New Bouldering Gym for San Diego

A new bouldering gym has just been approved by the planning commission in northern San Diego County. Vital Climbing will open their fourth bouldering gym in Oceanside, California according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The Oceanside gym will take over a building that previously housed a surf shop and a motorcycle dealership at 525 South Coast Highway on the northwest corner of Coast Highway and Minnesota Avenue. The 8,100 square-foot building will have four climbing structures about 16 feet tall. In addition the gym will also have a lounge, an exercise area, locker rooms, and an office. The facility will offer yoga and rock climbing classes and will be available for parties and community events.

The Planning Commission unanimously approved permits for the gym on Monday. Several commissioners said the business would provide a fun and healthy entertainment venue for people in the community.

“It’s a healthy alternative to some of the other uses that are currently on the street,” said Commissioner Claudia Troisi, who lives in the area. “I’m thrilled to have you and wish you a lot of success.”

Like their other facilities, the Vital gym will be open to the public during regular hours but it will also be accessible to members 24-hours a day using a key code door system.

Commissioner John Scrivener said he was concerned about people having access to the facility at times when there will be no employees supervising climbers. “So if somebody falls when there is no one around, what happens?” Scrivener asked.

Co-owner, Nam Phan said employees routinely visit the gym at night and there have been no major injuries in their other facilities.

“We have staff dropping in at random hours of the night to spot check,” Phan said. “We’ve been operating three locations and that system has worked very well for us.”

The new Oceanside location is a mere 12 minutes from their Carlsbad location and is expected to draw heavily from the nearby Marine base of Camp Pendleton.