Many people travel to northern New Mexico to enjoy the fresh air, closeness with nature, and connection to the land we call home. For this reason, giving people the right tools and guidance they need to respectfully enjoy our precious outdoors is a big priority for Red River Mountain Adventures.
Co-owner Stuart Church and his girlfriend Katy place great importance on ensuring their customers are well prepared to head out on local trails for fun and adventure. “This is our home and it’s important for us to teach people about recreating responsibly,” Stuart says.
The business rents out golf carts, OHV side-by-sides, and jeep wranglers, with options for multi-day use. Katy notes that they are the only jeep rental place in Red River, giving people the ability to explore popular trails and immerse themselves in the beauty of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Stuart was born and raised in Red River and has a deep appreciation for the place he calls home. “I decided to take on this venture along with Dirk Neal. He’s my co-owner in this venture. I took over from Steve Gorsich. Becoming a business owner was a big leap of faith, but it’s better than working for someone else,” he says.
Business ownership runs in Stuart’s blood. His mother, Dee Sims, owns Yesterday’s Diner, and sister Jessica Rael owns HustINHart. His co-ownership of Red River Mountain Adventures was a natural fit.
Educating customers is a big priority for Katy and Stuart. “We currently have a popsicle incentive for our customers—if they bring back a trash bag full of litter, they will get a free popsicle-and it’s working! The kids really enjoy it,” Katy says.
Katy and Stuart are running the business for the most part alone. “We have a few locals who can fill in for us here and there, but we’re really a mom-and-pop shop,” Stuart says.
The duo says they are always working to reinvest in the local community. Just recently, they paid artist Michael Riddle to paint their business sign. “We always try to stay local, whether it be a mechanic, a contractor, anyone we have to hire for our business—our goal is to hire locals and keep business in our community.”
Red River Mountain Adventures is currently open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the fall, they plan to reduce to 6 days a week. They are closed during the winter months.
If you’re interested in renting a vehicle from Red River Mountain Adventures, the website is www.redriverohv.com. They are located at 800-A E. Main St. in Red River, New Mexico and their phone number is (575) 754-6363.
