ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this episode of Steamboat Real Estate & Investing, Ryan Cox sits down with restauranteur and developer Collin Kelley for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, development, consumer spending, and the future of the Yampa Valley.
As the owner of Primrose and Cypress, developer of The Latigo, and visionary behind the transformative Forty West Mercantile project in west Steamboat, Collin shares lessons learned from building businesses, navigating economic uncertainty, and creating places where people want to live, gather, and invest. The conversation also explores Lumbre, a forthcoming Southwestern and Spanish-inspired restaurant at The Latigo built around live-fire cooking, and how memorable dining experiences can help define the character and vibrancy of a community.
Topics include:
💰 Going from an overdrawn bank account to building a successful restaurant and development portfolio
📈 How inflation, rising costs, and even the price of beef impact local businesses
🛍️ Changing consumer spending habits across different income segments
🏢 The Latigo - a new luxury project on Yampa Street
🏙️ What makes downtown Steamboat vibrant and resilient
🍽️ The inspiration behind a European-style chef-driven market and food hall planned for west Steamboat
🔥 The vision behind Lumbre, a Southwestern and Spanish-inspired restaurant concept built around open-fire cooking
🚀 The future of entrepreneurship in mountain towns
Projects shaping Steamboat's future include:
🏢 The Latigo – An approved mixed-use downtown development featuring 8 luxury residences, a new restaurant concept, and structured parking.
🏘️ The Emerald – A boutique downtown infill project delivering 5 luxury townhomes within walking distance of Steamboat's core.
🏢 608 Yampa – A riverfront luxury condominium development featuring 4 residences in one of downtown's most walkable locations.
🍽️ Steamboat Basecamp – A west-side mixed-use neighborhood with 75 apartment units completed in Phase I, Townhomes, with additional apartments planned.
🏡 The Glen – A major residential neighborhood expansion planned to include approximately 130 single-family homes and 30+ townhomes, representing one of the largest future housing additions in Steamboat.
📈 Combined Impact – More than 250 new residential units in Downtown/West Steamboat, along with new restaurants, retail, community gathering spaces, and amenities that will help shape the next chapter of Steamboat Springs.
Plus:
☀️ Top five things to do in Steamboat during the summer
💵 If Collin had $1 million to invest in the Yampa Valley today, where would he put it—and why?
Whether you're interested in real estate, entrepreneurship, restaurants, investing, or the future of mountain communities, this conversation offers a fascinating look at where Steamboat is headed.
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About Collin Kelley
Collin Kelley is a Steamboat Springs entrepreneur, restaurateur, and real estate developer. He is the owner of Primrose and Cypress, developer of The Latigo mixed-use project, and visionary behind Forty West Mercantile, a chef-driven market hall and community gathering concept planned for west Steamboat. Through his work in hospitality, food, and development, Collin focuses on creating experiences and places that strengthen community, support local business, and contribute to the long-term vibrancy of the Yampa Valley.
www.primrosesteamboat.com
www.cypress-steamboat.com
www.latigo-steamboat.com
www.steamboatpilot.com/news/steamboat-12th-yampa-development-approved-planning-commission/
www.steamboatpilot.com/news/plans-introduced-for-chef-driven-market-on-steamboats-west-side
Ryan Cox is a top-performing luxury real estate broker at Steamboat Sotheby’s International Realty, with nine years of brokerage experience, multiple record-setting sales, and a proven history of delivering development projects in Steamboat Springs and beyond. A University of Colorado Leeds School of Business marketing graduate, he spent nine years at Smartwool (VF Corp) before co-founding and scaling SmartPads—a luxury prefab home company that delivered over 50 residential and commercial projects across the Western U.S., culminating in a successful exit. He also led an international luxury residential development in Costa Rica. Drawing on that experience and Sotheby’s international network, Ryan delivers sophisticated market intelligence and an insider’s perspective for luxury buyers and sellers.
Recognized with Sotheby’s Global Summit Awards (2017–2023) and named among RealTrends America’s Best (Top 1.5%) in 2023 and 2026, Ryan combines construction and development expertise with sharp negotiation skills and a highly tailored boutique approach. He has set multiple sales records in premier neighborhoods including Sunlight, Steamboat Pines, and The Sanctuary. His understanding of construction and development gives clients a unique edge in navigating Steamboat Springs and Routt County real estate.
www.ryancoxrealestate.com
www.steamboatrealestateandinvesting.com
Ryan.Cox@Steamboatsir.com
