Meet Natalie Binder | Entrepreneur

I believe pursuing your passion takes a certain amount of risk. From deciding to be a full-time ski bum to a corporate lawyer, there is a risk in what the outcome will actually produce and the trade off in quality of life. I have tried to strike a balance between risk, reward and following my heart. After college, I left behind a more structured corporate hospitality career to work on a hotel development in a ski town. It was an incredible opportunity, but the contract only provided a six month guarantee. I was willing to take the risk for the learning opportunity and it ended up turning into a six plus year stretch where I was able to touch almost every part of the development and open the hotel as the GM. If I had not taken that risk, I am not sure I would have been exposed to so much of that experience at such an early point in my career. Of course, there is a certain amount of freedom and risk I have been fortunate to make without having to worry about taking care of a child or spouse. I recognize that not everyone can take the same level of risk based on their circumstances and how fortunate I have been to make calculated decisions and have the support of my family and community.

One of our motto’s at CampV is that it’s more than just a place to stay, it’s a place to create and inspire. Early on, we created a non-profit called WEarts or West End Arts with the mission of bringing art to rural community and to form connection. This joint venture between the for profit CampV and the non-profit WEarts has helped us shape the space and integrate community and art without the pressure of a return on the creative side of our art programming and offerings. We are mission driven in all we do and we hope our guests feel the impact of supporting a small rural business when they spend time at the property and feel all the love and hard work our artists, friends, community and team members have created. We often get asked by guests what they can do to help and they are very engaged in wanting to learn more about the history and the area in general. It all feels very different and refreshing from previous hospitality ventures!

A bike ride up Calamity Hill, just west of CampV, to Genesis Coffee in Nucla for an oatmilk latte. Head across the street to Wild Gal’s, a little grocery store that features excellent, locally sourced food, for all the fixingings for a picnic lunch, Pedal back towards CampV for a picnic by the pond. Spend the afternoon lazing in a hammock with a good book and maybe a bit of napping. Then wrap up the evening with a good veggie burger and Veuve champagne by the campfire… a walk around CampV and starbathing under the dark skies of the west end. We would definitely do some Tank Town yoga with a sound bath and day time adventures exploring the petroglyphs and canyons.