We're pretty excited to be heading into our 10th winter season!
From life on a busy charter yacht in the British Virgin Islands we ran aground in the Rocky Mountains in 1998. Some thought that we had crossed to the "other side" and were now working on a "Steam Boat". Others knew better...
We are proud to have built up a collection of the finest vacation homes in Steamboat and with this we continue to expand the option of also enjoying our unique full-service catered chalet package as the perfect solution to your next family or group vacation. The Moving Mountains dynamic duo (Robin & Heather) grew into a team and they added a couple of kids & dogs for good measure. It's
been a busy 10 years!
For a quick trip down memory lane here are the highlights:
April 1997:
Robin & Heather decide late on a Thursday night to spend their next week off in Steamboat Springs on Saturday. They fly out on Saturday arriving in Steamboat during the first week of mud-season. The mountain is closed, the town is deserted, and they like what they see.
After a week of property tours they did not find what they were looking for but were convinced that Steamboat could be the place.
Sept 1997:
Another trip to Colorado and after a week they had still found nothing. On the last afternoon they stumble upon a home with six bedrooms and 8 bathrooms that seems perfect! They fly home to put a business plan together. Many late nights on the phone and at the computer follow.
Dec 1997:
With family investors onboard they fly to Steamboat to close the deal and set up the house. Everything for the house is purchased off the showroom floor and Moving Mountains Chalet is set up for rental in 3 weeks. Robin & Heather return to the islands to continue working on ESII.
Winter 1997/08:
Modest rental income trickles in as the Craigens begin marketing operations for the opening of their full-service catered chalet the following winter. The website is constructed and marketing materials sent out to past guests.
Summer 1998:
Robin & Heather sell everything including their beloved J24 sailboat "Jambo!" and move to Colorado amidst clouds of uncertainty. Neighbors of the Moving Mountains Chalet protest the application for a B&B permit and they are denied by Planning Commission.
Winter 1998/9:
The Craigens arrive in Steamboat Springs and slowly win public support for their concept. Eventually they gain approval despite strong opposition from some neighbors and begin operations at Thanksgiving. The first winter is a slow one as they work to get the word out about their new ski lodging. First big break comes in the Spring of '98 when the editor of SKI magazine comes to stay and loves the catered chalet idea. She announces that Moving Mountains Chalet will feature in the first issue of the next winter as an "Inn of the Month".
Summer 1999:
Robin & Heather are getting nervous after a summer with very low occupancy and a trickle of winter inquiries. The September issue of Ski Magazine hits the newsstands in August and suddenly they are swamped with inquiries. The review could not be better and the coming winter is suddenly selling like hot-cakes! Chocolate lab puppy "Lola" joins the MM Team.
Winter 1999/00:
The second winter season is a sell-out! Robin & Heather are joined in Colorado by first-mate, Kevin, and so begins the growth of the fledgling business. They survive the Millennium New Year and are kept very busy.
Summer 2000:
Steady B&B bookings keep rooms filled on summer weekends. Robin & Heather are offered the management of a second home in the same neighborhood. Mountain High Chalet is added to the inventory and first-mate Kev. gets to run his own operation. Robin & Heather move out of residence at Moving Mountains Chalet to live two doors away at the new "Staff House".
Winter 00/01:
First season with two homes is a modest success but the rave reviews keep telling us that we're doing the right thing regarding the catered lodging packages.
Winter 01/02:
Winter bookings look strong until 9/11 Terrorist attack when suddenly the whole world seems like a different place. The winter is a disaster for all in Steamboat and the business clings to life. Robin & Heather discover that their staff will grow by one in July 2002 with the arrival of a li
ttle girl.
Summer 2002:
Summer of babies and puppies. Five weeks before the arrival of their daughter, Lola gives birth to a healthy litter of 8 chocolate lab puppies. On July 18th a beautiful daughter, Maddie, arrives changing their lives forever. One puppy stays with the family and is named Ellie.
Winter 2002/03:
Two crews of staff care for our guests as we begin to hand over responsibility for day-to-day chalet operations to new staff members. Business is still shaky in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks but once again guest feedback and repeat bookings inspire us to keep going.
Winter 2003/04:
More chalets are added including Edelweiss Chalet, one of Steamboat's premier rental homes. Our focus on luxury home rentals appears to be paying off as more guests than ever try full-service packages.
W
inter 2004/05:
Encouraged by repeated requests and strong market research the decision is made to also offer the full-service package in Big Sky, MT. A great collection of luxury rental homes is assembled and a new program is offered. Bookings do not materialize and the program is cancelled after one season. Robin & Heather decide to keep the focus closer to home in Steamboat.
Summer 2005:
Robin & Heather begin their most ambitious project yet - the construction of a custom designed duplex that will be added to their rental properties inventory in December 2006.
The day after they break ground Heather has a second child and they welcome their son, Sebastian, "Chili", into the world.
Winter 2005/06:
Will be remembered as the third biggest winter of the last 30 years, and one of the toughest construction winters in recent memory. After a long dry fall, and good early progress, activity on the construction project grings to a halt as the contractor battles the relentless snowfall. In February the foundation slab is poured and framing of the structure finally begins.
Summer 2006:
"The longest summer of our lives". Having terminated our contractor in March after a series of delays and errors Robin & Heather took on the role of General Contractor to finish construction of the Bear Chalets - two four bedroom chalets with combined square footage of over 9000 sq.ft.
Moving Mountains is offered the management of a spectacular new home called the See Me Lodge also under construction.
Robin & Heather move the office of Moving Mountains out of their home and into commercial space at the base of the mountain.
Winter 2006/07:
Bear Chalets are completed just in time for first guests in December 2006. The See Me Lodge was completed in Janaury 2007 and began accepting guests who gave it rave reviews.
Winter 2007/08:
Another busy winter is ahead of us. The prospects for Steamboat look great with the sale of the ski area to Intrawest, an industry leader in resort development.
Record $$ are committed to on mountain improvements including a new 6 passenger high-speed chairlift from the base area. Redevelopment of the entire base area will take place over the next five years bringing Steamboat to the forefront of US ski destinations. Moving Mountains appears well positioned to cater to the needs of the many new visitors that are expected in Steamboat in the coming years.
We look forward to seeing you here!
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