Building a climbing gym is a lot more complicated than putting climbing walls inside a building.

In this episode, I'm joined by Tim Derrington of Derrington Building Studio, an architect who has worked on six climbing gym designs, including projects for Crux Climbing Center.

We discuss the hidden challenges of designing and building climbing gyms, from unexpected construction costs and complicated mechanical systems to creating spaces that people actually want to spend time in.

Tim shares practical advice on avoiding expensive construction mistakes, deciding where to save money, and designing gyms that reflect their brand and improve the member experience. We also explore how climbing gym design has evolved and what the next generation of climbing gyms might look like.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction
01:06 – Tim's background in climbing gym architecture
03:24 – Unexpected construction challenges
06:55 – How climbing gym design has evolved
08:50 – How architecture shapes a gym's brand
12:00 – Designing a gym that stands out from competitors
15:38 – Lessons from other industries
16:30 – Creating spaces where people want to spend time
20:23 – The biggest mistakes when opening a climbing gym
22:19 – Where to cut 20% from your construction budget
24:49 – The hidden complexity of building climbing gyms
26:52 – HVAC, chalk filtration, and facility maintenance
32:35 – What an architect notices when entering a climbing gym
35:19 – Designing better flow and member experiences
40:23 – The future of climbing gym design
44:22 – Three design decisions every gym owner should get right

Connect with Tim:

Website: https://derrington.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derrington.building.studio/

Follow Climbing Gym Growth:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Andrew Coffey returns to the podcast to talk about where The Hive is today, nearly 15 years after opening his first gym.

We dive into The Hive's current renovation, how competition has changed over the past decade, why market research has become essential, and what Andrew believes the next five years look like for climbing gyms.

Whether you're opening your first gym or operating multiple locations, this episode is packed with practical lessons on design, marketing, retention, and long-term sustainability.

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Chapters:

01:26 - Renovating The Hive's North Shore location

12:57 - Gathering community feedback before a renovation

16:35 - Training areas, boards & fitness space decisions

18:31 - The cost of closing a gym for renovations

22:16 - Lessons from designing climbing gyms for 15 years

29:55 - How competition has changed over the past decade

34:32 - Building new climbers instead of competing for existing ones

35:18 - Simplifying vs. expanding as a business

38:05 - Market research that changed The Hive's marketing strategy

41:53 - Measuring marketing ROI

44:32 - What happens after someone's first visit?

49:07 - Inflation, rising costs & pricing challenges

53:44 - Predictions for the next five years of climbing gyms

59:22 - Why profitability matters more than ever

01:02:17 - Hiring, leadership & building a great team

01:06:18 - Finding the "one thing" that moves the business forward

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, Chris Lopez chats with Ivan Vargas and Steve Bittner, co-owners of Mustangs Bouldering, for a conversation about market selection, risk, and how to break even.

Mustangs opened without SBA loans, without heavy marketing, and in a smaller market by making disciplined decisions around location, rent, and other expenses.

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Show Notes:

00:00 – Intro

04:00 – Backgrounds in climbing and the industry

07:30 – Searching for the right space

10:30 – Why Mustangs chose bouldering only

14:30 – Competition myths in smaller markets

18:30 – Organic growth vs paid marketing

23:30 – Route setting philosophy and surprise

27:30 – Churn, seasonality, and outdoorsy markets

35:30 – Designing for early break-even

41:30 – Building the gym themselves to survive

48:30 – The mental weight of ownership

56:30 – Hard advice: markets matter

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I sit down with Aaron Parlier, owner of Center 45 in Boone, North Carolina.

Aaron shares a grounded, long-term perspective on what actually makes a climbing gym successful. Not rapid expansion, flashy amenities, or forcing your gym into a predefined box, but focusing on community, routesetting, and creating a space people genuinely want to spend time in.

We talk about slow, sustainable growth, why your climbs are the product, and how first impressions at the front desk shape everything that follows.

This episode is especially valuable for new gym owners and operators in small or college towns.

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Show Notes:
00:00 – Aaron’s climbing background & early influences

03:00 – Discovering indoor climbing & falling all the way in

06:00 – Opening Center 45 with limited resources

08:30 – Crowdfunding holds & growing within constraints

11:00 – Capacity issues, weather, and space limitations

14:30 – Partnering with the university climbing wall

16:00 – Making the gym feel welcoming to new climbers

18:30 – Why intimidation kills the first-time experience

21:00 – Front desk energy & first impressions

22:10 – Final advice: slow growth & “it's about the bread”

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I sit down with Andrew Coffey, founder of The Hive Climbing in British Columbia.

From opening one of Canada’s first bouldering only gyms in 2012 to now running six locations, Andrew breaks down the lessons, systems, and philosophy behind The Hive’s growth.

We talk about:

• Expanding before systems were ready
• The realities of scaling past 150 employees
• The cost of building gyms today
• How COVID reshaped their entire business
• Why “Make Life Better” became their company mission

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Show Notes:

00:00 – Andrew’s backstory & discovering climbing

07:00 – Opening The Hive’s first gym & early lessons

15:00 – Expanding to multiple locations & unexpected challenges

23:00 – COVID, booking systems & changing member habits

30:00 – Profitability, pricing, and rising operational costs

38:00 – Managing 150+ employees & scaling culture

48:00 – Systems, structure & Wildly Important Goals

56:00 – Advice for new gym owners & sustainable growth

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I chat with Andrew Hou from Uplift Climbing in Shoreline, Washington.

We dive into what it really takes to build a community first climbing gym in a competitive market. Andrew shares how he spent years preparing for ownership, why Uplift doubled down on overhanging terrain, how they differentiate themselves from other Seattle gyms, and why focusing on health over growth is core to their mission.

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Show Notes:

00:00 – Introduction

00:10 – Intro class & free week membership experiment

00:20 – Referral strategy that drives long-term growth

00:30 – Working on vs. working in the business

00:37 – Newsletters & building relational marketing

00:43 – Differentiation in a saturated market

00:54 – Andrew’s advice for new gym owners

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

What does it really take to open a climbing gym from scratch?

In this episode, I talk with Parker Sims, founder of Gravity Bear Climbing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We dive into how Parker identified a market gap, managed construction while holding a full-time job, and why he thinks climbing gyms are undervalued.

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Show Notes:

00:00 – Parker’s story & Tulsa’s climbing scene

05:00 – Opening Gravity Bear & early surprises

09:00 – The meaning behind “Gravity Bear”

12:00 – Learning flexibility through setbacks

30:00 – Membership goals & community building

45:00 – Why climbing gyms are undervalued

53:00 – “A plan is a place to deviate from.”

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I sit down with Chris Marsaglia, co-founder of Tomo Bouldering Club in Portland, Oregon.

We dive into what it takes to open a new gym in a saturated market, how Tomo’s founders built a brand that balances playfulness and professionalism, and the philosophy behind their unique “T” circuit grading system. Chris also shares how they built a loyal community through thoughtful design, creative events, and an authentic approach to marketing.

Show Notes:
00:00 – Welcome to Tomo Bouldering Club

02:15 – From kitchen table planning to opening day

05:00 – Permitting delays and opening surprises

07:30 – Marketing in a crowded Portland market

09:30 – Authentic branding

12:25 – Hitting 300 members

15:00 – Competing with nearby gyms

23:00 – Tomo’s “T” circuit system

31:00 – Retention and member engagement

33:00 – Future goals

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/