Rock wall / bouldering wall addition?
Anyone have any experience adding a bouldering wall or rock climbing area to a gym that was primarily fitness oriented? (i.e. not a climbing gym, but a regular gym with a smaller climbing area.) I am looking for tips/resources on creating profitability, rough insurance costs, etc for such an additional. Did it work for you?
Evening Megan,
We’ve had both a climbing wall and bouldering wall for the past 15years. At one point we had a part time staff to man the wall for members. Over those 15years we had prospective member after member get excited about the wall, but very few of them use it, and even fewer be consistent climbers. We eventually cut the staffing of the wall. In the last 2 years the wall has begun to weather poorly and is extremely expensive to repair. We will not be rebuilding it.
Our bouldering wall is still very open, and still very unused.
Both walls look great. But neither provide revenue and are maintenance nitemares.
We are considering a new location for our gym and at that point might invest in a revolving mechanical wall in addition to hand holds in our functional training room.
Sean Yeager-Diamond
www.prometheanfitness.com