In 1989, famed professional rock climber, Todd Skinner, and his then-girlfriend, Amy Whistler, heard about the incredible dolomite cliffs near Lander, Wyoming, packed their bags, and moved immediately to Lander. In order to create jobs for themselves and other climbing partners, they created what came to be known as Wild Iris Mountain Sports, an outdoor gear store named after the climbing area that was holding their minds and hearts in Lander. 

Since then, Wild Iris has seen challenges, changes, and growth, and through it all, it became more than your average outdoor gear shop in an incredibly beautiful place. It’s a pillar of the community, both in Lander and in the climbing world at large.

In this episode of Built Outdoors, we hear from co-owner, Amy Skinner and manager, Joan Chase, about their path to creating a community-centered, adventure-focused outdoor gear shop in small-town Wyoming, how they maintain their identity as a business, and what kind of culture they try to create for their employees.

Connect with Wild Iris Mountains Sports:

• Website

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• Website

Built Outdoors is created by Emily Holland and Kris Hampton, as part of the Plug Tone Audio Collective. Support the show by leaving a review or sharing it with a friend.