Vail Valley Locals Ryan Klemme and Andy Zenor Launch Liftliner Party Bus

The gravel crunches under tires on a Tuesday morning in Eagle, but the real action is happening in the rearview mirror of two repurposed school buses. They sit idle now, painted matte black with bright logos, waiting for the weekend rush to turn them into rolling bars. This isn’t the frantic energy of a Friday night at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, but it’s the quiet hum of a business model that’s finally found its footing in the Vail Valley.

Liftliner Party Bus is no longer just an idea sketched out by two valets. It’s a rolling operation. Ryan Klemme and Andy Zenor, who met while working the drive at The Hythe Vail, saw a gap in the market that had been glaring for years. Party buses were arriving from Denver, dragging locals into traffic and higher costs. The Turtle Bus was gone. The valley needed a reliable, locally owned option. So, they bought two early 2000s Thomas Freightliner school buses from a Denver school district and turned them into what Klemme calls “Vail’s premiere bar on wheels.”

Let’s look at the hardware. These aren’t custom-built luxury coaches. They are 40-foot school buses that got a minor repair job, new tires, and a complete gutting. The exterior got a sleek matte black paint job and a huge, brightly colored Liftliner logo. The interior? Plush seating for 25 people on both sides, with standing room for more. LED light strips run above the windows and under the seats. There’s a premium sound system for Bluetooth playlists, a DJ light on the ceiling for “full club mode,” and a full-service bar. Klemme notes that safety was the priority during the overhaul, which means the buses are road-ready, not just stage-ready.

The business is based out of Eagle but services the Vail Valley primarily. They handle weddings, bachelor parties, birthdays, corporate events, and concerts. They even offer day trips to the hot springs in Glenwood Springs. The two buses have nicknames now — Klemme named the first one “Gin Diesel” and Zenor named the second “Patrón Maholmes.” It’s a naming contest that ended, apparently, because they got tired of calling them Bus One and Bus Two.

For context, this is a shift from the old model. Previously, locals had to charter buses that often originated out of state or major hubs, paying a premium for the privilege of being a passenger in someone else’s logistics chain. Liftliner is locally owned and operated. The drivers are professionals, and yes, a professional bartender comes along for the ride. You aren’t just getting a lift; you’re getting a mobile event.

The financials are opaque on the exact startup cost, but Klemme says they put “a lot of work” into the buses. They acquired them from a school district, which usually means a fraction of the cost of a new coach. They added new tires, paint, and interior fixtures. The result is a service that competes with the big rental companies but offers the convenience of local pickup and a more intimate, customizable experience.

This matters for locals because it changes how people get around the valley for big events. Instead of driving themselves to the amphitheater and hunting for parking, or waiting for a bus that might not be as well-equipped, they have a dedicated service. It’s a convenience play that also keeps the money local. The buses are registered, insured, and operated by people who live here.

The service is ready to roll. You can check social media for deals and schedules. Whether you’re heading to a concert or a wedding in Glenwood, the option is there. It’s not just about getting from point A to point B. It’s about the ride being as fun as the destination. And for a community that values convenience and local flavor, that’s a selling point.