Meet Amber Eilers of The Strawberry Inn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Eilers

Amber, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My husband Carson and I have always been entrepreneurs; we both have backgrounds in real estate and hospitality. We had been working together flipping hundreds of homes in the valley, and building a rental portfolio including long-term and vacation rentals. Several years ago, we stumbled upon a listing for a small Inn in a town that I was already familiar with. We had family ties to the area and had loved visiting growing up, so it was an easy decision to pursue purchasing, renovations and all! We poured ourselves into the project, quite literally. We were both hands on with demo and renovations from day 1, along with our two (very) young kids at the time! After a summer of renovations, we launched fall of 2016 as The Strawberry Inn with a large community open house. We were shocked and elated when we began selling out weekends nearly immediately. Since then, it has been steady growth as we have become a well-known mountain destination. In the last couple of years, we added on cabin rentals, tiny cottages, and are about to launch Airstream rentals too. Everything is within .25 miles of each other.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The hospitality industry is always full of unknowns! And operating in a small mountain town adds a layer of complexity. Because there are only two ways in and out of town, we’ve run into hiccups when big snowstorms have come through, closing the roads. Although one year, it worked out pretty perfectly – the guests who were booked couldn’t get there, but at the same time, there were people stranded in Strawberry unable to get home! So, we were able to provide a warm place for them to stay until the roads were cleared. Of course, Covid was a difficult hurdle, as with all hospitality businesses. Thankfully, our business model was already set up to allow to social distancing, contactless check-ins, and a safe vacation for guests. Because of the proximity to the Valley, coming to Strawberry was an easy and safe road trip getaway for people in need of a change of scenery. We are very fortunate that we have continued to have sold-out reservation calendars!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
On site at the Inn, we are known for our design style, attention to detail, cleanliness, and friendly staff (we have the best property manager and crew!). We are also known for our big social media presence and personal involvement as owners. We regularly engage with our social media friends on all platforms. Even as we’ve grown quite a bit, we still love to be personally involved so that followers and guests can see the face and family behind the brand. We’re not just another big chain hotel! In reality, we’re really just a young family chasing our hopes and dreams. We’re really proud that we’ve been able to create something that resonates so deeply with many people. We’ve had guests that come stay for every big milestone in life – engagements, honeymoons, babymoons, birthdays, anniversaries, and more. It’s really special for us to be able to be part of life’s big moments!

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’ve loved design from a very young age. I used to make scale drawings of my room and furniture layouts, and even build miniature housing subdivisions out of Legos! I’m the product of entrepreneurs on both sides of my family. I’m very hands on, project oriented, and have a get-it-done personality. I’m a leader in any setting, and I thrive having the chance to make something out of nothing!

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@thestrawberryinn.com
• Website: https://www.thestrawberryinn.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestrawberryinn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestrawberryinn
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-strawberry-inn-strawberry

Image Credits:
Amber in front of Cottage 10 – Diana Elizabeth Photography
Front of hotel shot – Paul Markow Photography
Eilers Family (red dress) – Janelle Van Ness Photography
Inside Kitchen Image of the Guest House – Herman Lee Photography