Episode #5
The Steamboat Effect: Why Entrepreneurs & Outdoor Brands Choose This Mountain Town | Travis Campbell
What is the Steamboat Effect? Why does a relatively small mountain town seem to attract an outsized number of entrepreneurs, business leaders and outdoor brands? Travis Campbell has spent his career working with some of the outdoor industry's most recognizable brands—from Smartwool and Sage to The North Face and VF. Today, he's the owner and CEO of Eagle Creek, a 47-year-old travel brand with global recognition, headquartered in Steamboat Springs. We talk about Travis's path from engineering to brand building, why he gravitated toward companies that made products he personally loved, acquiring Eagle Creek, and what changes when you go from executive to owner. But the conversation goes well beyond business. We explore why Travis believes Steamboat “over-indexes” on entrepreneurship, the advantages and challenges of running a global company from a mountain town, how housing impacts the ability to build businesses here, and why Steamboat's mix of ranching, outdoor, resort and entrepreneurial cultures is so important to preserve. We also get into something Travis is deeply passionate about: public lands—and why individual voices matter in protecting the places that help make communities like Steamboat what they are. A conversation about business, place, community and purpose. ABOUT TRAVIS CAMPBELL Travis Campbell is the Owner & CEO of Eagle Creek, the iconic adventure travel brand headquartered in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Travis acquired Eagle Creek from VF Corporation in 2021 after a career leading some of the outdoor industry's best-known brands. Prior to Eagle Creek, Travis served as President of Smartwool, GM Americas for The North Face, and President of Emerging Brands at VF Corporation. Earlier in his career, he spent nearly 16 years with Far Bank Enterprises—home to Sage, Redington and RIO—ultimately serving as CEO. Travis has also served as Chairman of the Outdoor Industry Association Board and has been a longtime advocate for the outdoor industry, conservation and America's public lands. CONNECT WITH TRAVIS & EAGLE CREEK Eagle Creek: https://www.eaglecreek.com/ Travis Campbell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/straviscampbell/ Eagle Creek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eagle-creek/ Outdoor Industry Association: https://outdoorindustry.org/ Ryan Cox is a Boutique luxury real estate advisor and broker with Steamboat Sotheby’s International Realty and host of Steamboat Real Estate & Investing. A longtime Steamboat resident, Ryan brings an entrepreneurial and investment perspective to real estate shaped by experience in residential construction, development and real estate investment & lifestyle properties. He previously co-founded SmartPads, a Steamboat-based modular construction company, which he lead, grew and ultimately sold in 2024. Today, Ryan advises buyers, sellers and investors across the Yampa Valley, combining local market knowledge with firsthand experience in lifestyle properties, construction, development, entrepreneurship and real estate investing. Steamboat Real Estate & Investing explores real estate, investing, entrepreneurship and the people building interesting businesses and lives in Steamboat Springs. www.ryancoxrealestate.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryancoxsteamboat/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12Mckmps9GzzsA0CLnLcs2 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/steamboat-real-estate-investing-with-ryan-cox/id1814625853 Ryan.Cox@Steamboatsir.com
