Lake City Auto Moves From Past to Future with Benefield Family Purchase of Longtime Business

_{by Jodi Linsey}

The recent transfer of Lake City Auto from Michelle and Jeff Guthmiller to James and Janelle Benefield is significant as the decades-old business has had only three owners in approximately the last 50 years. The Guthmillers owned the garage for twenty-nine years and previous to that, it was owned by Mary and Bennie Jacobs.
Sitting in a prominent position on State Highway 149 as it curves onto Eighth Street, this business offers several services, including fuel, car and tire repairs, as well as rentals and sales of recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles and a variety of All Terrain Vehicles and Side x Sides.
Janelle, James, and their four children, 13-18, were regular Colorado visitors, riding and exploring the southwest corner of the state when they found the Alpine Loop and Lake City. Although the town was jam full, it being July after all, they reached out for help and ended up with an improvised meal and a place to stay for the night.
James describes that evening and that hospitality as a literal life-changing event. They fell in love and were determined to find a way to make Lake City their home. They found the opportunity at Lake City Auto.
After negotiating with Guthmiller and working with the Town of Lake City to pin down a long-term lease on a portion of Eighth Street that the business has traditionally used for vehicle storage, James and family took over.
With their children approaching graduation, James and Janelle are currently holding down two homesteads as James gets Lake City Auto fixed up and running to his satisfaction and Janelle holds the fort in Austin, keeping the kids in their school district and with their friends. Soon enough, they will settle in to build a legacy together in Lake City.
Despite his busy days, James is always willing to talk about his family and his dreams. Although the family business in Austin is concrete, James made the jump to autos and ATVs because he has an interest and he is willing to learn. A major clean-up is already underway and improvements in processes are being made as the business goes digital, phasing out the trail of paper following every work order and rental. Customers can now book rentals online.
Other improvements that will be noticed by the casual observer are the new, state-of-the-art fuel pumps and soon, new bay doors on the garage and the showroom. He is already doing a jumping business in ATV rentals and hopes to build up the snowmobile rental trade.
One thing that is not changing are the long-term employees that James inherited. He expresses gratitude for the experienced Shana Liddell and mechanic Cory Schulte, who is celebrating ten years at Lake City Auto.
James states that he wants to expand the business, not make major changes. He looks to the future and building relationships. He says that mostly, he wants to make a positive difference in the community they have chosen to make home.