Businessman affected by fire accepted into Bunker Labs
When the federal Assistance Act for the Calf Canyon–Hermits Peak wildfire decreased by 1 mile, it left Stephen Barr, co-owner of El Lodge, in the dust. Now, he’s working to resurrect the inn.
The wildfires destroyed over 340,000 acres of land, including some of the El Lodge property, leaving most of the lodging with permanent smoke damage. Even now — almost nine months after the fires — Barr said he has had to turn away customers because the rooms are not up to par. According to Barr, he’s been losing $250-500 every day since May. He’s also unable to obtain commercial liability insurance, a requirement to list a property on platforms like Airbnb.
“There is a stigma attached to a disaster area,” Barr said. “People don’t want to come to see burnt trees. People want to come to see green trees. My back hill is a graveyard. My wildlife population has gone to zero.”
According to Barr, he’s been at the prow of 45 startups in his 64 years of age. A businessman for decades, his entrepreneurial spirit persists, despite the discouraging events of last year.
But a few months ago, Barr began applying to various business incubators, and he was accepted into Bunker Labs in Denver. The program focuses on small, veteranowned businesses making less than $100,000 in annual gross income.
“I’m a unique participant in that I’m 64 years old,” Barr said. “This is my 45th startup company I’ve started in as many years. I’m kind of the old man of the group. I would say the average age is half mine. Most of these guys are in their late 20s to 30s. What I’ll give them is the benefit of experience.”
Barr hopes the younger participants will help him as well, he added, since he’s not up to date on the latest technology and software. Through the incubator, Barr and his virtual cohort of roughly a dozen other veterans will be exposed to new business management softwares and networking opportunities, all while they create five-year
business plans.
“My crystal ball isn’t that good,” Barr said. “We’re heading into a recession. In five years, a lot of things can happen. So to project
that to investors or a bank is — I’m gonna call it — a technically impossible thing to do. You do the best you can to estimate, but that’s where I’m gonna be looking for the most
guidance out of the Bunker Labs program.”
Five-year plan in hand or not,
Barr is coming to Bunker Labs with El Lodge and a three-phase business plan, which aims to turn the lodge into a B Corp, focusing on sustainability, as well as profit. The plan includes converting the lodge from a monthly rental to nightly, which Barr said will “triple my income overnight.”
With this new influx of revenue, he aims to hire local contractors to repair the heavily damaged property. Once things are operational, he hopes to create jobs for people in southeastern Taos County, hiring within a 10-mile radius.
His plan also includes adding new amenities to the property in order to transform it from a oneseason to a four-season operation, such as glamping sites and stables to take advantage of the many horse trails in the area as well as offering equestrian therapy. Future plans also involve offering on-site yoga
sessions, fishing clinics and sustainability seminars.
To fulfill sustainability goals, Barr looks to utilize bamboo products like trash bags and toilet paper as well as micro wind turbines. He also aims to install an EV charging station by the road.
The final step in Barr’s plan is retirement.
“I’m 64 years old. I’ll be 69 by the end of those five years,” Barr said. “I’m ready to get my money back out of it and go buy a condo in Palm Springs.”
Despite a recent $1.45-billion expansion of wildfire relief funds for people affected by the Calf CanyonHermits Peak Fire, Barr remains skeptical he will be made whole through government support.
“This is probably my last business, out of 65 of them over my lifetime. This is my last one, and I’m gonna get it right,” Barr added, as he recounted the trauma of losing his business. “My whole world has changed. My whole plan for my life has changed.”