The Goat Fort
Warren, Pennsylvania
Specs: New facility will feature 3,000 square feet of climbing “in a clean, open space with lots of natural light,” according to owner Dana Harrington. Harrington notes that the gym will be primarily a bouldering gym, although special classes will be offered occasionally to utilize the facility’s top-rope and lead walls.
Harrington also points out that the focus of the gym will be “quality routesetting,” and the bouldering terrain will vary significantly—featuring 14-foot-tall walls and a 12-foot-tall top-out boulder. The new gym aims to be “the biggest little climbing gym on the map,” according to the gym’s Instagram bio.
As a gym brand, the Goat Fort is unique. The original building was an old pole-barn on a dairy farm. However, that building collapsed under the heavy weight of snow and ice amid the harsh Pennsylvania winters. The gym was then moved to a nearby garage—where it remained for 10 years—before a decision was made to build an entirely new gym. Harrington notes that the new facility sits along the Allegheny River in downtown Warren. The new building is shared with two local outfitters (Allegheny Outfitters and Pennwild Outdoors) and a restaurant/brewery (Bent Run Brewing).
Walls: Designed and built by the owner
Flooring: Designed and built by the owner
CRM Software: Rock Gym Pro
Instagram: @goatfortclimbing
Website: www.goatfort.com
In Their Words: “We endeavor to create aesthetically inspiring problems that engender endless types of movement. In addition to our main climbing walls, we have a training area with fingerboard, campus board, and rings. Plus, we have a cool overlook lounge above the main climbing area where our clients can hang out.”
—Dana Harrington, owner
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