Jason Marshall saw a community hold and reached for it when he opened the Rifle Climbing Center (RCC) earlier this year.
“[Rifle realtor] Adam Whitt showed me the space and I immediately thought this could be so much more than a climbing gym or a place to workout. I saw the potential for kids programs and a place where climbers can gather,” Marshall told The Sopris Sun. “The vision came through and I jumped on it!”
Situated at 139 West 3rd Street in downtown Rifle, RCC is a state-of-the-art climbing center that appeals to beginners and experts alike. Boasting 8,000 square feet, RCC features general and climbing-specific training equipment such as hangboards, pinchboards and Lattice’s MXEdge, four training boards — Kilter Board, Tension II Board, Moonboard and So iLL board — and a 650-square-foot bouldering zone with a wall height under 12 feet. Oh, and did we mention they have a slide?
“Our kids wanted a slide, so I thought, well, we needed one,” laughed Marshall. “I want people to come in here and think, ‘this is for me,’ that they belong here.”
Marshall emphasized that he envisions RCC to be a place where climbers can connect, share information or simply relax. Bilingual employees are available to answer questions, remote workers can access the gym’s lounge area and travelers can freshen up with the facility’s showers and laundry by the summer. Marshall added that at RCC’s extensive gear shop climbers can purchase all the necessary equipment and latest guide books for outdoor climbing.
As an avid climber, Marshall has been visiting popular Rifle spots for years. In 2003, he first climbed in Rifle Mountain Park while on a 6-month, post-military road trip with a friend. Some years later, he met his future wife, Karissa Dunbar, in Portland, Oregon, and Rifle trips became more frequent.
“Over the years we kept coming back to Rifle,” Marshall said. “Every year of COVID, while living on the road, we’d come back to Rifle, stay at an Airbnb, climb and hang for about two months. We then moved [to New Castle] in 2022.”
The move’s timing proved serendipitous. Just one year later, Carbondale’s Monkey House closed, leaving a sizable hole in the climbing community, and an opportunity for Marshall.
“I used to climb there, and when I heard Fabrizio [Zangrilli, former owner of Monkey House] bought [Grand Valley Climbing] then that must mean he’s doing just fine,” said Marshall. “That was one of a series of things to give me a confidence boost.”
RCC officially opened its doors on Jan. 5, and so far the community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Having opportunities for kids — and adults — to keep the body active is great,” said Matt Rowe, recreation manager at Rifle Parks and Recreation. “They showed us the climbing wall, and the technology is pretty incredible. You can set up your own route, and everything is on an app. I had no idea this even existed. To share this with our community is pretty amazing.”
The two organizations have partnered together and will be offering kids programming this spring to offer a safe learning environment for kids. Over Spring Break (March 24-27) RCC will host a Youth Climbing Camp for K-6th graders. Then, starting on April 4, kids in third to sixth grade can register for a four-week Climbing Level 1 course. For adults, RCC currently offers a beginner class taught by Dunbar to learn about shoe fit, basic board use and technique tailored to individual needs. Marshall is also planning for future board specific introductory courses, birthday parties and a recurring social hour for moms on Tuesdays.
“I’m trying to create a place for the people to make it what they want and need,” Marshall concluded. “I want people to come here and feel welcomed all day. You can spend your whole rest day here and never feel like you’re going to get kicked out or overstay your welcome.”
Rifle Climbing Center membership rates, event bookings and more can be found at www.rifleclimbingcenter.com
To register for the kid climbing classes, visit www.rifleco.org/862/Rifle-Climbing-Center