What happens when an Irish river guide turns his passion for adventure into a small business empire in the Colorado mountains?
Ken Murphy, founder of Adventure Outdoors in Eagle, Colorado, shares how a one-way ticket to the U.S. turned into a lifelong pursuit of freedom, grit, and entrepreneurship. From ski lifts to whitewater rapids, Ken built a career around recreation — and then transformed that passion into a thriving multi-business operation connecting rafting, horseback riding, ATVs, and outdoor tours across the Rockies.
In this episode, Ken talks about the real business behind the outdoor industry — managing risk, evolving with technology, balancing tourism with conservation, and keeping the “small” in small business. He’s built a model that not only fuels adventure but helps revive Main Street economies across mountain towns in America.
Real stories. Real ownership. Real lessons from the field.
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