Curtain closes on S. Broadway climbing gym

thrillseekers entrance

Thrillseekers is closing its climbing gym at 1912 S. Broadway. (Thrillseekers)

It’s time to lower the ropes at Denver’s oldest climbing gym.

Thrillseekers Climbing Gym, a stalwart for local climbers since 1992, will close this month.

President and owner Kevin Smith said he is getting closer to retiring. Thrillseekers has been at the same location at 1912 S. Broadway since it opened 25 years ago.

Smith said that when it opened, there were just a few indoor rock-climbing gyms scattered around the Front Range: Paradise Rock Gym, which closed in 2008, and CATS Climbing and Boulder Rock Club in Boulder.

Smith, now in his 60s, said he wanted a place to teach beginner climbers how to belay and use proper technique, especially when he couldn’t take them climbing outside. Now he sees 50 to 100 climbers, from beginners to experts, passing through the doors every day.

“We’ve always been catering to the climber who prefers to climb out-of-doors, so it’s greatly based on weather,” Smith said.

Thrillseekers’ last day of operation is Friday, March 23, according to an announcement on Facebook.

Its closure comes during a boom for indoor climbing in the region.

In the last year, Ubergrippen in Stapleton opened and Earth Treks announced plans to open in the former Sports Authority headquarters in Englewood. Movement Climbing + Fitness is opening its RiNo location this summer, and the The Valley Climbing and Fitness plans to open next year.

Thrillseekers will hold a sale from March 24 to 30 to sell the gym’s gear, including crash pads, shoes, harnesses and holds.

The 5,500-square-foot building is owned by Plateau Investment Management and Co.

thrillseekers entrance

Thrillseekers is closing its climbing gym at 1912 S. Broadway. (Thrillseekers)

It’s time to lower the ropes at Denver’s oldest climbing gym.

Thrillseekers Climbing Gym, a stalwart for local climbers since 1992, will close this month.

President and owner Kevin Smith said he is getting closer to retiring. Thrillseekers has been at the same location at 1912 S. Broadway since it opened 25 years ago.

Smith said that when it opened, there were just a few indoor rock-climbing gyms scattered around the Front Range: Paradise Rock Gym, which closed in 2008, and CATS Climbing and Boulder Rock Club in Boulder.

Smith, now in his 60s, said he wanted a place to teach beginner climbers how to belay and use proper technique, especially when he couldn’t take them climbing outside. Now he sees 50 to 100 climbers, from beginners to experts, passing through the doors every day.

“We’ve always been catering to the climber who prefers to climb out-of-doors, so it’s greatly based on weather,” Smith said.

Thrillseekers’ last day of operation is Friday, March 23, according to an announcement on Facebook.

Its closure comes during a boom for indoor climbing in the region.

In the last year, Ubergrippen in Stapleton opened and Earth Treks announced plans to open in the former Sports Authority headquarters in Englewood. Movement Climbing + Fitness is opening its RiNo location this summer, and the The Valley Climbing and Fitness plans to open next year.

Thrillseekers will hold a sale from March 24 to 30 to sell the gym’s gear, including crash pads, shoes, harnesses and holds.

The 5,500-square-foot building is owned by Plateau Investment Management and Co.

This story is for our paid subscribers only. Please become one of the thousands of BusinessDen members today!

Your subscription has expired. Renew now by choosing a subscription below!

For more informaiton, head over to your profile.

Profile


SUBSCRIBE NOW

 — 

 — 

 — 

TERMS OF SERVICE:

ALL MEMBERSHIPS RENEW AUTOMATICALLY. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AT THE RATE IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME UNLESS YOU CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY LOGGING IN OR BY CONTACTING [email protected].

ALL CHARGES FOR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE NONREFUNDABLE.

EACH MEMBERSHIP WILL ONLY FUNCTION ON UP TO 3 MACHINES. ACCOUNTS ABUSING THAT LIMIT WILL BE DISCONTINUED.

FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]




Return to Homepage

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *