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SHOW PONY MAGAZINE
When did you begin rock climbing? We both started rock climbing in 1995 in a little gym in Naperville, Illinois. Ironically, we both started climbing at the same time in the same gym but never met! Can you explain the difference between rock and mountain climbing? Rock climbing involves technical climbing up rock faces and cliffs as opposed to climbing or hiking up the side of a mountain.
In what ways did climbing change your life? Climbing changed our lives, that is a perfect way to say it. Climbing has inspired us and given us confidence in ourselves. It has enhanced our love of the outdoors and fostered community and friendships. Through climbing we have also learned to challenge our fears, build fitness, strength, and of course, it is how we met!
Did your desire to incorporate climbing into your life influence your decision to open a business? Our love of climbing and being a part of the climbing community brought the need for more restaurant variety to our attention. These elements inspired us to open the Rockhouse. We also wanted to bring a passion for good food to an
impoverished area of eastern Kentucky. There are many great local farmers and we wanted to bring the local farming community to their own people. We hope to encourage our customers to eat in a farm to table way. How did you fund opening the restaurant? We had a private investor who funded the entire operation and to whom we are very grateful!