Pick your route: Downtown Erie now has an indoor rock climbing gym with a 52-foot-high wall

David Bruce, Erie Times-News
Updated ·3 min read

People walking along lower State Street can look into the front windows of Ascend Erie and see a new, 24-foot-high indoor rock climbing wall.

Tucked away from view, however, is a bigger wall that stretches four stories high and can accommodate up to 19 rock climbers at a time.

"It's 52 feet high," said David Bonner, Ascend's director of strategic partnership. "It's the tallest indoor rock climbing wall in a 50-mile radius."

At Ascend Erie climbing gym, employees Chelsea Huddleston, 26, top, and Wade Desai, 35, check routes on the 52-foot wall.
At Ascend Erie climbing gym, employees Chelsea Huddleston, 26, top, and Wade Desai, 35, check routes on the 52-foot wall.

The climbing gym, 426 State St., officially opens to the public Monday after a soft opening over the weekend for members.

Several years in the planning, the 28,000-square-foot climbing gym is located on the site of a former McDonald's. The property was purchased by the Erie Downtown Development Corp. for $3.85 million and Ascend, based in Pittsburgh, committed in 2021 to opening a gym in the new building.

"Construction has gone extremely smooth," Bonner said. "The wall builders just left (last week) after being here for two months. There are a few things still to do, but we will be ready to open."

At Ascend Erie climbing gym, employee Wade Desai, 35, helps check routes on the 52-foot wall in Erie on Nov. 2, 2023. The long-anticipated new gym opens to the public on Nov. 6.
At Ascend Erie climbing gym, employee Wade Desai, 35, helps check routes on the 52-foot wall in Erie on Nov. 2, 2023. The long-anticipated new gym opens to the public on Nov. 6.

Rock climbers have four different walls to explore

Ascend Erie features four main rock walls: the massive 52-foot high rope wall, the 24-foot-high wall that connects to a boulder wall, and two stand-alone boulder walls.

"The 24-foot wall is located in our development zone and it's designed to be a separate area for people to learn how to climb, or for birthday parties or team development events," Bonner said.

The facility also has fitness room, yoga studio, and programmable training walls for beginner rock climbers.

More: New Ascend Erie climbing gym nears completion in EDDC building downtown

Ascend Erie offers day passes, punch passes and memberships

Customers can use Ascend Erie in various ways. A day pass costs $20, a 10-visit punch pass costs $180, and memberships are available for three, six or 12 months.

Discounts are available for people 60 and older, and students. Climbing shoes and harness equipment are available to rent.

At Ascend Erie climbing gym, Director of Strategic Partnerships David Bonner, 50, describes features of the new facility in Erie on Nov. 2, 2023.
At Ascend Erie climbing gym, Director of Strategic Partnerships David Bonner, 50, describes features of the new facility in Erie on Nov. 2, 2023.

"We see people climb ranging from 5 to 65," Bonner said. "Our key demographic is probably 15 to 25 years of age, so it's good for us to be so close to Gannon University, Erie Insurance and the hospitals."

More: You say there's no good rock climbing in Pa.? These groups are changing that perception

Rope walls have colored holds to guide climbers

The rope walls require climbers to either have a partner, called a belay, or use one of the climbing routes with an auto belay. Each route is marked with its own colored holds, so climbers don't get in each other's way.

At Ascend Erie climbing gym, as seen through a second-floor window, employee Chelsea Huddleston, 26, checks routes on the 52-foot wall in Erie on Nov. 2, 2023.
At Ascend Erie climbing gym, as seen through a second-floor window, employee Chelsea Huddleston, 26, checks routes on the 52-foot wall in Erie on Nov. 2, 2023.

Rope wall routes also have their own Yosemite Decimal System number, indicating the level of difficulty.

"Most routes, but not all of them, have overhangs," Bonner said. "It's a great upper body workout."

Ascend Erie will be open Mondays through Fridays from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Ascend Erie brings indoor rock climbing to downtown Erie PA