FAQs

Alces is the genus and species name of the moose. Before our building became our vehicle storage facility, it was the home of the Freeport Moose Lodge, and before that, it was the home of Ihm Motors. Its owner was also an active member of the Moose Lodge. We wanted to honor the history of the building as well as the civic works done by the Moose Lodge members, so we decided to find a way to include the moose theme in the facility.

We’re in the historic town of Freeport, Illinois, home of the Lincoln-Douglas debate, Union Dairy, Freeport Cruise Night, the Pretzels, and scenic Krape Park.

Our address is 601 E. South Street, right off Highway 20 on the way into town. We’re in a landmark building, featuring an open floor plan of 17,000 square foot situated on approximately 3 acres. We’ve installed a new roof, new HVAC units, alarm system, a new fire suppression system, renovated the interior space, repaired the parking lots, and upgraded the external appearance. We’re very proud of the facility and know that your vehicle will be happy to call it home.

Bob and Sarah Oliai are the owners. Bob grew up in La Crosse, WI, Sarah grew up in nearby Winnebago, IL, and they’re both fond of Freeport. They currently reside in Texas, but their strong midwestern roots keep them coming back often to the area as well as Hayward, WI.

We’re also enthusiasts of anything with a motor, whether it rolls on wheels, or cuts through the water. Bob loves pickup trucks, muscle cars, and Musky fishing, and Sarah is particularly fond of Toyota Land Cruisers, like the one in our logo.

Like many people who suffer from this addiction, we needed a place to keep our gas-guzzling family members. We envisioned a place that was clean, secure, free of pests, and climate controlled to protect our treasures from the rain, snow and winter salt, and figured that there might be other folks with a similar need. That’s how the idea of Alces was conceived.

The best types, including boats, automobiles, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and ATVs/UTVs. RVs are considered on a case-by-case basis for an adjusted rate if we have room. We require all vehicles be clean, operational, and ready for long-term storage. While we currently do not offer outdoor RV storage, we may pursue it in the future.

Great question. Please click here to see our rates and learn about our procedures.

Long Term Storage Owners Access:

Long-term storage vehicle owners will have access to their vehicles with at least 24-hour notice.  Alces has the ability to remotely allow monitored access to the building.  For security reasons owners will not be given individual codes or keys to the building. We will also have a local representative as we know “smart” technologies do not always cooperate.

Winter Storage Owners Access:

Owners access for seasonal storage will be limited. You should plan on not accessing your vehicle during seasonal storage. In the case of need, contact Alces and we may be able to accommodate you.

Winter Storage:

A list of interested individuals will be kept. In September interested parties will be notified of vehicle drop off dates. Drop off dates are typically a 4-day weekend in October. Dates and times will be provided by September. The end of winter storage will be the last day of April. Owners will be notified of dates/times vehicles can be picked up.   Owners needing additional storage time, must contact Alces and discuss the extra fee for staying past the winter storage dates.

Yes! We have a state-of-the-art security system, cameras constantly monitoring the entire property inside and out, an upgraded fire suppression system, and new rear fences and gates. In addition, our facility manager routinely inspects the premises, and we invest in professional pest control to keep out the small, furry intruders. We feel extremely comfortable having our own vehicles in the facility and want you to feel the same way. That said, no system is foolproof or 100% secure, so please don’t leave any valuables unattended in your vehicle(s).

No. We do have a commercial policy covering the facility, but you are responsible for making sure your vehicle is adequately insured. Proof of coverage is required to store your vehicles at Alces.

For fire safety reasons, we do not allow battery maintainers to be hooked up on a consistent basis. To minimize battery discharge during long-term storage, we strongly encourage installing a battery disconnect switch or simply disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery.

If you are concerned about your battery losing charge during long-term storage, we can work with you on an individual basis to periodically plug in your approved battery maintainer (or charge your battery prior to vehicle pickup). However, we will not leave it plugged in once the maintainer indicates a full charge.

Here is a list of approved battery maintainers:

• Battery Tender brand battery chargers/maintainers
• Autometer brand battery chargers/maintainers
• OEM or built in battery chargers/maintainers (cars, boats, ATVs)

We strongly recommend it, but it’s ultimately your decision. Boats should be ready for long-term storage. We are not responsible for damage that may occur due to improper storage preparation. Although the building is climate controlled, power outages are beyond our control.

The winterizing process allows for yearly maintenance of your boat and motor. While we do not winterize boats, there are several local marine dealers which can provide this service. We recommend:

In Rockford – Angler’s Edge (815) 877-6062
In Loves Park – Loves Park Motorsports (815) 636-7636
In Roscoe – D&S Marine (815) 623-6846
In Beloit – Jerry’s Sport Service (608) 365-4520
In Freeport – Ames Auto Marine (815) 235-4894

Currently, we do not offer mechanic services. If there’s demand for it in the future, we’ll look into it. We also do not allow major mechanical work at the facility for safety and liability reasons, but understand that owners may need to make some minor adjustments, like putting air in tires, replacing batteries, etc.

If there’s enough demand, we may be able to arrange for detailing of vehicles at the facility. Call (608) 76-MOOSE or email to let us know if you’d be interested! This would typically be before spring/summer pick-up.