Hello, fellow wanderers! We are excited to introduce Yellowstone as one of our latest branches in the Casago network!
First, have you ever heard of Island Park? If you haven’t, it’s a delightful little slice of heaven tucked away in Eastern Idaho. This charming town is just a stone’s throw away from the world-renowned Yellowstone National Park and offers an abundance of outdoor activities that are sure to satisfy any adventurer’s soul.
Imagine waking up to the sounds of birds chirping, the smell of fresh pine in the air, and the sight of dew-kissed grass. That’s Island Park for you—a picturesque haven that gives you a front-row seat to nature’s grand theatre.
But there’s more to this town than just its natural beauty. Island Park is rich in history and boasts unique points of interest that add to its charm. Every corner has a story to tell, every site a memory to share.
And guess what? If you’re up for a little road trip, a quick drive will take you to West Yellowstone in Montana—the gateway to Yellowstone National Park! Here, you can continue your outdoor escapades or switch gears and explore the quaint downtown area. With a variety of shopping options, there’s plenty to keep you busy.
For those who crave the thrill of the outdoors, our Yellowstone branch really does have it all!
Take off-roading adventures through the rugged terrain, fish in the crystal-clear streams, or hunt in the lush wilderness. The hiking trails here are nothing short of magnificent, taking you through dense forests, past shimmering lakes, and up to breathtaking viewpoints. And let’s not forget kayaking and snowmobiling—these activities are practically staples here!
So whether you’re an adventurer at heart, a history buff, or just someone looking for a peaceful retreat, Yellowstone is the place to be. Pack your bags, buckle up, and set off on an incredible vacation getaway with our newest branch. We promise you will not be disappointed!
Meet The Robb Vacation Rental Family
We caught up with Randy, aka “Bear” and Lisa Robb, to learn a little more about their family business and our latest Casago franchise in Yellowstone.
Casago: Tell me a little about both of your backgrounds before deciding to get into the vacation rental industry.
Lisa: Before getting into the vacation rental industry, Randy had been in the Telecom industry for 30 years and is currently the VP of Wireless Utilities Division. He has owned and operated many of his own businesses in the past, too. I was a Mortgage Underwriter for over 23 years prior to our move to Island Park, ID. Moving got me excited to delve into something new with the Vacation Rental Business.
Casago: Tell me why you decided to get into the vacation rental industry.
Lisa: We got into the vacation rental industry after experiencing a series of unexpected events. First, it’s important to know that snowmobiling holds a special place in our hearts! It’s truly the activity that bonded us together.
I’ve always enjoyed snowmobiling, but Randy had never been on one. So at the start of our relationship and for his birthday, I invited him to go snowmobiling with another couple in the mountains of Colorado—promising to have him back by 6 PM in time to spend the evening with his four children.
The group set off early in the morning, and we spent the day riding around but soon found ourselves on an unmarked trail that became increasingly treacherous. By the time we realized that we were in trouble, the trees were too thick to turn the sleds around. So after a few hours of navigating the difficult terrain, the other couple decided it was too hard, and they couldn’t do it anymore. Leaving us behind and with no other options, we resorted to leapfrogging the four snowmobiles through deep snow—which was a slow and arduous process.
After hours of riding and leapfrogging the snowmobiles, we stumbled upon a clearing, thinking our ordeal was over. But at this point, we were lost, out of food and water, and with no cell service. In a desperate attempt to find help, we decided to climb higher to get a signal. But disaster struck when both of our sleds tipped over, leaving me injured with cracked ribs.
With only one phone left with a bit of battery power, we were finally able to find a spot with enough service to get through to 911. We were told to drop a pin on our location and build a fire because search and rescue would most likely not be there until the next day. After a terrifying wait, we were finally rescued at around 3:00 am.
I didn’t get Randy home at 6 PM like I promised but I did finally get him home at 6:00 AM the next day, OOPS!! And I knew that after what we had just been through, we were either bonded for life, or I would never hear from Randy again. Well, after reassuring his children he was ok and had a few hours of sleep, he called!! Yes, we were bonded for life!
Despite the ordeal, snowmobiling remained a beloved pastime for us, and we continued to enjoy many adventures together! In fact, Randy surprised me with a snowmobile trip to Cooke City, Montana, for my birthday, where we even tried to buy a business.
Though unsuccessful, we were inspired to continue searching for a way to turn our passion into a career. In doing so, we stumbled upon what is now, The Bear Den, a 7000 sq. ft. 3-story home in Island Park, Idaho, that needed some serious love and renovation. Despite its sterile appearance and lack of character at the time, we saw its potential and decided to take a leap of faith, diving headfirst into the vacation rental business.
And that’s how our journey as a vacation rental business in Island Park began!
Casago: Tell me about your vacation rental business before you decided to join Casago.
Randy: Starting out in the vacation rental industry was a daunting challenge for us. We had no prior experience and we were starting from scratch. But we were determined to make it work. We poured all of our time, energy, and resources into renovating our run-down property and transforming it into a beautiful vacation rental home. We purchased the home with a summer full of bookings, and 45 days after we closed had to move into the “Barn” in the back of the property while we hosted our guests.
During that first summer, while hosting guests non-stop, we remodeled the “Barn” while we were living in it. After completing the renovations on what is now “The Cub House”, we purchased a new home for ourselves and rented out both the other properties. But we didn’t stop there—we took on the challenge of managing another couple’s rental property, quickly realizing that we had a lot to learn. That’s when we stumbled upon the Book Direct Show in Miami, Florida. It was a chance for us to learn from experts in the field and gain the knowledge and resources needed to grow our business.
The show was a game-changer for us. We met with industry leaders like Casago and other vendors and realized that we needed help if we wanted to take our business to the next level.
Casago: Tell me why you decided to join forces with Casago.
Lisa: Attending the conference in Miami was a turning point in our lives. It was there that we had the pleasure of meeting the passionate and dedicated team members of Casago, among many other vendors.
As we conversed with Casago and other industry experts, we came to a realization—if we wanted to take our business to the next level and make it something that would allow Randy to retire from his full-time job, we needed help. And that’s when Casago stepped in with open arms, offering us the support, knowledge, and tools to turn our dreams into reality.
We were blown away by the level of commitment and expertise that Casago brought to the table. It was evident that they truly cared about our success and were willing to go above and beyond to make it happen. With their help, we felt confident and ready to take on any challenge that lay ahead.
And so, we took the leap of faith and committed ourselves fully to this partnership. It was a blessing that at the same time we joined the Casago family, my mom, Brenda, retired from her career as a Mortgage Loan Officer.
We were very fortunate to be able to scoop her up and have her become a part of our team. With her extensive knowledge and experience in sales and superb people skills, she is a great fit for our growing business. Now, we are bursting with excitement and eagerness to see where this journey will take us.
With Casago by our side, we know that anything is possible. We are forever grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Casago: Would you like to tell us about your family?
Lisa: Randy and I found each other later in life. Because of our past experiences, we truly value each other and love to spend as much of our time together as possible. We are best friends.
Randy has four children Kyle (28), Michala (20), Addison (14), and Chance (13), and I have one daughter, Kayla (30). Now with five children between us and three grandchildren—and another one on the way, our family continues to grow, large and happy!
We feel very blessed and fortunate to be where we are and try in our daily lives to give back. It is our dream to grow our business to a level that Randy can retire from his full-time job, and we can work together every day and leave something for our children to continue if they so desire.
Casago: Do you have a quote that inspires you?
Randy & Lisa: The More You Let Go, The Higher You Rise!
Become a Casago Franchise
Why become a Casago Franchise? Competition in the vacation rental industry is fierce.
As a partner of Casago, you will have access to a plethora of technology, resources, and support! We work to ensure that your business has all the tools necessary for success. Plus, with 20+ offices worldwide, we’re able to leverage our purchasing power for the best prices on products you use every day.
Casago is a family of people who are passionate about the Vacation Rental industry and love helping each other thrive. To learn more about becoming a part of the franchise family, check out our Franchise Page.
We look forward to hearing from you!
