Portland Rock Gym
Beaverton, Oregon
Specs: Portland Rock Gym recently announced plans for a second full-service climbing facility, coming summer 2023. According to the operators, the new facility will have sport and top rope walls reaching 55 feet, a complete replication of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic bouldering walls, a 15-meter speed wall, adjustable training walls (including a Moon Board) and several systems walls.
Additionally, the planned gym will feature an outdoor bouldering area, built over two former tennis courts. “Our biggest boulder will be outside, actually,” said Founder, Owner and President Gary Rall, who leads the gym with his son Brendan, the Vice-President. The covered and radiant-heated outdoor bouldering area will span roughly 6,000 square feet and was designed to give Portland Rock Gym climbers a fresh, outdoor experience that couldn’t be compromised by the Pacific Northwest rain. Other features indoors include yoga and fitness studios, saunas, weightlifting and cardio equipment, and a shared work/lounge space. Altogether, the Beaverton expansion will have an estimated +26,500 square feet of climbing across a +37,000-square-foot floor space.
Portland Rock Gym has come a long way since its first facility opened in 1988, one of the few commercial climbing gym openings in the U.S. prior to the ‘90s. Numerous pros like Lynn Hill and Alan Watts have climbed or competed at the gym over the years, which still has original 1988 Metolius Tiles on two vertical walls at the current Portland location. Although the planned Beaverton facility will be only a few miles away, Gary noted the expansion gym will cut down on commuting time for nearby climbers (especially during rush hour) and bring a modern design into their mix. A standard membership will grant access to both locations, the setting for which will be directed by Nick Gagliardi.
Walls: EP Climbing
Flooring: not yet finalized
CRM Software: not yet finalized
Website: portlandrockgym.com
Instagram: @portlandrockgym
In Their Words: “Back in 1988 there weren’t any other climbing gyms to inspire Gary, rather PRG ended up inspiring many generations of gym owners. This new facility is no different. We hope to push the envelope, take some risks, and hopefully inspire others to do the same. We are really looking forward to having the physical space and facility that matches our programs’ maturity. We have several really excellent employees and we want their careers to advance with us as we grow. I am also really excited for the new gym’s ability to host nationally-relevant pro competitions and what that will mean for the Oregon climbing community.” ― Brendan Rall, Vice-President
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