Center City’s Massive New Rock Climbing Gym Is Almost Ready to Open
The Cliffs at Callowhill is slated to open by the end of the summer. In the meantime, you can take a hard hat tour.
The Cliffs at Callowhill is slated to open by the end of summer. Photograph by Lorraine Ciccarelli
It’s been a long time since we first reported that The Cliffs — an NYC-based rock climbing gym chain — would be landing in Callowhill. We were promised that the 39,000-square-foot indoor rock gym would occupy an empty warehouse on 10th Street. And this was exciting, because the new location would not only add a massive climbing space to the region, but it would bring it right here to Center City Philly, as opposed to the suburbs, where most of our large-scale climbing facilities live.
Now, well over a year and a half later, it looks like The Cliffs is nearly ready to deliver on that promise. According to The Cliffs creative director Eva Kalea, the gym is scheduled to open by the end of the summer. After months spent transforming the industrial building into a climbing paradise — with the help of artificial wall manufacturer Walltopia — the gym’s soaring walls are “95 percent complete,” according to David Mildenberg, director of The Cliffs at Callowhill. When finished, The Cliffs will have bouldering, lead, and top-rope climbing walls, plus a speed wall.
Photograph by Lorraine Ciccarelli
Photograph by Lorraine Ciccarelli
Want to see it with your own eyes? The gym is hosting hard hat tours of their space on Thursday, June 27th at 6 p.m. and Saturday, June 29th at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. During the tours, The Cliffs team will “provide commentary on some of the unique aspects of transforming and repurposing an old building into a state-of-the-art indoor rock climbing and fitness facility,” says Mildenberg.
Photograph by Lorraine Ciccarelli
In addition to the climbing walls, you’ll also get a sneak peek at their “huge fitness zone” with cardio and strength equipment, locker rooms (with showers and saunas), and the yoga studio. So whether you’re an avid climber and want to ask questions about the facilities or a total newbie who’s just looking for a nice gym to join, you can swing by to take a tour. No pre-registration is required — just remember to wear closed-toe shoes.
The Cliffs at Callowhill is located at 340 N 10th Street. Memberships are $85 per month or $22 for a day pass.
