About Us
The concept for the Whiskey Wagon was born like all great ideas…at our favorite local bar over a few too many whiskey and cokes- Ernest Hemingway would be so proud!
We noticed that most, if not all, party buses were the exact same as the next. You could take the same bus and slap a different company name on the side and never know the difference. Coming from a background of woodworkers and bourbon lovers, we decided to incorporate our passion for both of these into our new party bus venture.
It took us 2 months of searching every corner of the great state of Michigan and Ohio to finally find a school bus that was good enough for us to build our business on. Let me tell ya, we found ourselves in some very seedy locations (imagine the movie “The hills have eyes” to paint an accurate picture in your mind). After locating our perfect rig, we spent the next 9 months converting the big yellow twinkie into the beautiful, one of a kind masterpiece that became “The Whiskey Wagon”.
From the beginning of this journey, we knew we wanted to give our customers something that they couldn’t find anywhere else. Along with great customer service, competitive prices and an amazing night out…we also wanted our bus to be unlike any other out there on the road. Using resources from our previous woodworking days, we acquired real, reclaimed barn wood along with other unique building materials and got to work on creating something truly amazing. Much of the interior of the bus came from dismantled Michigan barns dating back to the late 1800’s! Along with these one of a kind materials, we also installed the party bus “essentials”, such as custom built memory foam seating, LED night-glow accents and a state of the art stereo system that will knock your socks off! Oh and did we mention, we also have a fully functional bathroom on board?? (you’re welcome ladies and beer drinkers)…
From our family to yours, we thank you for allowing us the opportunity to be a part of your big night out. We hope you love The Whiskey Wagon as much as we do!
– Mike Floyd
Owner, The Whiskey Wagon
Evolution of The Whiskey Wagon:
1. January 2023 – A Bus Is Born
After weeks of searching for the perfect “rig”, we found the future “Wagon” in Toledo, Ohio.
2. Operation Angle Grinder
The first step was creating a blank canvas and removing 15 individual seats. Cutting every bolt out by hand was not our idea of a good time.
3. Take A Seat
Far too much math and arithmetic went into creating the most comfortable and sturdy bench seats possible.
4. Feel The Power!
The electrical and sound system is no doubt the heart of a party bus. With a 4000W inverter, she has more than enough juice to pump up the jams (and lights)!
5. Paint It Black
After the benches were built and upholstered, we gave the interior a good spray to give it a completely new vibe.
6. Anyone Have A 40 Foot Paint Booth?
What do you do when you don’t have a place to paint a school bus? Make your Own! We built this homemade booth out of far too many Harbor Freight tarps and custom 2x4 uprights. Welcome to tent city!
7. Bus In A Box
After two days of building the booth, she was finally ready to be put to use.
8. Prep, Prep And More Prep
Prepping a bus for a paint job is not for the weak of heart. After 1.5 weeks of removing decals, sanding and cleaning, she was ready for her new coat.
9. Are We There Yet?
Masking and taping a school bus is an endless endeavor.
10. Moon Man
Even a full body paint suit wasn’t going to stop the lacquer from covering us in black.
11. Prime Day
After the first coat of primer, we knew we were getting close!
12. Back In Black
Two coats of single stage automotive paint and she was shining like a diamond!
13. Boys In The Hood
With the hood being a main focal point, we decided to remove it and give it the VIP treatment.
14. From The Windows To The Walls
With all the painting completed, we began building the interior walls.
15. There’s Your Sign
With the walls completed and the reclaimed wood installed, we had our logo custom made in an LED metal sign to tie it all together!
16. Mission Accomplished
After 8 long, hard months, The Whiskey Wagon was finally complete and ready for service. We couldn’t be more proud!!!
The Whiskey Wagon Features
- Seating for up to 28 people
- Custom made memory foam bench seats
- A six speaker, subwoofer, multiple amp sound system
- Custom LED lighting
- Custom steampunk light fixtures
- Previously used Jack Daniels Whiskey Barrel
- Custom diamond plate inside and out
- Custom plank wood flooring
- Unique signage and local artwork
- Grab rails for safety and convenience
- A fully functional bathroom
- Safe and professional transportation in SE Michigan
- Qualified drivers with years of experience
- ADA accessible with a professional wheelchair lift