---
title: "“Outdoor Business Town USA”: Steamboat Springs has become a proving ground for outdoor innovation"
description: Discover how Steamboat Springs has become a thriving hub for outdoor businesses, nurturing successful companies like Smartwool, Big Agnes, Honey Stinger, and Boa Technology. Explore the innovative spirit and natural environment that make it the perfect place for outdoor innovation.
image: https://rcedp.org/hubfs/SteamboatBusiness5.webp
---

Theme + Migration = $1489 (Pay for the Theme Only). [Learn More.](https://www.lpd-themes.com/migration)

[![logo-white](https://rcedp.org/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-white.png?width=219&height=100&name=logo-white.png "logo-white")](https://rcedp.org/)

- [Events](https://lu.ma/rcedp)
- Entrepreneurship 
    - [Entrepreneurship Center](https://rcedp.org/entrepreneurship-center)
    - [High Country Accelerator](https://rcedp.org/hca)
- [Business Support](https://rcedp.org/business-retention-expansion)
- Key Industries 
    - [Key Industries](https://rcedp.org/key-industries)
    - [Major Employers](https://rcedp.org/major-employers)
- Yampa Valley 
    - [Overview](https://rcedp.org/overview)
    - [Communities](https://rcedp.org/data/yampa-valley-communities)
    - [Workforce Development](https://rcedp.org/workforce-development)
    - [Sustainability](https://rcedp.org/sustainability)
    - [Transportation & Infrastructure](https://rcedp.org/transportation-infrastructure)
    - [Taxes & Financing](https://rcedp.org/taxes-financing)
    - [Learn More](https://rcedp.org/yampa-learn-more)
- Data 
    - [Property Search](https://rcedp.org/data/properties)
    - [Explore Communities](https://rcedp.org/data/properties-0)
    - [Community Overview](https://rcedp.org/data/communities)
    - [Occupation Data](https://rcedp.org/data/occupations)
    - [Demographics](https://rcedp.org/data/demographics)
    - [Labor Force](https://rcedp.org/data/labor-force)
    - [Consumer Expenditures](https://rcedp.org/data/consumer-expenditures)
    - [Wages](https://rcedp.org/wages)
    - [Businesses](https://rcedp.org/businesses)
    - [Talent & Education](https://rcedp.org/data/talent-pool)
    - [Economic Reports](https://rcedp.org/economic-reports)
- [News](https://rcedp.org/news)
- [About Us](https://rcedp.org/partnership) 
    - [About Us](https://rcedp.org/partnership)
    - [RCEDP Team](https://rcedp.org/team)
    - [Mentor Network](https://rcedp.org/mentor-network)
    - [Economic Development Council](https://rcedp.org/edc)
    - [Board of Directors](https://rcedp.org/board-of-directors)
- [Donate](https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Routt-County-Economic-Development-Partnership)

[![logo-white](https://rcedp.org/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-white.png?width=219&height=100&name=logo-white.png "logo-white")](https://rcedp.org/)

<https://rcedp.org/news/outdoor-business-town-usa-steamboat-springs-has-become-a-proving-ground-for-outdoor-innovation#growfast-header__mobile-nav__mmenu>

[![logo-white](https://rcedp.org/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-white.png?width=186&height=85&name=logo-white.png "logo-white")](https://www.rcedp.org)

- [Events](https://lu.ma/rcedp)
- Entrepreneurship 
    - [Entrepreneurship Center](https://rcedp.org/entrepreneurship-center)
    - [High Country Accelerator](https://rcedp.org/hca)
- [Business Support](https://rcedp.org/business-retention-expansion)
- Key Industries 
    - [Key Industries](https://rcedp.org/key-industries)
    - [Major Employers](https://rcedp.org/major-employers)
- Yampa Valley 
    - [Overview](https://rcedp.org/overview)
    - [Communities](https://rcedp.org/data/yampa-valley-communities)
    - [Workforce Development](https://rcedp.org/workforce-development)
    - [Sustainability](https://rcedp.org/sustainability)
    - [Transportation & Infrastructure](https://rcedp.org/transportation-infrastructure)
    - [Taxes & Financing](https://rcedp.org/taxes-financing)
    - [Learn More](https://rcedp.org/yampa-learn-more)
- Data 
    - [Property Search](https://rcedp.org/data/properties)
    - [Explore Communities](https://rcedp.org/data/properties-0)
    - [Community Overview](https://rcedp.org/data/communities)
    - [Occupation Data](https://rcedp.org/data/occupations)
    - [Demographics](https://rcedp.org/data/demographics)
    - [Labor Force](https://rcedp.org/data/labor-force)
    - [Consumer Expenditures](https://rcedp.org/data/consumer-expenditures)
    - [Wages](https://rcedp.org/wages)
    - [Businesses](https://rcedp.org/businesses)
    - [Talent & Education](https://rcedp.org/data/talent-pool)
    - [Economic Reports](https://rcedp.org/economic-reports)
- [News](https://rcedp.org/news)
- [About Us](https://rcedp.org/partnership) 
    - [About Us](https://rcedp.org/partnership)
    - [RCEDP Team](https://rcedp.org/team)
    - [Mentor Network](https://rcedp.org/mentor-network)
    - [Economic Development Council](https://rcedp.org/edc)
    - [Board of Directors](https://rcedp.org/board-of-directors)
- [Donate](https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Routt-County-Economic-Development-Partnership)

[![logo-white](https://rcedp.org/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-white.png?width=219&height=100&name=logo-white.png "logo-white")](https://rcedp.org/)

<https://rcedp.org/news/outdoor-business-town-usa-steamboat-springs-has-become-a-proving-ground-for-outdoor-innovation#growfast-header__mobile-nav__mmenu>

- [Events](https://lu.ma/rcedp)
- Entrepreneurship 
    - [Entrepreneurship Center](https://rcedp.org/entrepreneurship-center)
    - [High Country Accelerator](https://rcedp.org/hca)
- [Business Support](https://rcedp.org/business-retention-expansion)
- Key Industries 
    - [Key Industries](https://rcedp.org/key-industries)
    - [Major Employers](https://rcedp.org/major-employers)
- Yampa Valley 
    - [Overview](https://rcedp.org/overview)
    - [Communities](https://rcedp.org/data/yampa-valley-communities)
    - [Workforce Development](https://rcedp.org/workforce-development)
    - [Sustainability](https://rcedp.org/sustainability)
    - [Transportation & Infrastructure](https://rcedp.org/transportation-infrastructure)
    - [Taxes & Financing](https://rcedp.org/taxes-financing)
    - [Learn More](https://rcedp.org/yampa-learn-more)
- Data 
    - [Property Search](https://rcedp.org/data/properties)
    - [Explore Communities](https://rcedp.org/data/properties-0)
    - [Community Overview](https://rcedp.org/data/communities)
    - [Occupation Data](https://rcedp.org/data/occupations)
    - [Demographics](https://rcedp.org/data/demographics)
    - [Labor Force](https://rcedp.org/data/labor-force)
    - [Consumer Expenditures](https://rcedp.org/data/consumer-expenditures)
    - [Wages](https://rcedp.org/wages)
    - [Businesses](https://rcedp.org/businesses)
    - [Talent & Education](https://rcedp.org/data/talent-pool)
    - [Economic Reports](https://rcedp.org/economic-reports)
- [News](https://rcedp.org/news)
- [About Us](https://rcedp.org/partnership) 
    - [About Us](https://rcedp.org/partnership)
    - [RCEDP Team](https://rcedp.org/team)
    - [Mentor Network](https://rcedp.org/mentor-network)
    - [Economic Development Council](https://rcedp.org/edc)
    - [Board of Directors](https://rcedp.org/board-of-directors)
- [Donate](https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Routt-County-Economic-Development-Partnership)

# “Outdoor Business Town USA”: Steamboat Springs has become a proving ground for outdoor innovation

 By [Colorado Sun](https://rcedp.org/news/author/colorado-sun) 

 December 31, 2020 at 5:24 PM

*Routt County’s playground is a “perfect package” for enticing and fostering outdoor recreation entrepreneurs.*

ROUTT COUNTY - With more than 90 and counting, Steamboat Springs is well known as a breeding ground for Olympians. But it’s also just as fertile an environment for outdoor businesses, nurturing them with all the right ingredients to succeed.  

Forget its snappy “Ski Town USA” moniker. How about “Outdoor Business Town USA”?

Somehow, a veritable Who’s Who of successful outdoor companies have set roots and prospered in this small mountain community in northwest Colorado.

Leading the pack are such outdoor giants as merino apparel maker Smartwool, tent and sleeping bag manufacturer Big Agnes, energy food company Honey Stinger and Boa Technology, a ratcheting system that recently sold for $454 million. 

 

[Read The Full Article](https://coloradosun.com/2020/12/31/outdoor-recreation-businesses-steamboat-springs-smartwool-boa-big-agnes/)

 

## Recommended For You

[![](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/COILS-1024x768.jpg)](https://rcedp.org/news/orecgrant-spt)

### [$65K grant supports Yampa Valley Outdoor Recreation Coalition](https://rcedp.org/news/orecgrant-spt)

[![Picture of Steamboat Pilot & Today](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/P%26T%20Logo.jpg) Steamboat Pilot & Today March 7, 2024 at 11:03 AM](https://rcedp.org/news/author/steamboat-pilot-today)

[![](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/COILS.jpg)](https://rcedp.org/news/rcedp-coils)

### [RCEDP hosts COILS summit showcasing Yampa Valley’s outdoor recreation industry](https://rcedp.org/news/rcedp-coils)

[![Picture of Steamboat Pilot & Today](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/P%26T%20Logo.jpg) Steamboat Pilot & Today October 9, 2023 at 3:45 PM](https://rcedp.org/news/author/steamboat-pilot-today)

[![](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/Robin%20Hall%20-%20SP.jpg)](https://rcedp.org/news/new-steamboat-business-focusing-on-childrens-outdoor-apparel-niche)

### [New Steamboat business focusing on children’s outdoor apparel niche](https://rcedp.org/news/new-steamboat-business-focusing-on-childrens-outdoor-apparel-niche)

[![Picture of Steamboat Pilot & Today](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/P%26T%20Logo.jpg) Steamboat Pilot & Today July 17, 2021 at 5:01 PM](https://rcedp.org/news/author/steamboat-pilot-today)

#### Stay Connected

Get the latest local business resources and stay informed about long-term economic sustainability initiatives.

---

![logo-white](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/logo-white.png)

Routt County, Colorado

+1 (970) 717-0721

[info@rcedp.org](mailto:info@rcedp.org)

[Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/RCEDP) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/routt-county-economic-development-partnership/) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/rc_edp/) [Follow us on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/user/31yb7rxgbioad423hr67hisepumu?si=1c120763ec024429)

- [Events](https://lu.ma/rcedp)
- [Entrepreneurship](https://rcedp.org/entrepreneurship-center)
- [Business Support](https://rcedp.org/business-retention-expansion)
- [Key Industries](https://rcedp.org/key-industries)
- [Yampa Valley](https://rcedp.org/overview)
- [Data](https://rcedp.org/data/communities)
- [News](https://rcedp.org/news)
- [About Us](https://rcedp.org/partnership)
- [Donate](https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Routt-County-Economic-Development-Partnership)

Copyright © 2024 Routt County Economic Development Partnership

[Privacy Policy](https://rcedp.org/privacypolicy) | [Terms and Conditions](https://rcedp.org/termsandconditions)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Colorado Sun",
    "url" : "https://rcedp.org/news/author/colorado-sun"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2023-10-11T23:39:14.392Z",
  "datePublished" : "2021-01-01T00:24:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "“Outdoor Business Town USA”: Steamboat Springs has become a proving ground for outdoor innovation",
  "image" : [ "https://rcedp.org/hubfs/SteamboatBusiness5.webp" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://rcedp.org/news/outdoor-business-town-usa-steamboat-springs-has-become-a-proving-ground-for-outdoor-innovation",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://rcedp.org/hubfs/RCEDP-logo-color.png"
    },
    "name" : "Routt County Economic Development Partnership"
  }
}
```