OKLAHOMA CITY Village Tours and Travel of Wichita, Kan., has boosted its presence here with the acquisition of the citys second-largest motorcoach company, Time Lines.

The purchase not only dramatically expands Village Tours existing operation here but it likely will heighten charter-and-tour competition throughout the state.

Currently, Oklahoma City-based Red Carpet Charters is the states largest operator with more than 50 coaches.

"They are a very good competitor," Village Tours co-owner Jeff Arensdorf says of Red Carpet. Village has had a presence in Oklahoma City for 23 years.

Arensdorf said that while he was not looking to expand the business, he became interested when he learned Time Lines president and CEO, Bob OBrien, was planning to retire and the business was looking for someone to run the company.

"I figured it was a good fit for us, so I asked if they would be interested in selling and we were able to work it out," said Arensdorf.

Times Lines was principally owned by Christian Keesee, who is chairman of Kirkpatrick Bank in Edmond, Okla., a suburb of Oklahoma City, and Kirkpatrick Oil Co., a private exploration and drilling company headquartered in the city.

OBrien, a former sales executive with MCI, started and managed Time Lines for Keesee.

The sale included Time Lines administrative offices and maintenance facilities, as well as its fleet of 19 coaches, which have been added to the 30 coaches Village Tours had before the acquisition and which it has been using for its operations in both Kansas and Oklahoma. Both companies fleets are predominately Prevost coaches.

Arensdorf said the Time Lines name has gone away and its buses gradually will be repainted with Village Tours colors and logos. Also, he said the company is developing plans to expand its facilities in Oklahoma City and will shutter the Time Lines office and garage once construction is completed.

"We have the land and only need to expand the facility," said Arensdorf, who owns Village Tours with his father, Norman.

Village Tours offices in west Wichita also are being expanded.

The acquisition by Village Tours is its second in as many years. Last year, it purchased Salina Charter Coaches, a three-coach company in Salina, Kan., which is 90 miles north of Wichita. Arensdorf said he heard the owner of that company was retiring and he contacted him about a possible sale.

"I dont anticipate any further expansions at this time," he noted.

Village Tours has been operating since 1980, when it began running a one-bus charter service in Wichita during the summer months and an airport shuttle for snow skiers in Denver during the winter season.

It opened an Oklahoma City sales office and terminal in 1989 and then replaced it with a new building and service garage in 2007.

The Arensdorfs acquired the company in 2000.

In 2005, Village celebrated its 25th year with a 13-coach tour to Branson, Mo., and St. Louis that drew more than 550 people.

With Keesees backing, OBrien started Time Lines 10 years ago. The company positioned itself as an upscale operator with black-liveried coaches equipped with galleys, power ports and plush seating.