ÜG Coming to Castle Rock
Übergrippen is excited to share that we are building a new ground-up indoor climbing facility in Castle Rock, Colorado! If you have made it to our Denver location, then you’ll be excited to know that we’ll be duplicating all those great aspects of the crag, plus more!
Now, to help answer some of your questions, here are the details we can share at this time:
Q: Where in Castle Rock will the crag be located?
A: Our address is 3690 Bilberry St. We’ll be right in the Meadow’s Town Center. Yup, after climbing you’ll be able to walk to Crush Wine Bar, The Library Co., and many more places coming soon.
Q: Will there be tall climbing routes?
A: Of course! We will be providing climbing on walls with top ropes, lead climbing, and auto belays. 60+ lanes of top rope and lead climbing (over 100 routes available). Oh, and two speed climbing walls.
Q: Will there be any bouldering?
A: Of course! We have a wonderful bouldering space with plenty of problems.
Q: Will there be fitness?
A: Of course! We’ll have a complete weight room, as well as all of our popular fitness classes to help keep you in shape for climbing, ski season, or even just general health even if you don’t climb.
Q: Will there be yoga?
A: Of course! We have a beautiful yoga room that opens to our yard to provide a really unique indoor/outdoor yoga experience.
Q: Will there be an outdoor yard like Denver?
A: Of course! We love being outside as well and will have a large outdoor patio, more climbing, and multiple slacklines.
Q: When is it opening?
A: We’re aiming for September of 2021.
Coincidence that it’s the same year that climbing enters the Olympics? Yes!
And yes, Covid pushed back both the Olympics and ÜG’s opening date.
Q: How big will it be?
A: We will have over 16,000 sq ft of climbing on the beautiful Vertical Solutions climbing walls.
Q: What kind of things are there for the kids to do?
A: Oh man, ok – we have a lot. From day passes where anyone can get on our tall walls after a short orientation using our auto-belays, to various clubs depending on the child’s interest. There are programs for kids as young as 3-years-old from both a social climbing experience to competitive teams. We even have a multi-purpose room that makes our facility perfect for birthday parties and events!
Q: What kind of things are for adults/parents?
A: The kids aren’t the only ones that get to have fun here. There are plenty of opportunities to help both new and veteran climbers improve their ability. One example is we provide a progressive six-part movement program specifically to help ya’ll learn and master various techniques. We also offer outdoor climbing skills classes, technique tidbits, and physical training workshops.
Q: Will we need memberships at both the Denver and Castle Rock location?
A: Are you kidding? Of course not! One membership to either facility will allow you full access to both crags. Heck, even a day pass will allow you to climb at both facilities that day if you are up for it!
Q: What are other perks in being a member?
A: We’ll also have free trade-days with The Spot, a bouldering gym in both Denver and Boulder. Our one membership will provide access to 4 climbing facilities!
Q: Will you have any retail for sale?
A: We’ll have a full pro-shop with a full line-up of all the gear you need for indoor and outdoor climbing. You’ll find a full selection of climbing shoes, carabiners, belay devices, harnesses, ropes, helmets, draws, climbing apparel, climbing guide books, and so much more! We have 40+ styles of climbing shoes – this is a larger selection than REI. And members can even earn a 10% dividend on all our pro-gear that is redeemable for future purchases.
Q: Are you locally owned or is ÜG a chain?
A: Übergrippen is not a chain. The first location was built by husband & wife team Jake and Kim Crine and opened in 2017 who also lived in Central Park for 10 years before that. Matthew Leach, who is also a financial investor with The Spot Bouldering Gym, decided to team up with Jake to open the next facility and was targeting Castle Rock. After narrowing down a property, they met Christine Ritenour, a CR resident who has been there since 2014, who reached out for feedback on building her own rock climbing facility in Castle Rock. After a single dinner, it was obvious they all wanted to work together. Matt & Christine will both be managing owners while working closely with Jake & Kim’s successful guidance.
Q: Why open ÜG in Castle Rock?
A: Indoor rock climbing has really evolved in recent years. Gyms used to be built in cheaper warehouse districts. They didn’t tend to be very family friendly at all – there is a reason climbers tended to adopt the term ‘dirt-bag climber’ at these dark & dirty warehouses. ÜG is different. We love having large windows and bay doors that open the place up and provide climbing for all ages. From our guest & member demographics in NE Denver, Castle Rock was a perfect place for us being so similar. Once we found the lot we loved in the Town Center of the Meadows, we knew we could duplicate the same amazing experience to the residents in Castle Rock.
Q: So, what’s the most important thing to know?
A: We are so excited to be a locally-owned company that will be able to provide our own community a personable staff, amazing hold selection, creative route setting, and an inclusive friendly atmosphere for both kids and adults who are both starting out climbing for their first time to those that are excited for extreme challenges.
Q: Where can I get updates and follow the development?
A: We’ll be keeping our FaceBook page updated as milestones occur – so please follow that page to get the latest updates.
