1960's
Company History
The Ozark Mobile Homes Manufacturing Company was formed in 1960 when brothers Jack and Buck Caudell moved Caudell Brother's Construction from Witchita, Kansas to Neosho, Missouri, to build houses for soldiers working at Neosho's Camp Crowder. As the camp population began to decline, Ozark began to look to the the relatively new and promising future of mobile and modular home construction. Throughout the 1960's and early 1970's, the company saw tremedous growth as their houses shipped by truck throughout the United States.
The high interest rates of the late 70's crippled the housing market and forced the company to cease manufacturing homes in 1978. The next eight years were particularly hard on the company. Ozark continued to pursue a number of ventures including tabetop ironing boards, waveless waterbeds, various wood products and leasing of warehouse space.
In 1986 the company began the process of converting its operations to accomodate the packaging of volcanic lava rock for Sunbeam Outdoor Products, located in Neosho, for their gas barbeque grill operation. This was a welcome contract with an international company. The lava rock business grew at a rapid pace. As leasing opportnities advanced, the company added 66,000 square feet of space to an existing 35,000 square-foot warehouse. Again in 1993, the company added a 35,000 square-foot building to meet the growing demand of packaged lava rock for the gas grill industry. By the end of the 1990's, Sunbeam Outdoor Products closed its Neosho grill operation.
Today Ozark Manufacturing continues to package lava rock for major retail outlets, gas fireplace manufacturers and barbeque grill manufacturers across North America.
The Ozark Mobile Homes Manufacturing Company was formed in 1960 when brothers Jack and Buck Caudell moved Caudell Brother's Construction from Witchita, Kansas to Neosho, Missouri, to build houses for soldiers working at Neosho's Camp Crowder. As the camp population began to decline, Ozark began to look to the the relatively new and promising future of mobile and modular home construction. Throughout the 1960's and early 1970's, the company saw tremedous growth as their houses shipped by truck throughout the United States.
The high interest rates of the late 70's crippled the housing market and forced the company to cease manufacturing homes in 1978. The next eight years were particularly hard on the company. Ozark continued to pursue a number of ventures including tabetop ironing boards, waveless waterbeds, various wood products and leasing of warehouse space.
In 1986 the company began the process of converting its operations to accomodate the packaging of volcanic lava rock for Sunbeam Outdoor Products, located in Neosho, for their gas barbeque grill operation. This was a welcome contract with an international company. The lava rock business grew at a rapid pace. As leasing opportnities advanced, the company added 66,000 square feet of space to an existing 35,000 square-foot warehouse. Again in 1993, the company added a 35,000 square-foot building to meet the growing demand of packaged lava rock for the gas grill industry. By the end of the 1990's, Sunbeam Outdoor Products closed its Neosho grill operation.
Today Ozark Manufacturing continues to package lava rock for major retail outlets, gas fireplace manufacturers and barbeque grill manufacturers across North America.
