Meet Christine Serpas | Business owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Serpas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, what role has risk played in your life or career?
This is a good one…. I am a risk taker through and through, not just my professional life. That’s how I came to Colorado. My daughter said she is thinking of transferring colleges to Colorado and if I would want to move out there if she went (short pause) YES!!!

Taking a risk means truly chasing your passion and love. If you never take a risk, you will cheat yourself of knowing your full potential.

I’ve definitely lost in some risks, this campground has been my biggest challenge. Not just financially, but also mentally, emotionally, and physically challenging running this show solo. I take the losses with the wins and keep pushing forward, learning lessons all along the way.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own a small campground in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, the highest alpine desert in the world! Since I was a little kid, I thought the Park Ranger/Camp Host had the best job on the planet. They get to live in paradise and greet the nicest people on vacation everyday!!

After vacationing in Yellowstone National Park with my family, I knew I needed to own a campground and share my passion with others who have the same love. I was still working in the mortgage business and just kind of “shopping” for land and looking for turn key campgrounds. My schtick was that I needed to be near a National Park, for traffic, travelers, avid campers who are attracted to these sites.

I found the property and set in motion to make the deal happen. I was afraid of being alone and not knowing anyone and how do I even start?? I am a single female with 40 acres and a campground, now what?? This is NOT easy, this is the biggest challenge of my life, and I love it. I have taught myself how to drive a dump truck, how to work a 1972 Case Trencher, bought all kinds of tools and hit the ground running watching YouTube videos hahahahaha.

Lessons I have learned along the way, do not make decisions overnight, think on them. Never trust a person who seems “too good to be true”. Always listen to your gut and instincts. Again, as a single woman running the show, I have to regularly depend on others for help.

Challenges arise daily. My campground is still very primitive in its setting. I am trying to get some upgrades but still want to provide a raw, real outdoor experience of what this Valley offers. I live near several 14,000+ mountain ranges and want to keep those views as organic as possible.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would start with a good hearty breakfast at Grammy’s Kitchen (literally tastes like your Maw-Maw just made biscuits) for a good hearty start to the day. Then head to the Great Sand Dunes National Park for a day of fun!! There are Park Rangers to answer any questions and to learn the history of how these Dunes came about. After a full day of being outdoors, on your way back to my campground, stop at the Sand Dunes Recreational Pool and Hot Springs to unwind, soak, have a few drinks, an amazing culinary meal, hot shower, then head back to your campsite, get your fire ready because the stars are about to put on a show!!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe everything to my parents and my family for instilling strong work ethics and the values that carry me through every day life. They are two of the hardest working people I know. Honest and loyal to everything they put their hands on. Not just my parents, my grandparents on both sides and also my Aunts and Uncles. You get out what you put in, words that I live by.

Website: https://highpeakscampground.com

Facebook: high peaks campground

Other: I am listed on the camping application, Hipcamp

Image Credits
Milky Way picture is by Nancy McKinney. There is also a picture of the Sand Dunes National park.