Our Story

1983 – Mark Schumacher, along with his father, Ray, and brother, Alex, purchased the resort which was in bankruptcy. They named it Three Rivers Resort and it was incorporated on May 6, 1983. It had a small store, gas pumps and 16 cabins. 

1984 – Mark and Alex started a rafting business. They, along with John “Vito” Covelli, Ted Conner and Brock Smith were the first guides for a commercial river running operation out of the resort. On May 9, 1988, Three Rivers Outfitters was incorporated.

1984 – Mark started a fishing business. With Roark Kiklevich and Dave Park, they started Willowfly Anglers, offering a fly-fishing guide service out of the resort. The first guides were Roark Kiklevich and “Captain” Jerry Goering.

1985 – Mary Jo Nelson walked into the store (now, fly shop) and purchased a hot dog from Mark Schumacher. It was love at first bite. They were married in 1987 and started a family. The Schumacher children are Sarah, Luke and Dirk. Luke and Dirk currently manage the resort with their parents.

1993 – 1997 – Mark started and operated a snowmobile guide service, Alpine Expedition.

1993 – Mark purchased the building at the 4 – way stop in Crested Butte, which would become Alpine Outside and later the Outpost where activities were booked, a small retail shop offered fishing tackle, clothing, licenses and eventually Camp 4 Coffee.

1994 – 1st Construction began to expand the existing resort store/fly shop.

1995 – The Woolybugger Grill was started, offering restaurant meals to guests of the resort. It was later renamed, “Three Rivers Smokehouse” and formed as its own corporation on March 14, 2016.

1997 – The “Almont Sewer Hereafter In Transit Plant” (aka the ASHITP) was born. Today the sewer plant services all of the Three Rivers Resort cabins, mobile homes, RV sites and store, as well as neighboring private homes and the Almont Resort.

2000 –A second floor was added onto the store for guest lodge rooms.

2005 – Cabin 2, the old Almont post office, was removed and donated to the Pioneer Museum in Gunnison. Today, it houses the post office museum of Gunnison County, featuring information on many historic post offices.

2006 – The 18 RV sites on the Taylor River were replaced with park model cabins, #57-67.

2007 – The 18 RV sites on the south side of the store were replaced with park model cabins, #39 – 44 and 49.

2008 – Three Rivers Resort Condominium Association was formed. Twelve of the condominiumized cabins were sold to individual owners, now managed by Three Rivers Property Management, a DBA of Three Rivers Resort.

2008-2017 – Cabins 26, 27, 28, 29 were all remodeled and expanded with a second floor addition. 

2009 – New decks with private hot tubs were constructed on the river cabins of East Taylor Drive.

2011-2013 – Three Rivers Outpost at the 4-Way Stop in Crested Butte operated a store with Camp 4 Coffee.

2013 – Cabin 22 was completely remodeled into a beautiful riverfront cabin with 4 BR, 2 baths, private hot tub.

2014 – The historic gas pump was removed and gas was no longer offered to the public. The historic “gas pump house” was donated to the Pioneer Museum in Gunnison and it is now a wedding chapel.

2014 – A new stone patio was built in front of the store.

2015 – The Fly Shop wall was removed to expand the shop space into what it is today.

2017 – Removed cabin 14 to prepare for the new cabin 15 vacation home.

2017 – Installed a new Three Rivers Resort sign across the street from the fly shop.

2018 – Cabin (home) #15, The Golden Stone was completed. It is the largest home on the property with 5 BR, 4.5 baths. The riverfront area adjacent to this new home and the boat house was completely razed and made into a new lawn area for events.

2020 – New curbs and planters installed in front of the store.

2021-2023 – Three Rivers Resort was voted Best Lodging in the local People’s Choice awards.

2022 – Willowfly Anglers was named the Orvis Endorsed Outfitter of the Year, out of 300+ North American operations!