Spirit of 1876 Outfits People to Explore the Great Outdoors

Spirit of 1876

Like many Colorado newcomers, Mike Gentile fell in love with the state while living here temporarily.

Gentile grew up outside of Chicago and went to Colorado State University in Fort Collins in the early 2000s. After graduating, Gentile moved back to Illinois for a job. “But I always knew I was coming back,” he says. “It was just a matter of when.”

Fast-forward to today and Gentile is a married dad with three daughters and a bustling outdoor store in Castle Rock called the Spirit of 1876. The name alludes to the year the Centennial State entered the Union while the retail store’s product line embraces Colorado’s nature-centric lifestyle.

“We focus on camping and overland gear, helping outfit people for the outdoors,” Gentile says. “A lot of the products we offer aren’t necessarily what you’d find at other retailers.”

Spirit of 1876

Rooftop Tent Experts

Spirit of 1876 sells everything from tents, cooking stoves and blankets to camping lights and toilets. But the store’s specialty is vehicle rooftop tents.

“They’re our bestsellers. People really see us as experts in that space,” Gentile says. “Rooftop tents can be complicated to buy, and they’re heavy and expensive, some models costing thousands of dollars. Most customers don’t know much about them. They don’t realize that rooftop tents can be put on most any vehicle. It’s more about the rack.”

And since Spirit of 1876 isn’t a manufacturer, the store can speak to the pros and cons of the different brands as well as assist with the installation.

About half of Gentile’s customer base is online. The other half makes a point to visit Spirit of 1876’s sparkling new showroom in Castle Rock. It opened in August 2024 with couches and an espresso machine.

“We also sell books, candles and camping games. It’s more than just outdoor gear,” Gentile says. “It’s definitely a unique experience.”

Spirit of 1876

Niche Becomes Profitable Enterprise

Tired of the corporate world and wanting to spend more time with his kids, Gentile took his sales and marketing background and launched Spirit of 1876 in 2018.

“I didn’t set out to own a retail shop, but I started slowly and began gauging interest by partnering with accessory companies and trailer manufacturers,” he says.

After researching the country, he realized he could fill a void. No shops specializing in outdoor vehicle accessories existed in Colorado, a place Gentile thought “should be the camping capital of the U.S.”

So, he sublet a space from a friend in Denver for a year before eventually buying a building in Castle Rock and moving the business. With the new showroom, the old location is where he and his team do installations. The evolution of his business has taken place during a pandemic and ongoing economic uncertainty.

“I joke that I’ve been open for several years, but I haven’t yet lived through one normal year,” he says. Initially, the pandemic created more interest in outdoor activities and vacationing closer to home.

“It’s slowed down but I’m very optimistic about the future,” he says. “The outdoors isn’t a fad, especially considering how outdoorsy Colorado is.”

Tips on Where to Trek

With that in mind, the outdoor expert shared some recommendations on where to get outside.

“The area offers a lot without having to drive too far,” Gentile says. “Within 30 minutes, we have the Rampart Range with camping, hiking and OHV trails in the Pike-San Isabel National Forest.”

He also loves the grassy buttes and ravines at Daniels Park. “It’s easy hiking with a bison herd,” he says. “And the views of mountain peaks are great.”

With camping, boating and fishing, Chatfield State Park is another recommendation. “The gravel ponds are especially fun for paddleboarding,” Gentile says.”

Philip S. Miller Park features Challenge Hill with 200 wooden steps climbing 178 feet to panoramic views up top. Gentile also points out that Castle Rock has much to offer in town, too. “I like the short but steep hike up the actual Castle Rock,” he says.