What's a Wavaho?

For years I've been going to mom and dad's house in southeastern Huntsville on the same route--north from Pelham on I-65 until I reach the Alabama 36 exit in Hartselle. Then I follow 36 until it intersects with U.S. 231 and on into Huntsville. 

At the intersection of 36 and 231 is the Corner Quick Stop with gas and goodies. It's a Wavaho station, and I have often wondered about the history of this small company. I did a bit of research but haven't found much.

The Dun & Bradstreet site has a page for the Wavaho Oil Company that gives a few basic details. The company was founded in 1958, and annual revenue was listed as more than $6,700,000. Walter V. Hough was the name given as a contact and the phone number as 256-881-3621. A wavaho.com site has been crawled by the Internet Archive since 2001, but only a placeholder page was saved each time. The domain was registered in November 1999.

Perhaps one day I'll give them a call or stop by and try to learn a little more.

I find small operations that have survived in industries dominated by much bigger players to be fascinating. According to Google Maps, there are also Wavaho gas stations in Decatur, Huntsville and Pinson. Another one in Birmingham pops up on a Google search. If you know of others or more about the company, tell us in the comment section!

UPDATE on June 30, 2023

Romario Gardner of WAFF channel 48 in Huntsville reports on issues related to the Wavaho gas station on Pulaski Pike; the station's business license has been revoked. Her report notes the station is owned by Albara, Inc.

UPDATE on August 3, 2022

I added at the end two photos of the Wavaho Station in Priceville, very close to Decatur, which is still operating.

UPDATE on June 26, 2021

The "Wavaho Oil Co Inc" lettering has been removed from the building shown below, but you can still make them out on the brick. 

UPDATE on February 25, 2018:

An informant tells me that the company's name comes from the first two letters of the founder's name--Walter Van Hough.

UPDATE on October 12, 2010:

I passed the station heading home and found this sign in front of the building; I wonder what's going on. 

Here's the office building facing Alabama 36 and just behind the gas station and store. 

That iconic sign appears in a couple of places. 

Source: Google Maps

Wavaho station at 732 Highway 67 South in Priceville