Inner Peaks NoDa
Charlotte, North Carolina
Specs: Inner Peaks NoDa, the third Inner Peaks location, opened in Charlotte, North Carolina, last fall. The new gym is the ninth Climbing Collective location, the developer that also operates the Philadelphia Rock Gyms in Pennsylvania and Hudson Boulders in New York. According to Megan Cheek, the Regional Sales and Marketing Manager at Inner Peaks, opening the NoDa gym seemed like a great opportunity to bring another gym to Charlotte, a quickly growing area. “[Charlotte] is one of the fastest growing cities right now, at least in the Southeast,” Cheek stated, mentioning the many apartment buildings opening in the NoDa region, which she hopes will help bring in more climbers. “We are trying to capitalize on the growth in the area and growth in the sport, as well,” she added. “We are seeing that demand [for more climbing gyms] in real-time through the industry growth.”
According to Cheek, the NoDa facility was designed in accordance with the three main Inner Peaks pillars: a supportive community, empowering determination, and building confidence through purposeful progress. “We wanted to make sure there was enough room for people to cheer on fellow climbers,” Cheek said, noting the team included seating not just for climbers but for friends, family, and members of the community. Additionally, the gym was built to have a diversity of wall angles and features, with the goal of fostering a progressive and skill-building style of climbing. “We’re teaching Charlotte climbers how to climb and introducing them to the sport, versus expecting them to adapt to the sport that already exists,” Cheek explained. Cheek has seen the industry and indoor facilities change and evolve over time, something that Inner Peaks has done as well. She has climbed at gyms in the past where there’s been a lot of steep boulders, for instance, that were challenging for less experienced climbers in particular. “We wanted to make sure we had the opportunity to design the space so it would complement the new climber’s journey,” she said of the NoDa gym.
The first bouldering-focused Inner Peaks gym, NoDa is a 20,000-square-foot space with 7,000 square feet of climbing, including a Kilter Board. Also offered inside the facility is a fitness space with a separate cardio area and a full yoga studio. The gym lives in a historic foundation supply building, where aesthetics—such as natural light and high vaulted ceilings—played a large role in the team’s choice to secure the space. “Some of the brick and integrity of the design of the original building have been kept,” Cheek detailed. “Some exposed ceiling really meshes the feel of old and new.” She said Inner Peaks management hoped “to create a place that’s more than just a climbing gym. A place where people can come and connect, stay longer than they climb, grow, and find community together.”
Walls: Walltopia
Flooring: Cascade Specialty
CRM Software: Rock Gym Pro
Website: innerpeaks.com/noda/
Instagram: @InnerPeaksClimbing
In Their Words: “Our focus for NoDa really aligns with the overall focus of Climbing Collective, which is being a welcoming space for all skill levels…Regardless of whether somebody becomes a dedicated and super devout climber or they are seeking that community aspect, we’re focusing on making movement, climbing confidence, and community the core pillars of what brings people into this facility and keeps people coming back…The features and design of NoDa have been tailored to break barriers of fear and unfamiliarity with those who haven’t experienced climbing before or the community that climbing can offer.” – Megan Cheek, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager at Inner Peaks
