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Former Durango hotel owners open new car wash

Cascade Xpress brings tunnel express wash into the modern era
Michael and Mary Hert, owners of the new Cascade Xpress Carwash, 1455 South Camino del Rio in Durango, look on as Isaiah Evans guides a car into the wash Oct. 13. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Michael Hert has long had an affinity for the car wash experience. But only recently did the longtime hotel owner decide to pair his business experience with his love for a clean car.

On Aug. 15, he opened the roll-up doors of Cascade Xpress Carwash for the first time, adding another tunnel express car wash at 1455 South Camino del Rio in Durango, south of Home Depot.

Cascade Xpress was not the plan when Hert bought the land in 2008. He wanted to build a La Quinta Inn, but the turmoil of the Great Recession put him in a holding pattern.

“The land just sat there for a while,” Hert said. “I've always loved car washes. Whenever we're out of town anywhere, I drive through automated car washes.”

A truck exits the Cascade Xpress Carwash located at 1455 South Camino Del Rio in Durango. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

After discussions with family members on what to do with the land, Hert decided in 2019 that he and his wife would build a car wash on the land.

It is a different experience for the couple, who had owned hotels on north Main Avenue such as the Quality Inn and the Econo Lodge.

“Although I love the hotel business, and we were reasonably good at it, the amount of employees, inventory and seasonality can be overwhelming or burdensome at times,” Hert said.

While car washes have inventory expenses of chemicals, soaps and maintenance, it does not compare to the cost of running a hotel.

A car goes through the new Cascade Xpress Carwash located at 1455 South Camino del Rio on Oct. 13 in Durango. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Despite an abundance of car washes in Durango, Hert said Cascade adds a more modern version of the tunnel express variety. The modern car wash is about 70 feet longer than its competitor Durango Rapid Wash.

“With the longer wash, you have more opportunity to put presoak tri-foam and bug remover in,” Hert said. “The longer car wash just gives you a longer opportunity to clean the car better.”

Cascade Xpress also reclaims up to 70% of the water used at the wash and offers 13 free vacuum stalls for users. While Hert hopes people will buy a wash, he doesn’t mind if people just use the stalls to clean their car’s interior.

Free vacuums are included with a wash at the new Cascade Xpress Carwash located at 1455 South Camino del Rio in Durango. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Cascade Xpress also will feature a rhino-mat washer, but the car wash is dealing with shipping issues and has not received the equipment.

“It's an automated, all-inclusive mat wash in that you literally put your floor mat into the top of the machine, you push a button, it sucks the mat into the machine and then washes, scrubs, rinses and dries it,” he said.

Hert said he’s in a great location because of how busy Camino del Rio is.

He is happy that he and his wife own the car wash outright rather than being a part of a franchise. While owning hotels under the Choice Hotels parent company, he would often be charged a franchise fee.

A car goes through the new Cascade Xpress Carwash located at 1455 South Camino del Rio on Oct. 13 in Durango. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Before opening, Hert studied the Durango car wash market to evaluate prices. A “deluxe unlimited” wash, at $12, includes bug-prep, power dry, spot-free rinse, single-step presoak and a clear coat.

Cascade Xpress also offers unlimited plans that cost $29, $39 and $49 a month depending the amount of detail a customer wants.

“We went around and checked the other car washes in town and we’re right in line with them,” he said.

tbrown@durangoherald.com

A pickup goes through the new Cascade Xpress Carwash located at 1455 South Camino del Rio on Oct. 13 in Durango. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)


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