06/12/2026
HUGE Thank You to High Plains Bank for spotlighting our efforts to grow our Community!
This article was supposed to be published a month ago but life, in its most unpredictable way, intervened. My world was upended in May by the heartbreaking loss of two very important people in my life. When you experience losses of this magnitude your world changes, perspectives shift, and thoughtfulness becomes the ultimate priority.
Truth be told, in the wake of that grief came a profound clarity. I found myself fiercely refocused on what truly makes me happy. It reminded me of the absolute sacredness of family, and how family is anchored by the communities we choose, both relational and geographical. We simply cannot walk through this life alone.
When I finally sat back down to review my interview notes with Ben VanderWerf, the visionary behind Big Ben's RV Park and BHV Adventures in Arriba, CO, the timing suddenly felt less like a delay and more like destiny.
You see, Ben isn't just manufacturing tiny houses on wheels. He is building sanctuaries. He is designing a physical blueprint for the exact things my grief had just refocused me on: a way for families to escape the financial traps of modern life so they can actually spend time together, nestled in a tight-knit, old-school community where neighbors truly look out for one another.
Colorado’s Eastern Plains are most known for their rich agricultural roots, but lately, I have been experiencing an additional kind of energy humming across Lincoln County Colorado with each new visit. It is the sound of a Renaissance which includes the opening of new businesses, the rehabilitation of beloved landmarks and the construction of new communities, and High Plains Bank is proud to be a strategic partner in many of these happenings. One project in particular is the ambitious vision of a local builder who is determined to breathe new life into the small town of Arriba, CO.
A Historic Rural Milestone: Ben’s innovative operation isn't just catching the eye of locals, it has captured the attention of the state of Colorado! BHV Adventures made history by becoming the very first business in Lincoln County to be approved for the state's prestigious Rural Jump-Start Program through the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Backed by a launch grant and job-creation tax incentives, the momentum was so significant that Governor Jared Polis personally traveled to Arriba to visit Ben’s shop, highlighting BHV Adventures as a shining example of how to revolutionize housing and bring economic diversity to rural Colorado.
Please read the full article, link is in the comments! ⬇️
