BUSINESS IN THE BOX CANYON HIGH ROAD VANS JEFF LYGA & ANDY WARD
Photos by Ryan Bonneau
It makes sense that two professional woodworkers, one who arrived in Telluride in a Westfalia van named Desert Storm, and the other who spent his first 10 years in the area living in a yurt in Ophir, would build a business creating the ultimate camping van. Craftsmen and adventurers, Jeff Lyga and Andy Ward (who are also related through marriage) started High Road last year. Says Lyga, “We had been talking about this for two to three years. I wanted to do the same thing as what I was doing, but with a different medium, and have my job site in one place.” Both wishes have come true. Lyga’s workplace is now a garage a mile out of Telluride, along the Valley Floor at the Shell gas station, where he and Ward craft custom vans instead of custom cabinets. The pair work on clients’ personal vans, installing the electrical and other necessary infrastructure in van shells and prototyping the ultimate van able to remain in remote places for longer periods. This requires a solar battery system, heating and water storage, as well as storage for outdoor toys like mountain bikes, skis, climbing gear and kiteboards. “As soon as we had a van parked out front, people started coming in,” Lyga says. “The inspiration was the lifestyle — camping, road-tripping — I love it all.” highroadvans.com
CREATIVE LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS
Exciting new ventures abound in these mountains BY JESSE JAMES McTIGUE
Author Henning Menkell wrote, “What doesn’t exist you have to create for yourself.” Four teams of Telluride entrepreneurs have taken that message to heart, creating diverse new businesses.
Photos by Melissa Plantz
CAMP BIRD HATS KIM LAKE Kim Lake likes beautiful things. She studied art, and she paints and sculpts. She has worked in interior design and in couture retail fashion. But, Lake insists, she doesn’t like trends; and she doesn’t like waste. As an artist, Lake knew she wanted to make something that was beautiful and creative, but she also wanted it to last. A few years ago, she finally discovered that thing — custom beaver felt hats. With some exploration, Lake learned to craft high-quality hats, the kind that keep their shape and can stand up to the Telluride lifestyle and weather. For this, she explains, she needed felted beaver fur and hard-to-find machines. “Beaver is the best,” she says. “It’s water-resistant, it breathes. You can wear it in all of the elements.” As for acquiring the machines needed for steaming and branding, Lake had to hustle. “You have to find someone who is going to fix broken old ones and help you get what you need,” she says. She found them, bought them and hauled them back to Telluride where she has set up shop in a vacant historic mining cabin at the top of North Oak Street. Lake’s goal is to create a hat that mirrors the most inspiring qualities of its owner and which will last forever. “I meet with each client and get an idea of their personality and vibe. I make one hat for one person.” She adds, “Business is good. I need to get faster because I’m so busy.” campbirdtelluride.com >>
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