100 Elk Outdoor Center

What 100 Elk Outdoor Center does

100 Elk Outdoor Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit experiential education and retreat facility operated as a public program of the Adventure Unlimited organization's A/U Ranches, headquartered at 18325 County Road #366 in Buena Vista, Colorado. Founded in 2000 for events and rentals and expanded in 2001 to outdoor education, the center sits on a 1,345-acre two-campus property (Sky Valley Ranch and Round-Up Ranch) at the base of Colorado's 14,000-foot Collegiate Peaks, with lodging capacity for over 350 guests across bunkhouse cabins, deluxe apartments, yurts, and the Wyly and Valerie lodges. The facility is purpose-built for residential outdoor education, with dedicated venues including the renovated 400-capacity Wyly Lodge, the 500-seat Chapel of a Thousand Windows, Aspen Grove, and Round-Up Lake.

The company offers partial-day, single-day, and multi-day (up to 72 hours) outdoor education programs, plus corporate retreats, weddings, and group workshops. Programming is built around challenge-by-choice activities run on a multi-level High Ropes Course (built 2015), a 30-foot Leap of Faith platform, the Giant's Ladder, a 900 sq-ft indoor Wyly Rock Gym (built 2002), a 35-foot outdoor Rock Tower, canoeing, archery, horseback riding, and on-property hiking trails. Programs run primarily in fall (late August through October) and spring (April and May), with a 2026 summer Adventure Day Camp launched. Multi-day school programs are priced per student per 24-hour period; single-day and event rentals are quote-based.

The revenue model combines fee-based outdoor education and event rentals with tax-deductible donations to the parent nonprofit. Customers are primarily K-12 schools, colleges, Title 1 programs, at-risk youth programs, nonprofit organizations (including veterans' services and special needs providers), corporate retreat groups, and wedding clients, sourced primarily from Colorado and New Mexico. Distribution is direct sales-led via website, phone, email, and referrals, with no third-party resellers. The center employs a small core team (Director Brett Grimmer, Program Director David Bailey, and food operations leadership) supplemented by seasonal outdoor educators.

Name

100 Elk Outdoor Center

Legal name

100 Elk Outdoor Center

Website

https://100elk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

100 Elk Outdoor Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 1,345-acre residential outdoor education and retreat facility in Buena Vista, Colorado, offering challenge-based multi-day programs, corporate retreats, and weddings to schools, nonprofits, and groups primarily from Colorado and New Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Education and Retreat Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM), Treetop Walks & Aerial Trails (THAAACAD), Certification & Training Providers (Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard, Guide Training) (THAAAOAF), Adventure/Outdoor Base Hostels (Ski/Surf/Trek) (THAGAGAG)

Keywords

• Outdoor education programs
• Experiential learning retreats
• Corporate team building venues
• Adventure facility rentals
• Character development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Buena Vista

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Outdoor Education Programs: Fee-based outdoor education and character development programs for schools and groups. Multi-day programs charged per student per 24-hour period. Single and partial-day programs priced by group size and activities selected. Programs include lodging, dining, and activities.
2. Corporate Retreats & Event Rentals: Venue space, lodging, and dining rentals for corporate retreats, workshops, weddings, and reunions. Can include facilitated adventure activities. Pricing customized based on group size, duration, and services selected.
3. Donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations as a public program of the nonprofit Adventure Unlimited.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

100 Elk Outdoor Center delivers fee-based outdoor education and character development programs (partial-day, single-day, and multi-day) for schools and groups on a 1,345-acre mountain campus in Buena Vista, Colorado, combined with corporate retreat, group workshop, and private event venue rentals. Programs include lodging, dining, and facilitated adventure activities such as high ropes courses, rock climbing, archery, canoeing, and horseback riding, supported by on-site staff and certified instructors.

Product overview

The 100 Elk Outdoor Center is an outdoor education and retreat facility operated by Adventure Unlimited as a public program of the A/U Ranches in Buena Vista, Colorado. The company offers a multi-faceted portfolio centered on experiential education programs for schools and groups, corporate retreats, and event venue rentals. Core offerings include partial-day, single-day, and multi-day outdoor education programs featuring challenge activities like the High Ropes Course, Leap of Faith, Giant's Ladder, Rock Gym, Canoeing, Archery, Horseback Riding, and Hiking. The facility also provides venue rentals for corporate retreats, weddings, and group workshops through properties like Valerie Lodge, Wyly Lodge, Aspen Grove, and the Chapel of a Thousand Windows. Accommodations span bunkhouse cabins (6-14 beds each), apartments, deluxe rooms, and yurts with a combined capacity of over 350 guests. Supporting services include executive chef-prepared dining, meeting facilities, and team building activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Partial-Day Programs
• Single-Day Programs
• Multi-Day Programs
• Adventure Day Camp 2026
• Corporate Retreats
• Groups & Workshops
• Wyly Lodge Venue Rental
• Valerie Lodge Venue Rental
• Aspen Grove Venue Rental
• Chapel of a Thousand Windows
• Bunkhouse Cabin Lodging
• Yurt Lodging and Meeting Space
• Homestead North Deluxe Lodging
• Mustang Apartment Lodging
• Nugget Apartment Lodging
• Dining Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving schools and groups in Colorado and New Mexico since 2001
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Adventure UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner100 Elk Outdoor Center is a public program and branch of Adventure Unlimited, a nonprofit organization located in Buena Vista, Colorado. The A/U Ranches provide the underlying facility and organizational support for 100 Elk programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Eagle's Nest Foundation: Nonprofit educational organization running outdoor experiential programs, adventure activities, and character development for youth. Comparable in challenge-based outdoor programming and mission-driven nonprofit structure.
• YMCA of the Rockies: Colorado-based nonprofit operating Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch with lodging, dining, and outdoor programming for schools, families, and conferences — directly comparable in geography, lodging scale, and group programming mix.
• Outward Bound USA: Mission-driven provider of outdoor experiential education, adventure programming, and character development for schools, youth, and corporate groups. Directly comparable to 100 Elk's challenge-course, climbing, and team-building curriculum.
• Sky Ranch: Nonprofit outdoor education and adventure camp organization serving schools and youth groups with multi-day programming, ropes courses, and adventure activities. Closely matches 100 Elk's challenge-course and group outdoor ed model.
• Roundup River Ranch: Colorado-based nonprofit residential camp providing outdoor experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families. Comparable as a 501(c)(3)-affiliated outdoor education program operating in Colorado.
• Eagle Lake Camps: Outdoor adventure summer camp and retreat operator offering ropes courses, climbing, and team-building programming for groups and families. Comparable in activity mix and group programming.
• NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School): Nonprofit outdoor education school offering field-based wilderness courses, leadership training, and instructor certifications. Highly comparable in mission, multi-day programming, and certification-adjacent training.
• Cal-Wood Education Center: Colorado-based nonprofit outdoor education center serving K-12 schools with multi-day residential programming and experiential learning in the Rocky Mountains. Direct regional peer in outdoor education for schools.
• Keystone Science School: Colorado-based nonprofit outdoor education provider running multi-day K-12 programs, team-building, and adventure activities in Summit County. Strong regional peer for outdoor school programming.

Emerging players

• Walking Mountains Science Center: Colorado nonprofit delivering nature-based education and outdoor programs for schools and groups. Comparable in mission and regional audience but focuses more on science/ecology education than adventure challenges.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100elk
• Instagraminstagram.com/100elk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/100-elk-outdoor-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 100 Elk Outdoor Center