Lexington Climbing Gym

Post by KD » Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:09 am

Saxman wrote:Thank god. wu.cactus1 should have his gym open by Feb 1st.

well - so much for my trying to raise money for you. i guess the rrgscc is a no go too (red river gorge saxman climbing center)

Post by **Wes** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:15 am

I also don't think a "standard" climbing gym in Lexington would be able to pay for itself and generate enough income for the owner to live off of. I also question the *conventional wisdom* that a climbing gym has to have b-day parties, boy scouts, etc to make it. They do bring in money, but it is fickle and un-reliable. Just because that is a model that sorta, kinda, almost paid the bills in a lot of gyms, doesn't mean there are not better ways. I have thought a lot about what could work, and have ideas, but no cash. Perhaps someday...

Oh, and I would kill for a gym like Ray and Michelle's within a 20 minute drive of the red. Living here sucks in the winter!

Post by **clif** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:29 am

i guess living off a climbing establishment is kind of my white whale. so, climbers can be happy with bouldering, say ceiling height of less than ???-
what are the home gyms height? 10, 12, 15, 20? noobs and kids a few tr's
and a couple of cool cave, roof, and oddball features to pool around and create flow and space. yaniro's gym in idaho was a converted racketball court.

i've see strip shopping center loading dock space used well. i've also met SLC boulders start a hold making business, and turn a profit. 100k startup?
pffft.

Post by **pigsteak** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:17 am

pfffft? that's my word.

non sequiter is yours.

Post by **RRO** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:32 am

Wes wrote:
Living here sucks in the winter!

you just need to learn how to layer, we have been out doing something everyday

Post by **Wes** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:35 am

RRO wrote:
Wes wrote:
Living here sucks in the winter!
you just need to learn how to layer, we have been out doing something everyday

Sorry, that should read:

Living here sucks in the winter if you don't like to go out bushwacking and trail building in the cold! Plus, I don't always get home before dark. Not that it matters right now, since I have some of that wonderful elbow tendinitis...

Post by **RRO** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:49 am

at least we have risk

Post by **pkananen** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:00 am

RRO, you should try Ticket to Ride. It's great!

Post by **wu.cactus1** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:20 am

If I can personally collect 100 dollars a month from 10-15 people in order to keep a SMALL garage open that isnt exactly geared toward half the people who pay then I am sure there is someone out there who can get the 700 dollars a month from the lexington climbing community at the least in order to keep a small warehouse space of 30x40 and 20' tall ceilings (which would be perfect for a small co-op if managed correctly...) oen. yeah its not the biggest gym in the world but it would be better then what we got now and bouncing between 4-5 home gyms in order to get a decent work-out...now I am a full-time college student and can collect this money and handle it so if someone wanted to start this co-op it wouldn't be impossible just a larger version of what I am doing, and one person wouldn't exactly have to do it but a group of people...hence the larger version of what I am doing now...I also managed to squeeze 800 dollars in two weeks out of a group of college kids...get the whole climbing community of Lexington and increase the money equally...I don't know it just seems that a co-op isnt that far from sight, its just the hardest part is actually starting and If I was out of school I would defintely try but I am sadly still a sophmore and when someone shows me actual evidence of a potential gym in the process of being even worked out i will believe something is getting done...but until then i will continue to bounce between gyms, between classes in attempt to get strong, when in a little over a month if done properly a nice training/bouldering oriented co-op could be built for the lexington climbing community to enjoy.

Post by **Saxman** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:10 pm

Good luck finding 15 people who will give you 1200 a year, not just some money Dec-Feb. Lexington Rocks only had a handful of college students and it was less than half that. BUT, if you can find me people who are willing to pay $300 for a year up front, I am interested to hear from you.