Rocky Mountain Reserve: A Story of Two Women, Countless Mountain Miles, and One Big Idea
The best companies often start with a simple question: “Why isn’t there an easier way to do this?”
For Hayley Licata and Kira Wirsig, that moment came somewhere between Denver International Airport, a packed SUV full of ski gear, and another winding trip up I-70 into the Colorado Rockies.
From Personal Experience to Purpose
For years, both Hayley and Kira had been the unofficial “travel coordinators” for their families and friend groups. Whether it was a long weekend in Breckenridge, an annual ski trip to Vail, or celebrating a milestone in the mountains, they were always the ones making the plans — and often the ones driving.
They quickly realized something: traveling from Denver to the mountains should feel exciting, not stressful. But in reality? It was anything but seamless.
The Pain Points That Sparked a Business
After countless trips, they kept running into the same problems:
1. Mountain Transportation Wasn’t Reliable
Rideshares like Uber and Lyft became nearly impossible to secure during peak season. Even when available, drivers were often unfamiliar with mountain roads — roads that require confidence, experience, and respect for the weather.
2. The Drive Could Be Intimidating
I-70 is beautiful, but it can also be unpredictable. Winter storms, tight canyon curves, steep grades, and heavy ski traffic can turn a simple drive into a white-knuckle experience. Hayley and Kira knew firsthand that not everyone feels comfortable navigating snow, ice, and elevation.
3. Travelers Needed Grocery Stops — and Didn’t Know It Until It Was Too Late
One of the biggest group-travel surprises? How few large grocery stores exist once you reach many mountain towns. After too many late-night “we have no breakfast food” moments, they realized a pre-mountain grocery stop wasn’t just convenient — it was essential.
4. No One Was Offering the Full Experience
People wanted more than a ride. They wanted a smooth, warm, welcoming transition from the airport to the mountains — something that felt more like hospitality than transportation.
Hayley and Kira saw the gap clearly: Colorado needed a transportation service designed by people who actually understood mountain travel.
Turning a Need Into a Business
With their shared background in customer service, hospitality, and operations, the vision became crystal clear:
A woman-owned transportation company that treats every trip like a luxury experience — reliable, safe, seamless, and tailored to what travelers actually need.
And so, Rocky Mountain Reserve was born.
Built With Intention. Inspired by Experience.
Today, Rocky Mountain Reserve provides:
Professional drivers with deep experience in mountain highways
Real-time flight tracking for stress-free airport pickups
Optional grocery stops on the way to the mountains
A personalized, warm, concierge-style travel experience
But at the heart of the company is the same simple idea that started it:
Travel to the mountains should be easy, comfortable, and enjoyable — from the moment you land in Denver to the moment you step into the fresh alpine air.
Driven by Passion, Grounded in Experience
Hayley and Kira didn’t just start a business; they built a solution that they knew travelers needed because they needed it themselves.
Rocky Mountain Reserve is the result of countless ski trips, late-night drives, airport pickups, snowy mountain passes, and the desire to create something better — something that makes Colorado travel feel as magical as the mountains themselves.