Born on a Cold Colorado River

The idea for LavaBox started on a chilly fall rafting trip in Colorado. The fire pit the group had brought along just was not cutting it. It was big, clunky, and they were still freezing. Maybe it was the cold, or maybe a beer or two, but Josh Thurmond decided then and there that he would make something better. He wanted a fire pit that was compact and portable, something he could easily throw in a raft or truck without the bulk. He went home and got to work, building seven prototypes before finally landing on the right design.

The Man Behind the Flame

Josh Thurmond is the inventor, founder, and what he calls the Chief Eruption Officer of LavaBox. A native Coloradan, Josh is a longtime outdoorsman, whitewater rafter, paddler, and river guide who has spent his career developing outdoor adventure programs for people with disabilities at the National Sports Center for the Disabled. He also volunteers with Team River Runner and sits on the Board of the Colorado Whitewater Association. Josh built the first LavaBoxes by hand in his own garage in Denver. His wife, Sylvia, who Josh refers to as the Chief Fire Officer, oversees the finances and keeps the whole operation running smoothly. (As Josh puts it, she will fire him if he does not get things right.) Sylvia also happens to be a DNA Analyst at the Denver Crime Laboratory with nearly 30 years of experience, including work on body identification for mass tragedies like the Thailand Tsunami and the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Safe to say, the LavaBox team is made up of people with serious depth.

A Team of Real Outdoor People

The LavaBox crew is small but mighty, and every single one of them lives the outdoor lifestyle they are building products for. Chase has rafted Colorado's rivers, shredded mountain bike trails, and carved powder in the Rockies. His favorite adventures are the ones he shares with his wife, baby daughter, and two rowdy dogs. Seth, who hails from the South and brings undeniable southern charm, is an Air Force veteran, avid whitewater kayaker, and dedicated volunteer with veteran organizations and people with disabilities. Meredith has done it all, from selling snowboards and camping gear to serving beer for a season pass at Snowbird, and her professional background spans project management, e-commerce, and marketing. She snowboards, surfs, hikes, paddles, and goes where the mountains and ocean call her.

As Seen on Shark Tank

In March 2023, Josh pitched LavaBox on Season 14 of Shark Tank, drawing strong interest from multiple Sharks. He walked away with an offer from Lori Greiner, though he ultimately decided not to finalize the deal, preferring to retain full ownership of his company and its mission. The very next day after the episode aired, LavaBox sold 260 units, an amount that normally took them an entire month to move. The Shark Tank spotlight confirmed what Josh already knew: LavaBox solves a real problem, and people love it.

Giving Back to the Wild Places

LavaBox is a proud founding partner of Protect Our Rivers, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping the nation's natural waterways clean and healthy. For every LavaBox sold, the company donates one dollar to the cause. To date, they have given away around twenty thousand dollars. Josh's long-term vision is also to build a workplace staffed and run by people with disabilities, combining entrepreneurship and accessibility in a way that reflects his life's work.