In this episode of the Hostel Road Trip Podcast, we travel to the mountains of New Mexico to sit down with Stephanie, the founder of Cloudcroft Hostel — a rustic, community-driven mountain hostel perched at 6,700 feet in the heart of the Lincoln National Forest.

What started as a solo motorcycle adventure across America in 1994 turned into a lifelong dream. Stephanie bought a dilapidated building on a hillside and spent five years restoring it by hand before opening Cloudcroft Hostel in 2006. Today, it stands as a beloved basecamp for hikers, bikers, and adventure travelers seeking connection and authentic mountain hospitality.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• How a solo motorcycle trip across America sparked Stephanie’s dream of opening her own hostel
• The five-year journey of buying and restoring a rundown building by hand
• Why she chose the high mountains of New Mexico as the perfect location
• Creating a safe, welcoming space especially for solo travelers and women adventurers
• What it really takes to run a small, independent mountain hostel for nearly 20 years
• Lessons on community, perseverance, and building something that lasts

Located at 6,700 feet with 28 acres backing directly onto the national forest, Cloudcroft Hostel offers a true mountain escape — just minutes from hiking trails, scenic drives, and White Sands National Park. It’s the perfect basecamp for anyone seeking real connection and adventure in southern New Mexico.

This episode is perfect for:

• Aspiring hostel owners and future founders
• Travelers exploring New Mexico and the Southwest
• Solo travelers and women adventurers
• Anyone who loves mountain hospitality and authentic, owner-operated hostels
• People inspired by stories of perseverance and building a dream from the ground up

About Cloudcroft Hostel Cloudcroft Hostel is a rustic, intimate, owner-operated mountain hostel in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Designed for connection and adventure, it welcomes backpackers, hikers, and road-trippers looking for a genuine community experience in the heart of the Sacramento Mountains.

🔗 Learn more: https://cloudcrofthostel.com/

About Hostel Road Trip Podcast Hosted by Jimmy Black & Bobby Dyer of ITH Hostels, the Hostel Road Trip Podcast highlights inspiring hostels, passionate founders, and the communities shaping the modern hostel movement.

🌍 Explore more episodes: www.HostelRoadTrip.com

North Cascades Mountain Hostel | Building a Purpose-Built Mountain Hostel in Winthrop, Washington

In this episode of the Hostel Road Trip Podcast, we travel to Winthrop, Washington, to interview Liza and Paul, cofounders of North Cascades Mountain Hostel — a purpose-built mountain hostel located in the Methow Valley near North Cascades National Park.

This episode explores how a small, simple hostel in Washington State evolved into a thoughtfully designed, community-driven mountain basecamp serving hikers, climbers, skiers, cyclists, and adventure travelers in the Pacific Northwest.

Paul originally started with a modest hostel concept, but together he and Liza made the decision to reimagine and rebuild the space from the ground up. The result is one of the most unique and intentionally designed hostels in Washington, created specifically to foster connection, flow, and shared outdoor experience.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How the original hostel in Winthrop began
• The challenges of rebuilding and financing a hostel in a mountain town
• What it takes to design a purpose-built hostel
• Creating community-centered spaces for outdoor travelers
• Lessons learned from transforming a small operation into a respected Pacific Northwest hostel

North Cascades Mountain Hostel now operates as a year-round adventure basecamp in the Methow Valley, offering access to hiking, skiing, climbing, and outdoor exploration near North Cascades National Park.

This episode is ideal for hostel owners, aspiring hostel founders, outdoor hospitality entrepreneurs, and travelers exploring Washington State and the Pacific Northwest.

The Hostel Road Trip Podcast is hosted by Jimmy Black and Bobby Dyer of ITH Hostels and features in-depth interviews with hostel founders and travel entrepreneurs shaping the modern hostel industry across North America.

Learn more at www.HostelRoadTrip.com

In this episode of the Hostel Road Trip Podcast, we sit down with Rex Baldwin, cofounder of the legendary Green Tortoise Hostel in Seattle, to explore the roots of American hostel culture.

Before opening the iconic Seattle hostel near Pike Place Market, Rex and his partner Gardener operated the original Green Tortoise hostel bus, traveling across North America for more than 20 years. What started as a counterculture road trip experience became one of the earliest community-driven backpacker movements in the United States.

This conversation dives into the history of hostels in America, the evolution of backpacker culture, and how a traveling bus community eventually became one of the most respected hostels in North America.

If you're interested in hostel entrepreneurship, Seattle travel, starting a hostel, or the foundations of community-based travel, this episode offers decades of insight and experience.

Topics discussed include:

• The origins of the Green Tortoise hostel bus
• Building community before social media
• Lessons from more than 20 years in the hostel industry
• How Green Tortoise Seattle became a backpacker landmark
• The evolution of American hostel culture
• Advice for current and aspiring hostel owners

Located in downtown Seattle near Pike Place Market, Green Tortoise remains one of the most iconic hostels in the Pacific Northwest and a symbol of authentic backpacker culture.

The Hostel Road Trip Podcast is hosted by Jimmy Black and Bobby Dyer of ITH Hostels and features conversations with hostel owners, travel pioneers, and leaders shaping the global hostel movement.

Learn more at www.HostelRoadTrip.com