By Ali Moreland
Pilot officially opened its new travel center in Ponce de Leon on Wednesday, May 13, with a community celebration that included a ribbon cutting, local leaders, and a $20,000 donation to Holmes County School District (HCSD). Located at 2923 Highway 81, the facility is positioned near I-10 and is expected to serve both long-haul drivers and residents traveling through the area.
Regional manager Mark Haase said the new Ponce de Leon location helps close a service gap between Pilot stops in Marianna and Mobile, Alabama, giving truck drivers another place to rest, refuel, and recharge during their long trips. “It fills a gap for us so we can take better care of our drivers,” he said. “And that’s our job, we’re here for the professional drivers.” He added that the store is only the second location built using Pilot’s newest design concept, which includes expanded food options, upgraded shower facilities, and additional convenience features. Haase also told The Advertiser that this location currently employs around 60 workers, about 95% of whom were hired from the Holmes County area.
“We appreciate what Pilot has already done and what they are doing and what they’re going to do for PDL,” said Ponce de Leon Town Council President Bill Glenister, welcoming the new travel center as a positive addition to the area. He added that he sees the project as a starting point for continued investment, saying, “We see your [travel] center as the beginning, really, of future investment here in our community.”
Much of the grand opening ceremony focused on the company’s connection to the local area. HCSD Superintendent Buddy Brown thanked Pilot for investing in the area and said the $20,000 donation will help purchase Chromebooks for students at Ponce de Leon Elementary School and Ponce de Leon High School. In addition to the technology upgrades, he noted, “These [funds] will also be used for supplementing our education, supplementing instruction for those kids that may be struggling. I can promise you that this money will be very well used.” Brown also added, “We’re so happy to have a business and a company that’s willing to invest back into our communities.”
With its combination of new jobs, expanded traveler services, and support for local schools and organizations, the new Pilot travel center looks to serve as both a reliable stop for drivers along I-10 and a lasting partner in the Ponce de Leon area.
Staff Report 