Royal Spa owner/founder Bob Dapper proudly pauses in showroom at company headquarters on the Southside at West Epler Avenue and Ind. 37.
(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY)
(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY)
| THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SEPT. 13, 2023 EDITION By Al Stilley Editor “We’re learning where everything is going as it happens.” Royal Spa co-founder and owner Bob Dapper made that comment while seated in his office at the company’s headquarters on the Southside at West Epler Avenue and Indiana 37. Rightfully, Dapper calls the area behind the building as the “dust bowl” because the landscape about 100 yards west is undergoing a dramatic change. Interstate 69 is going right behind the property. Progress can be seen from the West Epler bridge that goes over the interstate that has followed the footprint of Ind. 37 until it veers north of Southport Road to eventually connect with a new I-465 interchange between White River and the highway. The I-465/Harding Street (Ind. 37) interchange is to be redesigned so motorists can access those businesses without going onto I-69. Some of those businesses south of that location include a truck stop, Royal Spa, Everett Transit Group, Reardon’s Carpet, and Trackside Powersports. On the westside of Ind. 37, the Gateway South complex features Denny’s Marina, American Freight Liquidators, and ABC Supply among businesses with easy access from Epler Avenue. Dapper expects that motorists and customers would have continued access to Royal Spa as they do now by turning west off Ind. 37 and into the parking lot. The fate of a small access road (Belmont Avenue) between four businesses, including Royal Spa, would be eliminated, creating an inconvenient access for semitrailers and delivery trucks to Royal spa and three adjacent businesses. Belmont Avenue would become a local access road west of I-69 and connect with West Epler Avenue. “Actually, the switchero of having Epler go over I-69 works in our favor because traffic would not be impeded getting into Royal Spa,” Dapper said. “Royal Spa is a destination so customers will find us again and eventually have less apprehension coming to our headquarters because they fear some difficulty like now to get in.” Dapper is also concerned about moving the Royal Spa fleet of trucks with parts and equipment as well as semitrucks that deliver supplies to build spas to the loading dock on the west side of the building. “We’ve been able to make lemons out of lemonade before,” Dapper said optimistically. As owner of a campground in Bloomington, Dapper has followed construction of I-69 over the Ind. 37 footprint. He dislikes the disruption of businesses at the Ind. 144 exchange and the blockage of Smith Valley Road at I-69 in Johnson County, For example, the Busted Knuckle has relocated to Whiteland Road and Ind. 135. And Dapper noticed improvements and access to Oliver Winery that is now a more prominent destination point in Monroe County. Eventually, Dapper is confident of the same outcome for Southsiders to continue to support businesses, including Royal Spa, that exist at or near the I-465/Ind. 37 interchange. The area lost R.J. Marlin Rentals and Stoops due to the new I-69/I-465 interchange. Founded in 1981, Royal Spa manufactures hot tubs, float tanks, swim spas, icebaths, and custom-made fiberglass baptistries plus all spare parts and provides full service and repairs. Sales locations are at its factory showroom and headquarters at West Epler Avenue, plus U.S. 36 in Avon and 9820 Pendleton Pike on the city’s northeastside. Dapper and co-founder Rick Bartlett started Royal Spa from scratch while they were engineering students at IUPUI. Dapper is a product of St. Matthews Catholic School and Cathedral High School. Bartlett is a Decatur Central High School alumnus. They struggled early-on with the business and had to cut lawns to help make ends meet. They had confidence in their business and continued to improve the quality of hot tubs and swim spas through the years. Royal Spa later dabbled in manufacturing hovercrafts and plastic yard pools which they no longer produce. Royal Spa also manufactures and sells float tanks and float pods for commercial and private use, a new product for individual float therapy with an Epsom salts solution. He has plans to open a multiple-tank floating center on County Line Road in the future. Dapper also enjoys Cathedral football and the Indianapolis 500 where he has served as a crew member for several races, including the last 11 years for Dale Coyne Racing. Dapper’s first acquaintance was with team owner Bobby Rahal and later sponsored a race car driven by Roberto Guerrero in the “500” in exchange for two spas for his team owner. He has a framed photo of being a crew member for driver Sarah Fisher on the wall of his office at Royal Spa. Looking out the window at Royal Spa headquarters, Dapper is sure that Royal Spa headquarters will continue to thrive at its current location. “I’m taking every day, one day at a time to make this all come out in a good way,” Dapper said. “At one time, the interstate was to go right in front of us.” Then he grinned and acknowledged he wasn’t sure what the road would be named just north of Royal Spa. He laughed and said, “How about naming it Royal Spa Way? |  Royal Spa headquarters provides showroom, sales, manufacturing, service and delivery from the Southside.  Indianapolis 500 enthusiast and sponsor Bob Dapper points to photo on the wall at Royal Spa headquarters of being a crew member for team owner/driver Sarah Fisher during a 500-mile classic.  Sign on West Epler Avenue will guide motorists to I-69 South just south of new I-69 / I-465 interchange.  Large billboard informs northbound motorists on Ind.37 to turn west onto West Epler Avenue to reach Royal Spa headquarters during massive road construction of nearby I-69. |