Bikes, burritos and beers

When you walk into Ranch Camp — one of Stowe’s newest eateries that also doubles as a top-of-the-line mountain bike shop — one of the first things you notice is how open, inviting and accessible it is, even to someone who isn’t too familiar with mountain biking.

That welcoming feeling is exactly what the founders of Ranch Camp had in mind when they opened it a few months ago.

“We were looking for a place that was welcoming, one that mountain bikers see as a resource but also a gateway for new bikers,” said Evan Chismark, one of the three co-owners of Ranch Camp.

“We wanted it to be a hub for the community. A place to gather and sample the culture,” Chismark said. “Just a cool place for the community.”

Ranch Camp is the creation of Chismark, the former director of Stowe Trails Partnership; Nate Freund, the owner of Sushi Yoshi; and Ryan Thibault, Freund’s partner at Mountain Bike Vermont.

The trio had bandied about the idea of opening a new mountain bike shop in the past; eventually they decided to add a bar and eatery, based in part on their own experiences as mountain bikers, and they pulled the trigger earlier this summer.

Ranch Camp opened its doors in late June.

“Bikes, beer and food” is how Chismark sums up the venture, and it becomes apparent that it’s a melting pot for all three as soon as you walk in the door.

Ranch Camp is at 311 Mountain Road. With its own private access to the Cady Hill trail network, it’s an easy find for any mountain bikers out on Stowe’s extensive trail network.

Mountain biking gear doubles as decoration both inside and outside the building. When you walk through the front door, turn left to enter the mountain bike repair, rental and demo shop.

“We have two top-notch mechanics in the shop,” Chismark said, and business there “has definitely been ticking up. It’s been awesome.”

When contemplating what to name their new venture, Chismark and his partners wanted something that summed up what they were hoping to create and paid homage to Stowe’s history.

“A place you can end your ride, start your ride, or come back to in the middle of one,” Chismark said — essentially, a base lodge or base camp for mountain bikers.

Base camp is already a pretty common name, but when Chismark and his partners started researching Stowe’s history they decided to revive the name Ranch Camp. Located just above Adams Camp, the original Ranch Camp was the home base of the Civilian Conservation Corps workers who cut several trails on Mount Mansfield in the Ranch Valley in the 1930s.

“It was a perfect fit for what we’re trying to do,” Chismark said.

Even if you’re not heading into the shop, a smile or simple head nod from the staff will contribute to the inviting feel of Ranch Camp, and signs point the way down the hall to the tap room, gear shop and seating area for those interested in food.

A tall pint of craft beer — there are usually six on tap, plus plenty of other options for non-beer drinkers — always helps to set someone at ease, and the laid-back nature of the space adds to that. An open layout, rough-hewn architecture, plenty of natural light and views looking down on scenic Route 108 all add to a homey, pleasant ambiance.

For new patrons, Ranch Camp sports several signs explaining exactly how and where to place an order for a brewski or a bite. They’re laid out in numerical order, and the final tip speaks to the spirit of the place: “Don’t forget to ride your bike every day.”

Even the table settings add to the happy-go-lucky nature of Ranch Camp. Each of the high-tops adjacent to the bar is acessorized with a small potted plant that includes flat rocks offering written life tips. They range from the sentimental — “Call your mom” — to the practical: “Floss your teeth.”

What’s on the menu

The official slogan is “Bikes, burritos, beers,” and the burritos are front and center when you open the menu.

Why burritos?

“We wanted to bridge the gap between healthy and comfort food,” Chismark said. Quick, healthy options to help people recharge their batteries; that’s the name of the game.

The goal: “A menu we as mountain bikers all want, and one that would resonate with people locally,” Chismark said.

Crafted by head chef Joe Rock, the six varieties of burrito, including a breakfast option, offer plenty of choices. And, Ranch Camp’s burritos are stuffed to overflowing with tasty, healthy ingredients, many of them coming from right here in Vermont.

“We want to emphasize local food as much as we can,” Chismark said, and a map of the Green Mountain State on one wall shows visitors just where their food is coming from.

Along with burritos and all the fixings — guac, fries, corn salsa and pico de gallo — the menu offers plenty of party starters (appetizers), salads, “sammiches” and a “Little Rippers” menus for the kids, with plenty of gluten-free or vegan options if you’re so inclined.

The food at the fast, casual eatery is meant to help bikers, or non-bikers, power up or refuel quickly for whatever is next, so plenty of people get their meals to go.

Ranch Camp has compostable to-go packaging for anyone headed back out immediately, and the clearly marked compost bins for the dine-in types are also part of the business’s mission to “be as clean and lean as possible,” Chismark said.

Since Ranch Camp opened, Chismark, Freund and Thibault have been using a lot of their ties and relationships in the Stowe community to help make it the hub they envisioned. The restaurant hosts several themed rides each week, and special events are a regular occurrence.

“Business has been really, really good,” Chismark said, and even more events and promotions are planned during Stowe’s slow season, after foliage is over and before the ski trails open up.

“Ranch Camp is open to anyone,” Chismark said.

More information: ranchcampvt.com.