The Story of Colorado Outdoors

From the very beginning, Colorado Outdoors identified Montrose as a strategic place for transformation. The Western Slope has long been known for its spectacular outdoor recreation, and yet it had an opportunity to grow into something more: a business and living destination aligned with that outdoor DNA.

The goal of our project is three-fold:

• Provide a desirable location for business relocation and commercial enterprise – bringing skilled jobs to the region.
• Restore and enhance the famed Uncompahgre River corridor for the benefit of community and environment.
• Create quality workforce housing, enabling locals to live and work in the same community.

So why Montrose? Because it blends regionally recognized outdoor lifestyle with room for structured growth, with a much lower cost of living than similar towns in the Mountain West. The development sits along the Uncompahgre River, tapping into both the natural beauty and the growth potential of the region.

Our Mission in Action

At its core, Colorado Outdoors is a development company committed to re-imagining how business, community and nature can work together. Our mission: transform Montrose into a compelling destination for business.

Building the Campus

In total, the project currently spans approximately 165 acres, accounting for 670,000 square feet of development that blends hotels, restaurants, retail, offices, modern housing, and abundant open space and trail access. The development’s master plan reserves 41 acres of land specifically for conservation – preserving riparian habitat and the river corridor that forms the heart of the campus. The Flex Buildings, composed of two structures on the west end of the campus, are currently fully leased to a variety of 100% local businesses: retail shops, restaurants, fitness studios, manufacturers, and more.

Supporting Outdoor-Centric Business Growth

Beyond bricks and mortar, we’re enabling businesses to relocate or expand in a setting that delivers access, lifestyle, environment and incentives.

• In 2020, the Colorado Outdoors “Pearl Fund” invested $1 million into Wedge Brands, LLC (outside the immediate Montrose campus) as the largest Qualified Opportunity Zone investment in the country to date.
• In 2021, the campus welcomed a major expansion by Montrose Anglers (fly-shop/gear manufacturer) which announced expansion plans at Colorado Outdoors.
• In 2022, Secret Creek (formerly Colorado Yurt Company), announced its expansion to Colorado Outdoors to accommodate a 30,000-square-foot facility. The company began offering overnight stays in their Yurt Village in 2023.

By focusing on outdoor-industry companies — manufacturers, distributors, showrooms — we leverage Montrose’s outdoor reputation and economical advantages to help businesses thrive.

Revitalizing the River Corridor

One of the distinguishing features of Colorado Outdoors is its focus on enhancing the natural assets of Montrose. Beyond business and housing, this is about stewardship. Our efforts are helping turn the riverfront into a vibrant, accessible asset for the business campus, residents, and the entire Montrose community.

Key Milestones & Momentum

• January 2020: Development agreements were approved by the Montrose Urban Renewal Authority and the City of Montrose for a new hotel and multi-family housing project on the campus of Colorado Outdoors.

• November 2020: A $1.6 million restoration project launched on approximately 3,400 feet of the Uncompahgre River corridor as part of the outdoor-campus initiative.

• April 2021: Construction commenced on 55,000 square feet of mixed-use showroom, warehouse, office and distribution space within the campus, which eventually became the Flex Buildings.

• August 2021: Modular hotel construction for a new Fairfield by Marriott within the Colorado Outdoors campus began.

• January 2022: Shelter Distilling of Mammoth Lakes, CA officially announced plans to expand to Montrose with a manufacturing facility, distillery, and tap room on the Colorado Outdoors campus – the grand opening was celebrated in summer 2024.

• 2022-2023: The project advanced infrastructure, leasing, and master-planning efforts.

• March 2023: Units at Basecamp Apartments opened to tenants, increasing market-rate housing in Montrose with superior walkability.

• June 2024: A 5.5-mile section of the Uncompahgre River flowing through Montrose receives “Colorado Quality Waters” designation by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

• 2024: Colorado Outdoors welcomed six new businesses across its campus and added approximately 240 jobs in Montrose during the year.

• April 2025: Construction activity ramps up, with plans and announcements of new business openings, a new hotel build-out, and progress on mixed-use development phases for 2025-26, including Rivers Edge.

Why It Matters: Benefits for Businesses, Residents & the Western Slope

For Businesses

• Access to a campus that is designed for outdoor-industry manufacturing, distribution, showrooms, and office use.
• Broader appeal for talent: workers live, play, and work in the same place which aids recruitment and retention.
• A lifestyle-driven location with the Uncompahgre River, trails and outdoor amenities just steps away.
• Economic incentives: Montrose & the Western Slope region is positioned as an Opportunity Zone, and the campus has drawn strategic venture investment.

For Residents and Community

• The campus adds housing options and helps create a live-work-play environment, reducing commute times and increasing connectivity between home, work and nature.
• The river restoration and trail systems enrich the overall quality of life for all Montrose residents and visitors.
• Job creation and economic diversification for the region benefit local families, and elevate Montrose’s profile as a business and destination region.

For the Region & Economy

• The broader outdoor recreation economy in Colorado is strong and growing: for example, in 2023 it generated $17.2 billion and 132,500 jobs, representing 4.3 % of the state’s employment.
• Projects like Colorado Outdoors help position Montrose to capture more of that economic engine by combining outdoor recreation with manufacturing, business, living and retail.
• The mixed-use vision adds resilience to the economy, supporting manufacturing, service, retail, hospitality, and residential sectors all in one place.

How We’re Helping Businesses Grow & Thrive

Here’s how Colorado Outdoors supports businesses at several levels:

1. Infrastructure delivered: We build and designate buildings, spaces and campus infrastructure (roads, utilities, trails, river front improvements) so businesses can plug in and operate seamlessly.
2. Lifestyle access: The campus is oriented around amenities like river-side trail access, fly-fishing, kayaking, green space, and short commutes for employees who want to live nearby.
3. Workforce appeal: With attractive living environments, the ability to recruit talent improves. The endless recreational opportunities of the Western Slope matters in talent markets.
4. Economic incentives and positioning: Being in Montrose, part of an Opportunity Zone, and part of a regional push into outdoor-industry development gives strategic advantages.
5. Tailored spaces: Projects like Rivers Edge is a good example of a space designed to accommodate several different types of local business, from showrooms to retail to professional offices – with direct connection to the river corridor.
6. Community and environment first: We believe that long-term business success is tied to environmental stewardship and community vitality. The river restoration, preserved open space (41 acres), and trail systems are proof.

By delivering this ecosystem of business, living and outdoors, Colorado Outdoors gives companies a brand-enhanced platform aligned with outdoor recreation and lifestyle.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next

The story of Colorado Outdoors is just beginning. We have an ambitious roadmap for the coming years. Some of the key focus areas include:

• Expanding residential offerings: More housing units, townhomes, apartments and live-work studios, enabling more employees and their families to live on or near the campus.
• Hotel and hospitality growth: The Fairfield by Marriott project highlights our commitment to hospitality infrastructure that supports business visitors, corporate retreats, and tourism, with a second hotel coming in 2026.
• Retail and visitor-oriented uses: With spaces like Rivers Edge and curated retail/restaurant opportunities, the campus will increasingly function as an amenity hub, not just a business park.
• Deepening outdoor integration: Continued river corridor improvements, trail systems, recreation amenities and open-space preservation will strengthen the lifestyle appeal.
• Attracting more outdoor-industry anchors: We intend to recruit manufacturing, gear-design, distribution centers, and gear-testing companies that want to be based in a true outdoor-industry ecosystem.
• Sustainability and conservation: We remain committed to preserving open space and promoting the river’s ecological health, which in turn enhances appeal and value.

When businesses and people locate at Colorado Outdoors, they are joining a growing movement toward integrated living, work, recreation and nature in Montrose.

At the end of the day, the story of Colorado Outdoors is about crafting a true sense of place.

For businesses: it’s the chance to operate in a setting that makes sense for an outdoor-oriented brand, where employees live nearby, where gear gets tested on site, and where culture and environment reinforce your mission.

For residents: it means more opportunity, more high-quality jobs, more housing choices, and a setting where river and trail-side access are part of daily life, not just weekends.

For Montrose and the wider region: it’s about transforming the narrative. Instead of being “just a beautiful mountain town,” Montrose becomes a destination for industry, innovation, recreation and lifestyle.

Join Us

For companies interested in exploring what Colorado Outdoors offers, we invite you to view our master plan and retail space for lease. For prospective residents, head to our Why Montrose page to learn more about what makes our city great.