If you’ve ever hopped on a shuttle in Estes Park, there’s a good chance Nick Cassatt had something to do with it. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Nick—trolley-driver-turned-entrepreneur—whose journey from behind the wheel to behind the desk is the kind of homegrown business tale that makes Estes Park, well, Estes Park.
Let me tell you how this all unfolded.
“I Said No Way”
Nick didn’t exactly leap into ownership with dollar signs in his eyes. In fact, the first time the owner of the Estes Park Shuttle approached him about buying the business, Nick’s answer was short and sweet: “No way.”
Too many moving parts, too many breakdowns, and not enough hours in the day. Sound familiar?
But if there’s anything I’ve learned from covering folks around here, it’s that persistence—and maybe a little pandemic-era reality—can change a man’s mind. After some price adjustments and a few sleepless nights, Nick signed the papers and officially took over in early 2021.
And just like that, Estes Park Shuttle was in the hands of someone who’d started as a trolley driver just a few years earlier.
One Office, Twelve Vehicles, and a Dream
Step into the shuttle office on any summer day, and you’ll find a board covered in tally marks—passenger counts, manually tracked like it’s 1982. Nick laughs about it. He knows a digital upgrade is in the works, but for now, it’s a reminder that this business still runs on people power.
Twelve vehicles are in rotation. There’s a second fleet for the trolley company. And somehow, between airport runs, door-to-door pickups, and route planning, Nick finds time to dream even bigger.
Airport Runs, Union Station, and the Life of a Shuttle Schedule
During the busy season, Estes Park Shuttle runs six daily trips to DIA. A seventh run to Union Station kicks in when demand is high. If you need a more personalized ride—say, a last-minute trip to catch that 2 p.m. flight—Nick’s team will get you there for $240 as a private charter or $75 if you can hop on a scheduled shuttle.
Need a round trip? That’ll knock a few bucks off the total.
They’ve got it down to a science—almost. “We’re still growing,” Nick tells me, eyes scanning that wall of tick marks. “It’s all about doing what’s best for the people we serve.”
The Vision: Growth on Every Route
Nick’s not done yet. He’s looking at expanding door-to-door service beyond Estes Park—into Drake, Loveland, Lyons, and maybe even Longmont. When a competing shuttle service in Longmont shut down unexpectedly, Nick saw both the gap and the opportunity.
Staffing remains a challenge (“People want to make money but don’t want to work,” he says with a smirk), but that hasn’t stopped him. Another office might pop up soon. Another fleet. Another service line.
The man just doesn’t stop. And why should he?
A Community on the Move
At the end of the day, Nick’s story isn’t just about vehicles or routes. It’s about local business built from the ground up. It’s about saying “no” and then figuring out how to say “yes” the right way. It’s about serving people where they are—whether they’re catching a flight or coming home to the mountains.
Estes Park’s always had character. Now it’s got a shuttle system to match.
Got a favorite story about your ride with Estes Park Shuttle? Or maybe you’ve got an idea for our next community spotlight? Send it my way—I’m always on the lookout for stories that keep this town rolling.
—Gerald
