WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — They have been on the rise around the country, and one is locating to Fayette County: tunnel car washes.
A sign erected along Columbus Avenue in Washington Court House announces the building of a “Blue Hippo Car Wash” tunnel. It’s located in the 2000 block across the street from the former K-Mart building.
While many locals haven’t had a chance to experience such a tunnel, they are quite popular in metropolitan areas and are becoming increasingly demanded in rural communities.
What makes a tunnel wash more appealing to car enthusiasts and regular motorists alike are what owners and operators of the washes call “better for your car.”
The systems use a 3-D scan of each vehicle to precisely target soap and high-pressure water based on the vehicle’s size and shape for the most accurate clean, according to car wash experts. The tunnel wash is equipped with specially engineered blowers, too, that are said to achieve a drier vehicle while conserving energy. Overall, those who utilize the services said that it’s better on your paint, uses quality soap, and has less water usage.
Perhaps the best perk of most tunnel washes are the monthly memberships for unlimited washes. The Blue Hippo locating to Washington Court House bolsters numerous unlimited monthly wash memberships, ranging from $19 to $39 a month. The type of package and pricing differ based on the level of wash one signs up for. In addition, each customer receives unlimited free use of vacuums on the lot.
Blue Hippo also offers express oil changes.
One local car wash enthusiast said he’s looking forward to the tunnel.
“No more freezing my ass off at self service bays in the winter to only get a half-assed wash,” said local Sheldon Hurles. Hurles has been driving out-of-town every chance he gets to wash his three vehicles at a tunnel in Wilmington or Grove City. In time constraints, he said he uses a local gas station’s wash, but the quality of it isn’t the same as the tunnels, he said.
Blue Hippo has not announced an opening date for the wash, but city officials said they expect to see it operational in the spring of 2022.