Engineering business brings new life to State Road 9 location

Located at 9773 Indiana State Road 9, just above Hauser High School on the right-hand side of the road, sets a one-third acre lot that has held a small brick building and little else.

The space has been home to many business entities over the years, including a car lot, mechanic’s shop and fruit stand.

Now, one local man is breathing new life into the space.

Engineer Travis Walters specializes in all things automotive as a vehicle performance engineer and this summer he is opening Walters E and P – also known as Walters Engineering and Performance, LLC.

“The idea is if I see I can make a better mousetrap somewhere, I want to try to design, manufacture and market it,” Walters says. “There are a lot of small businesses out there that cater to a niche market and I would like to carve a space out in that area of automotive and design and manufacture and market good American made products.”

Five years ago, the 34-year-old University of Evansville graduate took the first steps to business owner when he took to the drafting board to create two of the products he already has available for customers on his web site walterseandp.com.

“One of the products is a vehicle speed sensor conversion,” he explains. “It is a kit for putting a new engine into an older vehicle. That is a product targeted at the automotive aftermarket. The other product is for adapting an older style braking system for a car into a newer one.”

The location  isn’t quite ready for foot traffic, but that’s OK because plenty of people are finding Walters online in the meantime.

“These two products I’m marketing I use them on a 1984 Chevy 4x4 truck,” he says. “My dad bought it new and I pulled out the engine and transmission and put in a 2002 Cadillac engine and transmission in it and I used both my products to do it. It’s advertisement.”

Walters adds that it takes time and tools to be able to carry things out and that is for what the [new] building is going to open up doors.

Initially, when Walters’ mother-in-law Billie Whitted inherited the property there wasn’t much talk about its fate. Until the last year or so.

Construction on the site for the main building began in 2021, Walters says. It is nearing completion and now awaits final inspection. Outside there is a bit more work to be done, including installing the driveway and parking lot to make it convenient and viable for business traffic, Walters says.

One half of the building will be devoted to Walters E and P and the other half, which includes nearly 1,000 square feet with a kitchenette and bathroom, will be available for lease, Walters says.

“If someone is interested, we would be glad to show it to them right now,” he says.

Although supportive, Walters’ wife, Audrey, says this is certainly her husband’s project.

“I give my input,” she says.

“As with any kind of building it’s a lot of work and planning,” Walters adds. “It has been time consuming, but rewarding.”

The couple already has their hands full with their 2-year-old son, Jack, and another little one on the way, Audrey says. However, that doesn’t stop Jack from getting to go visit the site and check things out, Audrey adds.

“Jack likes going out and seeing the construction site,” Audrey says. “It’s been a good experience and we’ve learned a lot during the process. We will be happy to get Travis moved in there.”

Nodding to her husband’s passion for designing and creating things, Audrey says this new venture will offer Walters a lot of opportunities to pursue his small business idea. And, of course, being located in Hope is an even bigger bonus.

“I’ve kind of grown up around the town of Hope and it is a good place for small businesses to have opportunities,” Audrey says. “We like the community and think it is a good place to start a business.”

**Those who are interested in the leasing the available space may contact Walters through his web site at WaltersEandP.com.