Our History
In 1967 Bill and Merle Roberts purchased a tool and equipment rental company named Southwest Rentals. Two years later they purchased their first four Starcraft campers and began renting pop-up trailers.
Bill, Merle, Debbie, and Lindy in 1969
In 1970 Bill and Merle's daughter, Deborah, married Frank Huntley. Frank started working for the family business after being discharged from the Army in 1971.
The original location (The Taco House next-door is still around!)
Bill had a simple philosophy: work hard and never make a deal you can't honor. Business thrived and in 1972 Southwest Rentals moved to its current location at 711 South Federal.
Bill and Merle with the new building, 1972
In 1978 Bill made the camping trailer sales and rentals part of Southwest Rentals its own company, Roberts Sales. In 1981 a new building was added at 741 South Federal for the campers. Camping trailer sales and rentals continued to grow through the '80s.
Service Building
In 1990, after two decades with Starcraft trailers, Roberts Sales changed to a new camper brand, Flagstaff. That same year Frank and Debbie's son, Mark, started working at the store during summer and winter breaks.
Roberts Sales and Southwest Rentals in 1994
A storage lot was built at Mississippi and Lipan to handle the overflow of campers when our inventory is full.
Lipan lot flatwork
Bill passed away in 2003 and Merle followed in 2007 but their legacy of hard work, dedication, and integrity lives on. Many things have changed since 1969 but the idea of helping families and friends go camping and get out in nature to relax and rejuvenate remains as strong as ever.
In 2008 Southwest Rentals concluded its rental business; that building now serves as home to Blacktop Choppers (the motorcycle shop owned by Frank and Debbie's son, Matthew). Roberts Sales shares it's offices with Blacktop Choppers.
Roberts Sales' upper lot, 2011
Today, Frank and Debbie lead the company with their son, Mark, as general manager and son-in-law, David, as rental manager. Their daughter, Brenda, helps during trailer shows and their daughter-in-law, Lynette, helps with office management.
Privacy © 2012 Roberts Sales. All rights reserved.
Not much of an Easter egg, but still pretty cool:
Three generations of signage, 2011
