Press

Thank you for your interest in Inner Peaks Climbing! For more information or to set up an interview or a tour of our newest facility, contact Page Lee at [email protected]

When the pursuit of natural harmony is a shared journey, great heights can be attained.

Lynn Hill

Inner Peaks History

In the early 1990s, most indoor climbing gyms were small, dirty, and unwelcoming. They were often run by non-climbers who added them as an afterthought to their primary gymnastics or fitness business or experienced climbers with little interest in attracting new participants to the sport. Page Lee and Doug Cosby were serious climbers who wanted to build climbing gyms that would be welcoming, clean, and appeal to both seasoned climbers and the uninitiated. After a stint as minority owners and managers at a DC-based gym, Page and Doug moved to Charlotte to found Inner Peaks.

The original facility in the Greylyn Business Park on Monroe Road opened in 1998. It was the first full-service, modern climbing gym in the Carolinas. In 2015, Inner Peaks acquired property on the periphery of South End development and opened a second location. The gamble paid off; South End is now one of the hottest urban neighborhoods in the nation, and the Inner Peaks at that location is thriving. In December 2019, they closed the original gym on Monroe Road to open the current gym in the Matthews area off Route 51. The first phase opened on schedule. The pandemic delayed the second phase. It is now scheduled to open in mid-June of 2023. In 2022, Inner Peaks Climbing sold its business operations to The Climbing Collective group. Page and Doug continue operating the Charlotte region facilities while developing new projects in the Carolinas and beyond.

Featured: Press Release

For Immediate Release

Inner Peaks Climbing expands Matthews, NC location

Matthews, NC – Inner Peaks Climbing will unveil an addition to their Mathews, NC climbing gym that includes 52-foot-tall climbing walls and an Olympic-regulation speed wall in June 2023.

Longtime Charlotte climbing gym operator Inner Peaks is expanding their location at 10715 Independence Pointe Pkwy to include 10,000 Square feet of 55-foot-tall climbing walls. The expansion will consist of traditional rope climbing and a regulation speed climbing wall identical to those used in Olympic competitions. Inner Peaks removed part of the roof on the original building and built a new tower section to house the taller climbing walls. The expansion to the already operational facility is geared toward climbers seeking the extra excitement of a taller wall and those looking to train for outdoor climbing and elite competition. The projected opening is mid-June.

The existing Inner Peaks Matthews facility opened in 2019. It includes 24-foot-high top ropes, bouldering, retail, a traditional fitness area, a yoga room, and a private birthday party room. Inner Peaks also operates a full-service gym at 2220 S Tryon Street in the popular South End neighborhood. Memberships, day passes, classes on how to use climbing gear, and activities for children and teens are available at both locations.

Post-pandemic, customers looking for real-world fitness have been flocking to climbing gyms nationwide. According to Page Lee, one of the founders of Inner Peaks, “Rock climbing promotes more than a strong body. It also provides unique mental challenge and builds strong social bonds.” She expects this expansion project to appeal to both experienced climbers and those new to climbing. “The height and design of these new walls will provide an exhilarating training space for anyone seeking the next level of climbing performance in Charlotte.”

Walltopia, the world’s leading wall manufacturer, built the new Matthews climbing walls. The general contractor is Andujar Construction.

Grand opening specials include no joining fee on new memberships and BOGO day passes (Matthews location only) purchased between June 1st – July 1st.

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