The world’s largest indoor climbing facility is set to reopen next month after being damaged by fire. Ice Factor, in Fort William, Scotland was shut down this past summer after a fire started in the sauna area and caused extensive smoke damage. The unique climbing facility will open this coming March 18th.
Ice Factor, which first opened in 2003, is one of the few year-round ice climbing venues in the world and is one of Scotland’s top tourism attractions. The £3.4million facility is also designated a National Ice Climbing Centre and attracts annually in excess of 100,000 visitors. Climbers and adventure seekers come from throughout the UK and abroad to scale the 45ft high ice-walls that are designed to replicate winter climbing conditions on the likes of Ben Nevis.
Professional climber Dave MacLeod, told the Press and Journal, “I’m delighted to see it reopening. It has been for a decade or so a really important facility for the local climbers and the visiting climbers as well.”
Jamie Smith, owner of Ice Factor, said about the renovation effort, “It has taken almost eight months but after a huge effort by all of the team I’m proud to announce that an even bigger and better Ice Factor Kinlochleven will reopen on March 18.”
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