Collingwood Climbing Centre
Collingwood, Ontario
Specs: Brothers Marc and Mike Drake are planning to open Collingwood Climbing Centre—a new full-service climbing gym with roped climbing, bouldering, and ninja amenities—in late 2026. The launch of the project aligned well personally and professionally for both owners, who are combining their complementary work experience to operate the gym. “For me, I was looking for something that was going to keep me local and keep me in one spot,” said Marc, who has worked extensively in the adventure tourism industry. Mike has 15 years of experience managing and owning fitness facilities, so Marc said opening a climbing gym “was the right opportunity to step back into ownership and do what he’s meant to do and loves doing.”
Opening a climbing gym has long been a personal passion project for Marc, but previous attempts never aligned because finding the right market, building, and business conditions for a successful gym was difficult. The idea behind Collingwood Climbing Centre became viable once the brothers found a suitable location in Collingwood and updated their business plan. According to Marc, Collingwood was deemed an ideal location for the gym because both brothers live locally and are connected to the area. Additionally, they perceived “a demand for this,” Marc stated. “Specifically, a climbing gym, but also a recreation center that is indoors.”
The owners sought a building with sufficient height for both roped climbing and bouldering, as well as appropriate zoning, in a spot that suited their vision. “We found a location pretty quickly that fit and checked all the boxes,” Marc said. “It’s right there in Collingwood, in a prime location, just five minutes away from Blue Mountain Ski Resort,” he added, noting the gym is on a main street with high visibility and substantial parking. “It’s a location that I think most people would kind of dream of,” he added.
Collingwood Climbing Centre is being built in a new building that had already been constructed, which offered an empty shell for the gym’s buildout, or “a blank canvas,” in Marc’s words. The owners are currently ahead of schedule and are “working out the kinks to get open and operating smoothly before peak season,” he added. The gym will offer a ninja-style training area, top rope and lead climbing, and a range of bouldering terrain. There will also be climbing training equipment—such as a spray wall, campus board and hangboards—as well as a dedicated children’s climbing wall and a retail shop. “There are other fitness centers both in the building and in buildings in our area,” including baseball training, soccer, cheerleading and fitness-related businesses, Marc explained. He sees these neighboring tenants as complementary rather than competitive, believing the area is becoming a recreation-focused destination.
Walls: Walltopia
Flooring: Walltopia
CRM Software: Redpoint HQ
Facebook: Collingwood Climbing Centre
Instagram: @CollingwoodClimbingCentre
In Their Words: “You want to create a culture in the gym. Everybody knows the culture that climbing is known for is so supportive and encouraging, and the fitness culture part of it. Make sure your staff is a part of that because they’re the constant in the gym. They’re the ones who are going to help maintain and create that culture for the gym.” – Marc Drake, Co-Owner of Collingwood Climbing Centre
