If you’ve driven through the Pioneer Street roundabout, you’ve absolutely noticed the iconic orange and black sign:
“Welcome to Ridgefield: Birthplace of U-Haul.”
For a town that is currently exploding with new modern subdivisions and a population growth rate of nearly 7% per year, it’s easy to forget that our biggest claim to global fame started with $5,000 and a local milk house.
The $5,000 Bet on the Carty Ranch
In 1945, Navy veteran L.S. “Sam” Shoen and his wife, Anna Mary Carty, found themselves in a common post-WWII predicament: they needed to move, but nobody would rent them a trailer for a one-way trip.
They didn’t just complain; they moved onto the Carty Family Ranch right here in Ridgefield. In a small milk barn (what we now know as the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge), they built the first 10 U-Haul trailers by hand.
3 Fast Facts About Our “Orange” History
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The $2 Rental: The original trailers rented for just $2 a day.
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Safety First: They were originally painted black, but after a near-accident, Sam switched to “Safety Orange”—the same color used for highway barricades.
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The Ridgefield Sign: The current welcome sign was a gift from U-Haul to the city in 2015 to celebrate the company’s 70th anniversary.
U-Haul is Coming Home in 2026
While Ridgefield has always been the spiritual home of U-Haul, we haven’t actually had a full-service corporate store… until now.
Currently under construction at 17601 NE Union Road, the new U-Haul Moving & Storage of Ridgefield is slated for a 2026-2027 Grand Opening. This nearly 95,000-square-foot facility will feature 850 climate-controlled units—a sleek, modern addition to our growing skyline that pays homage to the milk barn where it all began.
U-Haul FAQ
Where was the first U-Haul built?
The first U-Haul trailers were built in 1945 at the Carty Family Ranch in Ridgefield, Washington.
Who started U-Haul?
The company was co-founded by L.S. “Sam” Shoen and his wife, Anna Mary Carty Shoen.
Can you visit the U-Haul birthplace?
Yes! The original site is part of the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. While the original milk house has aged, the heritage of the land is preserved for hikers and history buffs alike.
When does the new U-Haul in Ridgefield open?
The new full-service U-Haul facility on NE Union Road is scheduled to open in 2026.
Local Legend: Anna Mary’s brother, Hap Carty, was the very first U-Haul employee. He helped fabricate those original trailers while on leave from the Army!
