About Me

Hi, I'm Ryan Appleton. I'm an entrepreneur, hostel owner, and builder based in Asheville, NC. I'm passionate about creating meaningful experiences and solving real-world problems.

Current Ventures

I currently own and operate The Lazy Tiger Hostel in Asheville, where we're building a community for travelers and adventurers. We opened our doors in September 2023, fulfilling a dream that began during my own world travels.

Background

Raised in Marietta, GA, I graduated from Auburn University in 2009 with a degree in Software Engineering. I spent seven years (2010-2017) at Home Depot's corporate office, working in software engineering and data analytics. In 2017, I took a 12-month leave of absence to travel the world – an experience that would ultimately inspire me to open The Lazy Tiger Hostel.

Beyond Work

When I'm not at the hostel, you can find me hiking the beautiful trails around Asheville or cheering on Auburn and Atlanta sports teams. I'm an avid follower of technology and business trends, and I value spending quality time with friends. I share my adventures with my beautiful 10-year-old dog, Chloe.