Meskwaki Travel Plaza

Tama, Iowa

Shingobee provided the construction of the new Meskwaki Travel Plaza for the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa (Meskwaki Nation). The new fuel station/convenience store is located at the entrance to the Meskwaki Casino near Tama, Iowa.

The new 10,000-square-foot store more than doubles the size of their previous Trading Post store and adds two fueling areas, one for diesel trucks and one for regular vehicles. The store contains a lounge area and extra amenities for truckers, a smoke shop, and two customer service areas for convenient access to both fueling islands. One of the highlights of the store interior is the Route 30 Diner, an authentic, ’50s-themed restaurant with custom fixtures and furnishings to provide the look of a retro soda fountain.

Shingobee worked with the architect (DSGW Architects) to provide cost estimates, scheduling, and value engineering during the design phase. Construction was started in May 2014 and completed early in 2015. Shingobee worked closely with the Meskwaki tribe to provide employment and construction opportunities to tribal members during construction.