Climbing Gym In North East Tennessee

Hello Everyone,

We are currently doing research to see if there is an interest for a climbing gym in the Tri-City area of North East Tennessee. We have locations either in Kingsport of Johnson City and are just curiours if there is a large enough population to make a successful business venture work in the area. Please feel free to contact me to let me know of any groups around the area who could potentially help with finding the climbing population and if a bouldering gym or a rope/ bouldering gym would be more suited for the area.

Thanks,
Dustin Phillips

Dustin Phillips wrote: Hello Everyone,

We are currently doing research to see if there is an interest for a climbing gym in the Tri-City area of North East Tennessee. We have locations either in Kingsport of Johnson City and are just curiours if there is a large enough population to make a successful business venture work in the area. Please feel free to contact me to let me know of any groups around the area who could potentially help with finding the climbing population and if a bouldering gym or a rope/ bouldering gym would be more suited for the area.

Thanks,
Dustin Phillips

I live in the Tri-Cities.  In recent years the climbing community has been slowly growing in the area.  Especially after the opening of Hidden Valley.  There is a decent group of climbers at ETSU and throughout the area.  Tri-Cities Climbing Group on Facebook is a popular means of communication.  I have been wanting to see a gym come to the area for years.  Feel free to contact me at 4235576518.

I live in Kingsport. I occasionally go the the gym in Knoxville and I’ve met several people there who have driven the two hours from the tri cities. I definitely think this area would support a gym, but maybe not a mega sized one.  The business end of it would probably balance somewhere between climbers training there and kids birthday parties. Just my thoughts. Good luck. 

Dustin Phillips wrote: Hello Everyone,

We are currently doing research to see if there is an interest for a climbing gym in the Tri-City area of North East Tennessee. We have locations either in Kingsport of Johnson City and are just curiours if there is a large enough population to make a successful business venture work in the area. Please feel free to contact me to let me know of any groups around the area who could potentially help with finding the climbing population and if a bouldering gym or a rope/ bouldering gym would be more suited for the area.

Thanks,
Dustin Phillips

Hi, I’m currently a high schooler and have recently found a very big interest in climbing. Many of my friends have wanted to go climbing but the closest gym to me is in downtown Asheville, I think if a gym was made in downtown Johnson City or the tri cities area, that many people would come and try to climb. With that, more people would want to become climbers because they don’t have to travel 1Hour+ distances to climb.

I climb with more than a few ppl from Johnson City and they travel to Center 45 on a regular basis to train. Someone will eventually set up a legit training facility in JC, maybe it will be you all. Do it right if you are considering it. I appreciate SMAC and Climbmax in Asheville but those will be put out if/when a large facility sets up shop. 

I lived in Johnson City for 4 years from 2008 to 2012 while in pharmacy school at ETSU.  The climbing scene at the university wall was pretty low key.  I would imagine the Tri-Cities would pretty easily support a decent gym.  I'd like to move back to the area in the future, and the lack of a climbing gym in town would be a negative (I've always figured on trying to get some type of adjunct position with the university to be able to access the wall).

Joshua McDaniel wrote: I lived in Johnson City for 4 years from 2008 to 2012 while in pharmacy school at ETSU.  The climbing scene at the university wall was pretty low key.  I would imagine the Tri-Cities would pretty easily support a decent gym.  I'd like to move back to the area in the future, and the lack of a climbing gym in town would be a negative (I've always figured on trying to get some type of adjunct position with the university to be able to access the wall).

You can get an alumni membership, that's what I have.  The scene is still pretty underground but there is a solid crew of dedicated climbers and a couple locals of 5.13 caliber.  

Contact the owners/managers of Center 45 in Boone. They have said something about JC to me before.

Do you know if they have decided to move on building a gym in Johnson City. We have property near ETSU we are in the process of looking for investors.

Don't know much about Johnson City aside from a few visits many years ago, but it's essentially perfectly situated for a Southeastern climber that likes variety. 3ish hrs to the New, Red, Obed and Chattanooga for weekend trips. 1hr to Hidden Valley for local cragging. 1.5hrs to Boone area bouldering and Pisgah trad for day trips.

Best of luck in your venture!

Joe Virtanen wrote: Don't know much about Johnson City aside from a few visits many years ago, but it's essentially perfectly situated for a Southeastern climber that likes variety. 3ish hrs to the New, Red, Obed and Chattanooga for weekend trips. 1hr to Hidden Valley for local cragging. 1.5hrs to Boone area bouldering and Pisgah trad for day trips.

Best of luck in your venture!

Joe is right, we don't have any "back yard crags," but can be to tons of areas in a short time.  JC has some serious potential.

Dustin Phillips wrote: Do you know if they have decided to move on building a gym in Johnson City. We have property near ETSU we are in the process of looking for investors.

I have no idea, you'd have to ask them. Ring up the gym and get the manager's number. It was briefly talked about several months ago. They could have dropped it for all I know.

I'm originally from Bristol, and visit occasionally to see parents and other folks. I'd definitely swing by a climbing gym in poor weather if one was available in the area. (I'm quite spoiled here in PNW where we have many to choose from!)

Yes!! I would go to a gym in JC religiously when I’m home from school in the summer. I have family and friends in JC interested in climbing as well.

Not sure if this is still a viable idea or not.  I moved to Johnson City from Chattanooga a few months back and have really missed the indoor climbing this winter.  I would absolutely have a membership to a climbing gym in the Tri-Cities area.

I say that it will happen within the next ten years.  JC is still an “underground“ outdoor area.  No one really understands how good of a location it is in.  I won’t complain as of now though.  With an outdoor town boom comes a skyrocket in cost of living (Asheville).  

yes! I bouldered indoor and outdoor and played around with top rope and lead climbing in college. I did a couple of collegiate competitions and triple crown. It’s been a few years since then but I have missed it dearly. I’ve moved to the area a year ago and have been devastated there is nothing close. Being new to the area I’m hesitant to go outdoor or drive a ways with no connections. I would definitely join and give some free marketing as well haha Honestly I’ve been wishing I had the means to open a gym because I feel like it would be a very good business plan in this area. The sport is growing in popularity with many gyms opening up in South Georgia where I’m originally from which is as flat as it can be. If they can do well, a gym here can do well.

Katelyn Thrift wrote: yes! I bouldered indoor and outdoor and played around with top rope and lead climbing in college. I did a couple of collegiate competitions and triple crown. It’s been a few years since then but I have missed it dearly. I’ve moved to the area a year ago and have been devastated there is nothing close. Being new to the area I’m hesitant to go outdoor or drive a ways with no connections. I would definitely join and give some free marketing as well haha Honestly I’ve been wishing I had the means to open a gym because I feel like it would be a very good business plan in this area. The sport is growing in popularity with many gyms opening up in South Georgia where I’m originally from which is as flat as it can be. If they can do well, a gym here can do well.

Curtis Baird wrote:

I live in the Tri-Cities.  In recent years the climbing community has been slowly growing in the area.  Especially after the opening of Hidden Valley.  There is a decent group of climbers at ETSU and throughout the area.  Tri-Cities Climbing Group on Facebook is a popular means of communication.  I have been wanting to see a gym come to the area for years.  Feel free to contact me at 4235576518.

I definitely think there is room for a climbing gym with routes in or near Johnson City. I’d be happy to do some research (questionnaires at relevant retail) talk to local schools, including ETSU, for partnering and offering credit classes; and whether any grant money will be available (the Feds have an interest in Unicoi county because of Nuclear Fuel. The two closest gyms Onsight in Knoxville and ClimbMax/SMAC in Asheville have expressed interest in our area- not sure if they are still. Parking and or public transportation will be big concerns. I think Amtrak is trying to come to Bristol and then perhaps farther and/or create passenger trains to run on CSX. it’s be a great tourist draw along with our views, rafting and hiking. I managed a climbing g gym for 25+ years and would love to get involved again. Please anyone feel free to email me your thoughts. Climb on!

As someone who lives in JC and climbed 89 days last year, I‘d love to see it.