About Us

OUR STORY

all about Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop

Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop has grown to be the premier builder of authentic, horse-drawn vehicles. For over forty years, our experienced staff of dedicated craftsmen has fashioned a line of superior quality wagons, wheels, and equipment to suit a wide range of individual budgets and interests. We back our products with a commitment to customer service and satisfaction.

our vision

We are committed to exceeding expectations, while delivering results that mirror the handcrafted quality of old world artisans. Authentic quality craftsmanship never goes out of style. We are dedicated to that tradition of excellence and understand the enduring value of personal&nbsp attention to detail.

Wagon Master: Hansen's Handcrafted History

Is the story of how Doug Hansen learned to handcraft 19th-century wheeled vehicles, with curiosity and fortitude as his guides. Through hisown ingenuity and observation, he is recovering knowledge of how to build handcrafted wagons from a bygone era. A much sought-after craftsman, Doug and his team have built wagons and stagecoaches for Hollywood (Yellowstone, 1883, Dances With Wolves, The HatefulEight) and corporate America (Anheuser-Busch, Wells Fargo, Disney), and his team also restores old vehicles for museums and others.

OUR TEAM

Doug Hansen
Owner of Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop
Doug started Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop in 1978. A craftsman and horseman with a background in wheelwrighting, blacksmithing and wainwrighting, Doug has also done extensive research and documentation on historic vehicles for museums and private collectors.
Holly Hansen
Vice President / Bookkeeper
Holly has a degree in business/merchandising and got her start with the business when she married Doug. Holly's background goes beyond bookkeeping; she is also involved in human resources, advertising, and customer relations. Along with a wealth of family activities that include Holly and Doug's daughters, sons-in-law and grandkids, she enjoys gardening and crafts.
Jerome Evans
Shop Foreman
Jerome has been a fixture here at Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop for over 20 years. As shop foreman, Jerome plays an integral part in coordinating the construction of each custom wagon or stagecoach–from the hand-crafted wood components down to the last piece of hand-forged hardware. Jerome's favorite pastimes is hunting and fishing, which he shares with his wife, Angie, and his daughter, Ellie.
Ardis Nelson
Marketing / Shipping and Inventory
Ardis Nelson joined our company in September 2011 to work with aspects of our website and marketing. She also coordinates inventory and shipping for our retail products. Ardis is involved in customer service and product development. Ardis and her husband, David, have two adult children.
Leah Murray
Sales and Project Management
Leah Murray graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Animal Science and worked in a veterinary clinic before joining the team here at Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop. Leah, who is Doug and Holly's daughter, has been involved in working at the shop for years as she joined the team every summer through her college career. Leah works closely with customers and clients to review their projects as they move through the process of building or restoration. Leah and her husband, Mike, have two active kids who are frequent visitors to the shop.
Tim Hoffman
Wheelwright
Our wheelwright, Tim Hoffman, came to us with professional wood crafting experience over 20 years ago, and he soon learned all the ins and outs of building wheels. Tim's expertise in the wheelwright trade means he can build or repair all types of wood spoke wheels including: wagon, coach, buggy, logging, cannon and even antique car and truck wheels. He also builds many of our custom cannon carriages and wagon running gears. Tim and his wife, Stacey, have two kids, Morgan and Mason.
Dean Thompsen
Vehicle Restoration / Repair and Shipping / Receiving
Dean Thompsen works with the restoration and outfitting of antique vehicles for customers and clients. Dean also is responsible for shipping and receiving of products and wagons, as well as maintaining our in-stock inventory. Dean owns a century home and works on fixing it up in his spare time.
Quinton Koch
Blacksmith
Quinton started working for Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop part time while in high school and now works full time for us while at the same time serving his country in the Army National Guard. Quinton, who learned about the wagon industry from the ground up, started out by detailing and repairing wagons prior to shipment to the customer and later trained as a blacksmith creating the custom hand-forged hardware for our wagons and coaches. During his time away from work, Quinton enjoys hunting, farming and any type of activity in the great outdoors.
Andy Ettswold
Paint, Prep Coordinator
Andy Ettswold first came to work for us part time while he attended a local technical school. After graduating, Andy worked in the service industry for several years before joining our team. He returned to our company to train as a paint and prep specialist and now heads up our paint department. Andy and his wife, Melissa, stay busy volunteering for community activities that involve their two sons, Parker and Wyatt.
Maurice Hartmann
Restoration and Preservation
After over twenty years of building cabinets as well as working in management at a cabinet shop, Maurice decided it was time to put his skills to work using a different format--wagon restoration. Maurice and his wife, Julie, have two sons and three granddaughters. During his leisure time, Maurice enjoys helping out friends and family with home improvement projects, as well as weekend campouts with his grandkids.
Wayne Troyer
Hand Striping and Decorating / Independent Contractor
Freelance artist, Wayne Troyer, has been striping and decorating our horse drawn vehicles for the past 15 years. A multi-faceted artist, he hand paints our striping, lettering, murals and gold leaf work. Owner of Troyer Arts Studio, Wayne works out of Millersburg, OH.
Jim Patrick
Wagon Maker / Independent Contractor
Jim Patrick has been a wainwright for over 20 years and specializes in building and restoring buckboards and express wagons. Jim’s artistic talents cover all aspects of the trade from woodworking to blacksmithing. You can find Jim on weekends doing what he loves, driving his team on his personal chuckwagon at historical events and chuckwagon gatherings along with his wife, Susan. Jim is a member of ABANA and a director of the American Chuck Wagon Association.