Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucas Morse.
Hi Lucas, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My entrepreneurial journey started at a very young age. I would have many businesses by the time I got to college. At the age of 11 years old I started my first business selling bracelets to my classmates, in middle school I sold drinks and snacks, and by high school, I was cleaning out people’s garages and with their permission selling unwanted items. I began saving proceeds from each of my businesses and rolling them into my next business. Growing up, people would always ask me what I wanted to do when I grew up but there was no traditional 9-5 job that stood out to me. What I wanted to do was create, manage businesses, and be my own boss. My true skillset came naturally as an entrepreneur.
After high school, I would follow in my older brother’s footsteps and attend college. I attended San Diego State University and studied Business Administration, as I’d always dreamed of running a real business. I took my business skills to the classroom and graduated in 4 years’ time with a bachelor’s degree.
Following my graduation from college, we were coming off the COVID-19 pandemic. My senior year took place during the height of the lockdowns, so a lot of networking opportunities weren’t available. I was expected to get out into the real world and get a job but still didn’t have any idea of what I wanted to do. I decided to get a job in the audio-visual industry as an associate account executive. I used this time to gain corporate business skills and learn how a large business is run. At the same time, I was getting myself positioned to start my own small business. I began saving capital and thinking of a business I could start.
I had just gone on a national park road trip after my graduation and visited 8 national parks, bringing my national park count to 14. I’ve always loved spending time outdoors: backpacking, hiking, hunting, fishing, and camping. The trip made me realize I really enjoyed the recreation and tourism industry and wanted to get involved. My parents had bought e-bikes for Christmas and our family was starting to get into this fun new activity that allowed us all to spend more time outdoors together. I realized I wanted to start an e-bike rental business. With national park visitation at an all-time high, people are looking to beat the crowds and e-bikes are a great way to explore long distances.
A family friend of mine owns a tiny home vacation rental property in La Verkin Utah, right outside of Zion National Park called The Dwellings. I worked with the help of The Dwellings and created my company: Greater Zion E-Bike Rentals. We are located in the visitors center of The Dwellings, giving their guests an added amenity, as well as anyone in the area looking to ride. We had our grand opening in May 2022 and are growing every day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m still not bringing in the profits I’ve dreamed of, but I’ve learned so much throughout the creation of this business. It’s been a somewhat slow process of getting the word out and marketing. I’ve talked to many hotels and Airbnbs in the area and my girlfriend runs the social media accounts, however, success doesn’t always happen overnight. We won’t give up!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Greater Zion E-Bike Rentals?
My business rents e-bikes to people in the Greater Zion area. E-bikes are the best way to see the Greater Zion area, covering as much land as possible with somewhat minimal effort. What makes my e-bike company unique is that I offer foldable e-bikes. They can be folded up, put in a larger vehicle, and taken anywhere in the Greater Zion area. We also offer free delivery to Zion National Park for those who don’t have a large enough vehicle. Shuttle lines in Zion National Park can be lengthy in the peak seasons and e-bikes allow visitors to skip the shuttle lines and ride right into Zion Canyon. Only e-bikes, bikes, and the park shuttle buses are allowed in Zion Canyon so you don’t have to share the road with cars. Riding e-bikes in the Canyon is the best way to experience the beauty of Zion as you ride within the depths of towering red canyon walls.
However, Zion National Park isn’t the only place to ride. Southern Utah has a plethora of paved and unpaved bike trails all equipped with breathtaking scenery. Right behind our shop is Confluence Park, a canyon carved by the Virgin River. It’s great for riding as well as swimming and tubing and has a couple of rope swings and picnic tables. Our customers can take off from our property and drop down into the park. Another great trail is The Virgin River Trail, which stretches from Washington County to St. George and has many offshoot trails taking you to places such as Snow Canyon State Park. It is paved, follows the Virgin River, and has many parks along the way. Our shop is located halfway between St. George and Zion National Park, allowing us to accommodate riders in both areas. We love giving different trail suggestions based on what our customers are looking for.
We have the newest Rad Power bikes on the market. They can go up to 45 miles on one charge. They have pedal assist, meaning as you pedal the electric motor kicks in to assist on up to 5 different levels. This is especially helpful on hills. You can pedal as much or as little as you’d like. Our e-bikes are great for people looking to get exercise but also for people who just want to cover ground with minimal effort. Our e-bikes are equipped with front baskets or rear racks, as well as front suspension or 4-inch fat tires, depending on the model you choose.
What does success mean to you?
I define success for myself by being my own boss while doing what I love. I’ve always been drawn to the outdoors and want others to experience the beauty nature offers. I first fell in love with backpacking but e-biking allows nature to be more accessible to a wider variety of people. I feel it’s important for everyone to have the opportunity to get outside and enjoy what the great state of Utah offers! Every time one of my customers comes back and tells me about how great of a time they had, I feel successful.
Pricing:
- Hourly: $25
- Half-Day (4 hrs): $59
- Full-Day (12 hrs): $89
- Multi-day Rentals: $79/day
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.greaterzionebikerentals.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zion_ebike_rentals/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Greater.Zion.Ebike.Rentals/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/greater-zion-e-bike-rentals-la-verkin?osq=greater+zion+ebike+rentals
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g57038-d24049171-Reviews-Greater_Zion_E_Bike_Rentals-La_Verkin_Utah.html
