Martz Bus history

In 1912, he incorporated the company and bought four more buses as part of an effort to expand the business and the number of routes he operated.

It was not until 1921 that the first vehicles featuring a chassis designed specifically for bus service were introduced in the United States by the Fageol Safety Coach Company of Oakland, California.

1922: Frank Martz Coach is formed.

In 1926, he became involved in air travel, operating three airplanes that connected Wilkes-Barre, Buffalo, and Elmira, New York, with Newark Airport, which was the major facility serving the New York metropolitan area.

Business was booming for the new transportation company and an airline was added in 1928, the first airline in the area.

In 1930, the company changed its name to Greyhound Corporation.

In 1931 the 239 Old River Road location was purchased with an additional terminal location on Public Square to handle the interstate bus routes to New York and Philadelphia.

In 1933, the airplane service was sold to what is now American Airlines.

After the death of Frank Martz Sr. in 1936, the company was taken over by his son, Frank Martz Jr.

In 1951, Martz renewed its affiliation with Trailways and moved its New York City operations into the newly opened Port Authority Bus Terminal, which consolidated interstate bus traffic into the city.

In 1972, Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding area were hit with flood waters of hurricane Agnes, the costliest flood in United States history at the time.

Focusing on large populated areas that were within a day travel of Wilkes-Barre, Frank purchased Gold Line and Gray line sightseeing in Washington DC in 1974.

They later joined the Grey Line team in 1977 to offer individual per capita tours of Washington, D.C., and Williamsburg, Virginia.

In 1978 the gaming industry made its way to Atlantic City NJ, bringing a new wave of attractions and casinos to the East Coast.

In the early 1980’s Frank “Hank” Henry and Scott Henry, sons of Frank Henry, bought 9 super buses and began running high end trips exclusively to Atlantic City.

In time, Henry was joined by his own son, Scott Henry, who went to work for the company full time in 1981.

In 1985 the Martz travel agency was established.

Continuing with expansion, in 1986 First Class Coach was acquired in St Petersburg, FL, looking to help balance the slow winter month’s business in Pennsylvania.

In 1988 Tourtime America was acquired in Richmond, VA not far from Washington DC and the

Following the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, bus operators like Martz saw business adversely affected.

By 2005, the Pocono to New York City run was carrying more than a million passengers.