BoulderFactory
La Reina, Chile
Specs: In April this year, BoulderFactory, a Chilean bouldering gym, opened to the public in the La Reina region of the country. According to Claudia Villablanca, Gym Manager, “BoulderFactory is the result of a partnership between the co-founders of CasaBoulder and HangarBoulder—along with new partners, for a total of fourteen partners—with Juan José Fernández leading each of the projects.” She further described CasaBoulder as the eldest son, HangarBoulder as the younger brother and BoulderFactory as the cousin. CasaBoulder is the business’s first facility, which launched in 2011 in Providencia. Later, the team opened HangarBoulder in 2020 in San Miguel, before completing BoulderFactory in La Reina in 2024.
According to Villablanca, many climbers at the first two gyms “mentioned that the locations are too far or inconvenient,” prompting the ownership team to add the third location. La Reina was deemed an ideal spot for the new gym because the “area has large buildings and reasonable prices,” per Villablanca, as well as a “great community.” The team also felt the area could accommodate a new bouldering gym due to the recent growth in climbing’s popularity around the country, in general. “Last year’s climbing scene in Chile increased significantly, particularly after the pandemic,” Villablanca explained, so the owners decided to make their third facility a sizable one and build what she described as “the largest climbing gym in Chile.” They then found a preexisting building—a former factory—to house the gym and, after restructuring and improving the interior, they opened the gym’s doors for climbing.
BoulderFactory features around 500 square meters (5,382 square feet) of climbing surface in the 1,000-square-meter (10,764-square-foot) facility. “The gym is equipped with a warm-up zone that includes kettlebells, dumbbells, and many other training equipment,” said Villablanca, who noted an outdoor bouldering area is among the gym’s planned amenities. With summer approaching in the South American country, the management team is looking forward to hosting events—such as a night climb event, which will feature a competition, extended hours, exclusive routes, and drinks.
Walls: Owner/contractor
Flooring: Owner/contractor
CRM/POS Software: Transbank
Website: boulderfactory.cl
Instagram: @Boulder.Factory
In Their Words: “We thank the climbing community that has always been supporting each of the gyms and events that, as a team, we have presented to the lovers of this sport. For this reason, we will continue improving infrastructure and services for the comfort and well-being of each climber who enjoys the BoulderFactory experience.” – Claudia Villablanca, Gym Manager at BoulderFactory
Naomi is a personal trainer and a routesetter who has also worked at climbing gyms as a youth team coach. After starting college at Colorado State University in 2017, she wanted to make new friends and found climbing, fell in love, and now climbing dictates most of what she does. Naomi earned a bachelor’s degree in Ecosystem Science & Sustainability, and when not climbing she enjoys baking, gardening and crafting.
