Kayla’s Role at Montanya

Meet Kayla, our Assistant Manager of the Montanya Distillers Tasting Room. Kayla has worked in the Montanya Tasting Room for over a year and in that time has worked in all roles the tasting room has to offer! Kayla is so grateful and excited to be our new Assistant Manager. She does everything from greeting customers to organizing the fridge. Kayla says, “everyday holds something new and different!“

How Kayla Found Crested Butte

Kayla is originally from Denver, Colorado and grew up in a very adventurous family that loved to travel. Her journey to Crested Butte has been long and winding. She recalls, “It started with stopping at the GunniSack every year on my way to Lake City to visit family friends. Each year my desire to visit Crested Butte grew stronger until, in 8th grade, I took a road trip to finally visit and see the beautiful fall colors with my grandma. We stayed at the Nordic Inn and had a blast exploring the valley. Years later when it was time to start thinking about college, I remembered Gunnison and Crested Butte and applied to Western Colorado University. It was the only school I toured and immediately fell in love with the idea that I could call the valley home. I arrived at Western with a full tuition scholarship and haven't looked back since.” 

Enjoying Time Outdoors

Kayla loves anything that involves being outside. She feels the most at home and alive when being creative and spending time in nature. “It is a huge reason I came to Gunnison,” she recalls. “I grew up camping and adventuring outside and wanted to live somewhere that was so close to the places I loved to recreate. My favorite outdoor activities are bird watching, backpacking, mountain biking, foraging, skiing! I love crafts and have been working on embroidering all of my four pairs of overalls.”

Fun Facts!

Kayla met her wonderful partner Eligh Purvis while working at Montanya! “We met on our first training shift in the kitchen and have had a wonderful relationship ever since.”

Other things Kayla does- She is an Outdoor Educator, and 4-5 times a year instructs outdoor adventures for students of different ages all across the US. She has been working in the outdoors since she was 17 and absolutely loves it. Most recently, she spent a week in Joshua Tree National Park leading a group of 7th graders backpacking.