Active Climbing

Since its founding over ten years ago, indoor rock climbing gym Active Climbing has been a popular workout and social spot for local teenagers and Clarke Central High School students.

Located at 665 Barber St., the indoor gym includes two different climbing rooms, one equipped with belays and ropes, and the other entirely made for bouldering, a method of climbing where no ropes or equipment are required. The gym also includes a workout/jazzercise room and a basketball court.

CCHS Class of 2021 alumni Tomas Dougan and Micah Shannon found sanctuary at Active Climbing during their four years at CCHS when they were on the youth competition team at the gym.

“It was (definitely) a safe space because of the location and more just because that was a place where all of our friends were,” Dougan said. “We were comfortable with each other, and so we would just be ourselves and have fun.”

Having the gym accessible over the summer as a teenager was a great social experience for Shannon.

“That was kind of our spot before we all could drive. That was our place that we would just go (to),” Shannon said. “I remember some summers where I would stay there for like five hours and just hang out.”