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Climbmax Climbing Gym closes its doors

CLOSED UP: Apologetic closure notices greet eager climbers on Wednesday after Climbmax Climbing Gym permanently closed its doors. (Photo by Rosie Gochnour)
CLOSED UP: Apologetic closure notices greet eager climbers on Wednesday after Climbmax Climbing Gym permanently closed its doors. (Photo by Rosie Gochnour)

The Valley’s rock climbing community was shocked Wednesday when Climbmax Climbing Gym in Tempe announced it was closing its doors after five years of operation.

“Due to reasons beyond our control, we have been forced to immediately close this facility,” a statement on Climbmax’s website said. “Closing the gym was not taken lightly and we did all within our power to keep our gym open.”

Climbmax opened in 2006 at 1330 West Auto Drive.

Owner Mike Fitzgerald did not want to explain the reason for the closing.

“There are a lot of variables in the air right now that I can’t comment on,” Fitzgerald said.

ASU alumnus Ryan James has been climbing for eight years and started climbing at Climbmax shortly after it opened.

“Climbmax is the one rock climbing gym in the Tempe-area that really resembles the outdoor experience,” James said. “The walls were painted to mimic outdoor rocks and they offered a variety of angles for all ability levels to climb.”

When bioarcheology graduate student Kelly Harkins moved to Phoenix in 2007, Climbmax was one of the first places she went.

“Rock climbing is where I find my community,” Harkins said.

Harkins, who was “shocked” by the closing, said Climbmax offered some of the best amenities.

“The gym had great resources for bouldering, sport climbing and top-roping. Few gyms have features like a bouldering cave from the first to second floors and big arches and overhangs,” Harkins said.

“The route setters did such a good job that everyone was always really excited to go climbing.”

James said news of the closing spread quickly through Facebook and text messaging among the rock climbing community.

“There was a really strong community at Climbmax,” James said. “It was a high quality gym that truly mirrored the outdoor experience as best as an indoor gym could. It’s a very sad day in the Tempe rock climbing community.”

Harkins said if the community could have prevented the closing, it would have stepped in to help.

“It sort of feels like it was taken away from us,” Harkins said.

James said he will continue to rock climb at indoor facilities in Tempe while Harkins mentioned she will climb mostly outdoors as the season improves.

Reach the reporter at crcruz1@asu.edu


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