Used Car Salesman to Owner of Teakwood Mobile Home Park

Bill Houle Sr. started as a used car salesman but ended up the owner of a large mobile home park.

"Sixty years ago, he got tired of the winters in Muskegon, Michigan and sold everything to move to Florida,” said grandson John Houle. The decision led to the creation of . A commitment to superior products and a fair amount of business savvy quickly put Bill Houle Sr. at the forefront of the mobile home industry in Pinellas County.

Houle Enterprises didn't start in Largo but rather in Clearwater Beach. “He bought a beachside lot and built a three unit hotel,” said Houle’s son, Bill Houle Jr. From there he purchased the land present day Largo residents know as Commercial Drive, which sits across the street from the on Missouri Avenue.

Bill Houle Sr. began manufacturing mobile homes on Commerce Drive where the indoor soccer league building exists today. "He was one of the biggest manufacturers of mobile homes by the early sixties,” John Houle said . He put items into his units that were above the standards of the time. "He used pressure treated wood, residential windows and hurricane tie-downs that went around more than just the frame. Today that is the standard,” John Houle added.

From there things only grew bigger. "He noticed how well mobile home industry was doing in the 50s,” John Houle said. Bill Houle Sr. found the orange groves running along Missouri Avenue were for sale.

"He wanted just one side of Missouri but the woman selling the land wanted him to buy it all or else,” John Houle said. It was more than Bill Houle Sr. had intended. "It's the most nervous Mrs. Houle had ever been,” John Houle added.

Houle had purchased the groves along Missouri from the current location of Largo High School up to Rosery Road.

Houle solved the budget strain by selling off the frontage property that became the sites of Kmart and Zares department store. Other sales of frontage followed.

"His ultimate goal was to develop a mobile home park,” Bill Houle Jr said. So began . When development on one side of Missouri was finished, Houle began on the other. "It was very successful,” Bill Houle Jr. added. Completion of the park came in the late 70s and all the homes were occupied by 1982.

The Houles estimate the current park to be over 100 acres. It has three clubhouses, pools, jaccuzis and many ongoing activities.

"I love it here," said five-year resident Bob Ayers. "Everybody seems to know each other. I think they take care of each other too."

Canadian snowbirds Fred and Lynda Benson agree. "We love it. They look after the park very well. They keep it clean and neat and tidy. We wouldn't trade it for the world."

Bill Houle Sr. passed in 1999. His son and grandson now carry on his work.

"We've owned it since it was an orange grove. It's not just a business but a family type operation, including the tenants,” Bill Houle Jr. said. They expect the next generation will carry on the torch.

"It's been a good business," he said.