Business Partner Highlights

If you stopped in at Ace Hardware in May and June it was easy to round up for the river after buying your paint, grill part or other “glad we have Ace here” product for your summer home or improvement project. Ace is one of 10 inaugural partners that have signed up to help protect our beloved Yampa River by joining the Yampa Ripple Effect, which lets local business customers “round-up” to protect the river, with all proceeds going to the Yampa River Fund. How’d it go for them during the month-long campaign? Swimmingly, we’d like to say, with nearly half of their customers opting to round-up for the river after their purchases. We caught up with longtime owner Marc Swanson for his thoughts on protecting the river.  

Name/title: Marc Swanson, owner Steamboat Ace Hardware 

Years at Ace: 14 

Why is it important to support the river?  

The river is the lifeblood of the valley. Not only is it the beautiful gem that defines the valley, without adequate streamflows a whole slew of recreational and economic activities vital to the community, from trout fishing to rafting, are threatened. From an ecological perspective, with the region-wide drought conditions of the last 20 years leading to diminished river flows and higher water temperatures, we need to do everything we can to protect and enhance the Yampa River ecosystem as it faces these challenges. 

Why is its health important to the community?  

The health of the river and the health of the community are intimately connected. A healthy river is one that we can recreate on, fish, kayak, or simply enjoy as the majestic living organism that it is. There is a big mental health / quality of life component here.  

How has the program been received by your customers? 

It was received very well and we got a lot of positive feedback. It was readily apparent how deeply valley residents care about the Yampa River. 

Does your team utilize the river (and how do you use it)? 

There are many of us at Steamboat Ace Hardware who are passionate about fishing or rafting. I got off a couple good runs down the Yampa through town on my 30-year-old raft when the flows were high. It was a blast. A number of us at the hardware store bike to work in the summer months along the Core Trail as well, myself included. Riding along the river is such a great way to start and finish your day. 
 
Any products you offer that fishers, tubers and other river users might find useful? 

From cam straps to Yeti coolers and dry boxes, we have a lot that would pique the interest of river users.  

What other causes do you solicit donations for? 

The other cause that we have solicited donations for is the Children's Miracle Network. We also directly support numerous other causes in the Yampa Valley and have made many donations down through the years for river habitat restoration and enhancement. We love helping the river whenever we can. 

Hats off to Yampa Ripple Effect partner Ace Hardware for joining this year's round-up for the river effort again in 2025! Like last year, the event ran during June and helped raise substantial funds to support the program. Owner Marc Swanson and manager Carl Fitzgerald posed with an oversized donation check along with the Yampa Ripple Effect's Eugene Buchanan and dog Banjo! (Note: Banjo is available for future donation check photos with all partners). 

Started in a garage in 2014 by engineer-turned-ski bum/coach/instructor Andrew Beckler, Steamboat Springs-based GrassSticks makes award-winning bamboo ski poles and paddles just a block away from the Yampa River. Its team has a deep-rooted passion for skiing, paddle boarding, kayaking and rafting, as well as a long-running appreciation for protecting the Yampa. As one of the Yampa Ripple Effect’s newest partners, we caught up with founder and owner Andrew Beckler for his thoughts on his business, the Steamboat community, and helping preserve the Yampa River.  

Name/Title: Andrew Beckler/Owner 

How did you end up in Steamboat? 
I came for the skiing back in 2010 and never left. The community, the lifestyle, the snow, and now my business have made Steamboat my home. 

What do you love about Steamboat and the Yampa River? 
It’s hard not to fall in love with this place. The Yampa runs right through town, the ski resort is more accessible than any other, and I can hit the mountain bike trails straight from our shop. 

Why is it important to support the river and why is its health important for our community? 
The Yampa is the lifeblood of this valley. It supports everything from recreation to agriculture, and even just the outdoor lifestyle that makes Steamboat such an incredible place to live and play. A healthy river means a healthy community. Protecting it now ensures we all get to enjoy it for years to come. 

How has the program been received by your customers? 
Our customers have been stoked about it. A lot of them are river people themselves—paddlers, anglers, or just folks who appreciate what the Yampa gives us. They love knowing that their purchase is helping give back. 

How does the Yampa Ripple Effect fit in with GrassSticks’ mission? 
We’re all about sustainability and building products that last, using materials that make sense. Supporting the river feels like a natural extension of that. If we’re making gear to enjoy the outdoors, we should do our part to protect it, too. 

How’s the new headquarters working out? 
It’s been awesome! Having a dedicated space has helped us streamline everything. We have a dedicated space for a storefront and separate rooms for production. We're closer to town, which has increased walk-in customers, and being closer to the river, bike trails, and ski resort doesn’t hurt either. 

How's the bamboo working for SUP and raft paddles? 
It’s been killer. Bamboo is strong, light, and has a natural flex that feels great, making it a very responsive and bombproof paddle. Plus, it's beautiful. We’re seeing more and more river rats and guides making the switch. 

Does your team utilize and love the river? 
Absolutely. We float, fish, surf, paddle—if there’s water flowing, someone from the crew is probably out there. It’s a big part of who we are, both personally and as a company. 

What's your favorite thing to do on the Yampa? 
Hard to pick just one, but I’d say a high-water town canyon lap, ending with a long surf session at the C-hole after work is tough to beat. 

Off the Beaten Path Bookstore has been serving Steamboat’s book needs for decades. Now, it’s helping the river as well as people’s penchant for reading. In July, proceeds from its delicious Lazy River drink (a Lavender Ice Tea) went to the Yampa Ripple Effect and Yampa River Fund, complete with a special river display inside highlighting books that have to do with rivers. We caught up with co-owner Danielle Skov for her thoughts on everything from reading to the river.  

Name/Title: Danielle Skov, owner 

When and why did you move to Steamboat?  My husband Mike and I moved here 27 years ago. My uncle, Rob Dick, who lived in town, offered Mike a job and we jumped at the opportunity to move west. He also connected us with the Butcherknife housing project where we were able to buy our first home and raise our three kids. Now we love being part of the community in a different way through owning the bookstore. 

Why is it important to support the river and why is its health important for our community? The Yampa River is the heart of our community. Many of us moved here for the natural beauty, the ability to connect daily with nature and the outdoor recreational activities. The river is an integral part of all three of these. Its health is vital to our community because it’s a part of a complex and diverse ecosystem—and we’re stewards of both the river and the larger ecosystem of this valley we love. 

Does your team utilize and love the river? On our staff we have serious anglers, lazy tubers, adventurous paddle boarders, and at least one dedicated "river rat." But perhaps the way we as a staff enjoy the river the most is taking our break on the bank of the Yampa while reading our favorite book on a summer day. 

Any river-themed concoctions you create? For the month of July, we are offering the "Lazy River" as our drink of the month. All proceeds from the Drink of the Month go straight to the Yampa Ripple Effect to help preserve the river we all love.  

What do books and the river have in common? Books and rivers build and support diverse communities. Since recorded time civilizations have flourished on rivers—and then later in bookstores. Just as we see the Yampa as the heart of the community, we also hope that Off the Beaten Path is another center of the Yampa Valley. 

It figures that in a place known as Ski Town USA, Mythology founder and president Scott Yeates got the brainstorm to start the distillery while on a ski trip in Alaska’s backcountry. After returning from the Last Frontier, he opened Mythology in Denver’s Lower Highlands neighborhood in 2018, quickly seeing its whiskey blends, gins, vodka and other specialty spirits win over 60 national and international awards, many of which are Gold, Double Gold and Best in Class. In 2023, he moved its headquarters to Steamboat Springs, consolidating production in a state-of-the-art distillery and barrel room rackhouse while also opening the Yampa River-inspired Confluence, which includes a cocktail bar, restaurant and outdoor whiskey garden, where locals and visitors can relax and share stories of adventure and travel over local craft whiskey, cocktails and beer. One of the Yampa Ripple Effect’s earliest partners, we caught up with him for his thoughts on the program and the importance of protecting the river that helps produce his award-winning libations. 

Name/Title: Scott Yeates, Founder/President, Mythology Distillery  

Years at business: Since 2016 

Why is it important to support the river and why is its health important for our community? The Yampa River is the heart of this community—it creates and sustains wildlife habitat, provides recreational opportunities for enjoyment and sustains the agricultural foundation of this valley.  

How has the program been received by your customers? Our customers have been super receptive to the roundup program; it’s a great and easy way to support the Yampa and this community. Promoting the Yampa Ripple Effect makes it easy to keep the conversation top-of-mind regarding restoration projects, current flow rates and how we as a community can continue to restore the free flow of this river.  

Does your team utilize and love the river? Absolutely. Our whole team loves fishing, rafting and kayaking, and heads out to the river every chance they get. It’s one of our town’s best natural amenities.  

Have any river-themed concoctions? Pre-batch an Old Fashioned in a Nalgene water bottle by using two parts of Mythology Whiskey to a quarter-part simple syrup and a couple dashes of bitters. Place the Nalgene in the water to chill before passing around. This also works great with a gin or vodka gimlet, which is one and a half parts Mythology gin/vodka, and three-quarters parts lemon juice and simple syrup. As for what we serve here, look for specials and events related to the river throughout spring and summer.  

It seems your outdoor patio has a sort-of river camp feel? Heck yeah! We wanted to create a community feel where everyone can gather around the firepit, share stories and enjoy drinks just like they do on a river trip. 

Can you tell us a little bit about the “sonic aging” technique you use in your rackhouse? We've combined our passion for live music with crafting whiskey. During winter, the temperature is too cold for pressure inside a whiskey barrel to expand and therefore the whiskey sits dormant. Enter music. We introduce low frequency sound waves through music in our rackhouse to sonic age the whiskey. These sound waves reverberate the whiskey inside the barrel to force interactions between the charred wood and whiskey and further the aging process during an otherwise dormant period. We have plans to introduce single barrels that are exposed to specific musicians and bands as well. 

Beard & Braid, located at 116 9th Street downtown, opened its doors in 2022 and is passionate about creating elevated patisseries and expertly crafted espresso drinks made with the finest locally sourced ingredients. Proudly serving Sweet Bloom Coffee from Lakewood, Colo., it adds a touch of creativity to all its offerings, from flaky croissants to frothy cappuccinos, with every sip and bite telling a story of its commitment to quality and community. As one of the Yampa Ripple Effect’s newest partners, we caught up with founder and owner Ethan Martin for his thoughts on his business, Steamboat’s coffee community and the importance of protecting the Yampa River. 

Name/Title: Ethan Martin, Founder/Owner

How did you end up in Steamboat?  I have lived in Colorado for over a decade with my home bases in Boulder and Carbondale. I had always loved spending time in Steamboat Springs and knew it was the perfect size of an engaged and heartfelt community to thrive in long term.

Wha’s your most popular coffee drink and pastry? We have a lot of popular items, but I think that the Maple Leaf and Pop Tart are the most sought after.

What do you love about Steamboat and the Yampa River? Steamboat is endlessly charming and full of fun and active neighborly people, and the Yampa allows beautiful natural life to flow through the valley.

Why is it important to support the river and why is its health important for our community? It’s crucial that we respect our local environment because it is the lifeblood of our town.

How has the program been received by your customers? Our guests absolutely love contributing to the Yampa Ripple Effect program and to be part of the bigger picture helping to protect the river.

How does the Yampa Ripple Effect fit in with your mission? We strive to be proactive about making positive impacts on our surroundings including the community and wildlife and the Yampa Ripple Effect is the perfect way to do that.

Does your team utilize and love the river? We absolutely adore the Yampa. We have frequent mellow walks, float parties, cold plunges, and meditation sessions along the river.

What's your favorite thing to do on the Yampa? My personal favorite thing to do is go on rafting trips with friends and our pups.

february 2025 - skull creek greek, wild plum market, & hypnotic chicken

Name/Title: Jason Partovi/Owner

What do you love about Steamboat and the Yampa River?

I’m incredibly grateful to call Steamboat Springs home. My wife and I moved here with our two daughters about six years ago, drawn by the incredible quality of life this community offers. Nine months later our son was born. Since then, the Yampa Valley has truly reshaped our lives. Owning and operating Skull Creek Greek, Hypnotic Chicken, and Wild Plum has been a journey of growth and connection—not just for our family but for the amazing employees who have become part of our extended family. Our family enjoys camping, hiking, biking, skiing, and soaking up everything that makes Steamboat so special. The support of this community has meant everything to us, and I’m deeply committed to giving back in ways that make a difference for others. This town has given us so much, and it’s a privilege to be able to contribute in return.

Why is it important to support the river, and why is its health important for our community?  

The Yampa River is the lifeblood of our community, supporting recreation, wildlife, and local businesses. Its health ensures that future generations can enjoy its beauty and benefits. 

How has the program been received by your customers? 
Our customers have been incredibly supportive. They love knowing that their visit contributes to protecting something so vital to our area. 

How much does it help raise for the river? 
Through the Yampa Ripple Effect, we raised over $7,500 in 2024 to help fund critical conservation and education efforts by Friends of the Yampa. This is a testament to our community’s dedication to the sustainability of the Yampa River and it makes us proud to be a part of it. 

Does your team utilize and love the river?  Absolutely! Whether it’s kayaking, fishing, or just enjoying the scenery, our team loves spending time on the river and values its many contributions to our community. 

What's your favorite thing to do on the Yampa?  I enjoy paddleboarding, tubing, and attending the annual Riverfest celebration. But my absolute favorite is spending time with my children, enjoying the river with our feet in the water.  

Cruisers Sub Shop owner Kris Shea has always been drawn to the water. Growing up fishing on the rivers and lakes of Michigan, his love for surfing brought him to Southern California for college, after which he traveled to Central America and New Zealand, chasing new bodies of water. After settling down in Steamboat Springs, he started Cruisers in 2011, quickly giving it a surf and river theme. Wanting to help restore and preserve his cherished Yampa River, he founded the River Collective Co., connecting area artists and retailers with a sticker program whose sales benefit local river nonprofits. The program has since expanded to the Colorado River Basin and beyond. Helping launch the Yampa Ripple Effect’s pilot program, Cruisers is also its leading contributor. We caught up with him between his time on the water, behind his sandwich counter and raising his 5-year-old son Julian with wife Jenn for a little more insight on his love for the Yampa.   

Name/Title: Kris Shea, owner, Cruisers Sub Shop

Why is it important to support the river?  

It's incredibly important to support it. The Yampa is the cornerstone of our community and valley. Its health is vital to everyone living here. It supports so many different industries both directly and indirectly, from ranchers to recreationists. Its health also impacts many communities downstream. It’s one of the most important natural amenities of our town. 

How has the program been received by your customers? Our customers are super excited about it. We've provided a simple way for locals and visitors to chip-in and help protect the river. We’ve had a lot of people thank us for giving them an easy way to contribute. 

How much does it help raise for the river?  A lot. It raises money for the river through the "round up" feature on our point-of-sale system, which works super easily and keeps track of every donation. So far, we’ve raised over $7,400 through it, averaging about $500 per month, all of which goes straight toward helping protect the Yampa by keeping water in it, riparian and agriculture improvements, tree-planting initiatives, and more.  

Does your team utilize and love the river?  A hundred percent. Our team members love to fish and raft the river throughout spring, summer and fall. It’s right out our backdoor. I can be fishing on it just a minute bike ride away. 

Tell us about your River Collective program and how it helps the river:  It’s another great way to help protect the Yampa. Through the sales of our custom fish stickers we raise awareness and recurring donations for the Yampa River Fund. We donate 20 percent of all sales to the Yampa River Fund. So far, we've donated over $11,000. 

 Any river-themed food items?  Our Yampa Acai Bowl is pretty popular. It’s a big seller in the summer. 

What's your favorite thing to do on the Yampa?  I'm a fishing nerd. I love to float and fly fish all over the valley. 

For more than 16 years, the Drunken Onion at 685 Marketplace Plaza has been Steamboat’s friendly, local get-and-go kitchen to fuel local adventures. Town’s go-to spot for fast, slow food, it slow-cooks everything from scratch and stocks its kitchen every day with your favorite meals, so you can grab it fast when you need it. Serving everything from breakfast, lunch and heat-and-serve dinners to full-on group meals and catering options, it’s been voted Best of the Boat Caterer for seven years, thanks to owner and chef Ben Stroock, who brings his culinary expertise to every menu item. It sources ingredients locally and organically whenever possible to let you bring quality meals home, ready to heat and enjoy. Choose from a variety of breakfast and coffee options to deli-style lunches, housemade soups, pizzas, dinners, desserts, and more. It’s also been one of the longest-running supporters of the Yampa Ripple Effect, letting its customers help raise funds for the Yampa River. We caught up with Ben for his take on how the Yampa Ripple Effect’s “round-up for the river” program is going for their loyal customers. (Info: www.drunkenonion.com).

Name/Title: Ben Stroock, chef/owner

Years at business: The Drunken Onion, 16; restaurant business, 34 

Why is it important to support the river?  

The Yampa is the centerpiece of our community and we are blessed to have it. A healthy river means healthy land, wildlife and people.

How has the program been received by your customers? 

Some people don’t notice it and totally ignore it, but the ones who realize what it is and how easy it is to make a difference and help protect the river are thrilled to contribute.

How much does it help raise for the river per month?

Monthly it brings in somewhere in the neighborhood of $225. People love helping out and contributing.

Does your team utilize the river (and how do you use it)? 

We all love being near our hometown Yampa River and get out on it whenever we can. A couple of our staff members fish, and I am becoming a rafting fanatic. I try to get out on it as much as I can.
 
Any products you offer that river users might find useful? 

Our breakfast burritos, soups and group meals are becoming a staple on many overnight river trips; a lot of people come to us to cater their meals on multi-day trips, like down in Yampa Canyon. And river enthusiasts of all stripes love my burritos, sandwiches/wraps, and salads to fuel whatever they are getting into along the Yampa, Elk, and other local creeks and river.