Car Wash
• RV Waste Station
• Generous Truck and Trailer Parking
• Grab & Go Kitchen

Audubon, Iowa Location

Waspy’s Truck Stop opened its Audubon, IA location on August 1, 2018, on a 16+ acre complex. Located just south of Audubon on Highway 71 (between I-80 and Highway 20), Waspy’s offers a wide range of amenities, including

• Convenience Store
• Trucker’s Lounge
• Certified Scale
• Grab & Go Kitchen
• Car Wash and Truck Wash
• Tire and Service Center
• The Feed Mill Restaurant
• Blue Grass Inn & Suites
• Wide and Secure Parking Areas

A Nickname Turned Into a Local Business

So what is the background story about the name, “Waspy’s Truck Stop”? As you can probably guess by now, the name “Waspy” is Lawrence Handlos’s nickname that he has had since he was just a kid. His father, a German immigrant who settled in the Carroll, Iowa area, gave Lawrence this nickname as a child. The reason behind the name “Waspy” is that it is tied to another German name that his father was very fond of, “Sebastian”. Now Lawrence, who has turned 80 years old, still carries the nickname of “Waspy” with him and is proud that a name with such history could be turned into a local business that will remain in the family.

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