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For the Fun of It Wade Wheatley talks about his passion for powersports and the great outdoors. PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY HENDERSON The powersports industry is in high gear and it’s easy to see why. The exhilaration that comes with getting outside on an ATV, side by side, or dirt bike in search of wide-open spaces or remote tracks and trails is addictive. For those looking to unleash their next great outdoor adventure, Wade Wheatley of Columbus Outfitters and Columbus Cycle Shop stands ready to introduce customers to their new rides. And he’s been doing it for over 30 years. “We started here in 2003,” said Wade. “I was always involved in powersports products and I used to race Yamaha dirt bikes when I was younger. The guys I worked with before were looking to join forces with me and we wanted to open a powersports place. That was the beginning.”
Columbus was the perfect home for Columbus Outfitters and Columbus Cycle Shop and Wade couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. “Columbus is a great city,” shared Wade. “Both my kids were born here. My wife’s been a teacher here for 30 years. We live right in the middle of Columbus and enjoy the city. There’s a lot of great people here that enjoy the small-town life atmosphere. We’ll be here until the day I die. It’s also a great community to do business in. I always say that we’re the crossroads of everywhere. Being situated between Houston, Austin, and San Antonio … you’re going to pass us at some point. Customers have come Above, Wade Wheatley in and said, ‘I’ve driven by this place 100 welcomes everyone looking for outdoor adventure to times and always wanted to stop.’ When stop by. they stop, they see what we have, and
18 | COLUMBUS, TEXAS
