Just cruisin’

With two locations in Madera County, Resort Life Carts is among the most successful “Mom and Pop” shops in the state.

The company sells, rents, services and customizes electric golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSVs).

And now Resort Life Carts is known across the nation.

Owners Paul and Tracy Spraetz were in Washington, D.C. last week to be honored as proprietors of one of the top 10 small businesses in the country by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

They were one of about 12,000 applicants judged by their growth, innovative strategies and commitment to their customers.

The list of applicants included owners and founders from groundbreaking startups and manufacturers to community builders and next-generation consumer brands from 36 states and the nation’s capital.

Resort Life Carts was one of 10 businesses recognized for outstanding achievement across 10 categories of excellence and will receive $2,000. The company was recognized specifically in the Growth Accelerator category.

The company launched four years ago when Paul began fixing up golf carts in his garage and sold a few of them around his neighborhood.

“He fixed one up and was driving through the neighborhood and a neighbor goes, ‘Hey, you want to sell that thing?’” said Tracy Spraetz. “And that was the beginning.”

That summer, they sold nearly 50 carts out of the garage “just for fun.”

“I think we’re onto something,” said Paul Spraetz.

They opened the business officially in November 2022 and today Resort Life Carts has grown into a phenomenal business. The couple’s trip to Washington, D.C. was proof of that.

“We’re so excited,” Tracy said. “It’s pretty cool to think that what we are doing is being recognized nationally — and we get to love what we do.”

Paul said community is a big part of what they do every day.

“This product is built around community and we’re lucky to be able to have fun with it.”

The company last year completed just shy of 400 carts, new and used, the owners said. They’re projecting the same or above for this year.

“Madera County is our home now more than ever,” said Paul.

Supervisor Jordan Wamhoff took note of the “very rare honor” Paul and Tracy received at the U.S. Chamber’s Gala on Oct. 20.

“This achievement speaks volumes when a grassroots small business grows into a multi-million dollar operation,” Wamhoff shared.

“It shows how we are committed to supporting those who choose to make investments into our community, helping them to thrive in the fastest growing county in the state. Small businesses are the backbone to our economy and we are extremely proud to have Resort Life Carts call Madera County their home.”

The nine firms honored along with Resort Life Carts were SpecOps Biosciences LLC in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Global Star); Jovy in Ridgewood, NJ. (Micro-Business Leader); Joe & Bella in Riverwoods, Ill. (The Disruptor); Xtreme Fabrication in Leitchfield, Ky. (Champion of Adaptability); Rab’s Country Lanes in Staten Island, N.Y. (Enduring Business); MorTrack LLC in Littleton, Colo. (Tech Innovator); IN Food Marketing & Design in Minneapolis, Minn (Community Champion); and Beetle’s Plumbing Solutions in North Royalton, Ohio. (Culture Champion).

In addition to $2,000 each business will receive a feature article on the CO-100 website visited by more than 4.7 million people a year for guidance to run and grow their companies.

Trade Design Build in Ithaca, N.Y., was named Customer Champion and also Top Small Business for 2026 for its impressive growth and ability to turn complicated construction projects into seamless, collaborative experiences for residential and commercial clients.

The company’s CEO Gideon Stone was recognized at the dinner and presented with a check in the amount of $25,000.

Resort Life Carts is located at 10740 Highway 41 in Madera.

Phone (559) 831-1971 for more information about the company.