Rock Spot Climbing: Peace Dale, RI — Attraction in South Kingstown

For starters, I just want to be clear that everyone who works here is super nice and I support the employees completely, including in everything they stand for. However, there are a couple major gripes I have with management.

If you want to workout before your typical work day begins (i.e. before 9am) it's not possible because they don't open before then. So the only choice this leaves you with is going after your typical work day ends (5pm-ish). This means you have to deal with the massive crowds that form from their team/camp at that time.

Could not be happier that rock climbing is becoming bigger and they are getting an awesome team, however, these team members are definitely getting out of school before 5pm, so why can't the team start around when they get out? If you are an adult with typical job hours then you are stuck with having limited routes due to the footprint the team takes up and never really getting to enjoy the gym to the fullest. It's awesome kids these days have the opportunity to go to a rock gym. Most of us adults never had the chance, it would nice if we could get even a little time where the gym isn't absurdly crowded.

Again, this ENTIRE issue could also be resolved if they just opened up earlier. Even 7am would be fine, that's not asking much, and it is a simple solution.

One more gripe is that this week the entire downstairs section (all the large walls worth climbing) is closed for an entire week due to a competition. Essentially 25% of this month will be closed to climbing the best routes, and they did not offer a prorated monthly rate or anything.

Instead, they offer a suggestion to go to their Lincoln location or their Wallingford one. I won't even address the latter location because that is comically far away for anyone who lives in southern RI to go to, especially on a work night. As far as Lincoln goes, it's still not close to the southern part of the state and has anyone there even tried driving up that way during rush hour? Not a practical suggestion at all.

This is yet another issue with a simple solution, offer a pro-rated rate/refund for one week's worth to their members. I have yet to hear anything about this from management. Just an obviously poor way to treat your loyal members.

Overall, I want to reiterate that the employees are FANTASTIC. They have always been nothing but polite, helpful, and courteous.

My issue is with management/ownership, and it's a shame that they make these unpopular decisions/non-decisions that negatively impact the experience for so many members, especially after raising membership costs. I have talked to numerous ones who feel the same way and would like to see changes made as well.

EDIT: I just want to say one more comment about the hours. I could see any business owner saying that in order to open earlier they need to pay more in wages. Of course, I would not argue that. But another simple solution is to just close earlier, particularly on weekends. The vast majority of people are not going to a rock gym at 10pm. Those hours would clearly be better served in the morning, another thing many members have agreed...

These folks are great. First, the gym is beautiful - enough space for bouldering or climbing, even when URI is in session.

Second, the staff does a great job. The routes get changed very regularly, and they do a great job keeping a good mix of difficulties. Most stations (either top-rope or autobelay) will have a 5.6 or 5.7, a 5.8 or 5.9, and occasionally a 5.10. There's also a great area for practicing sport climbing with routes from 5.9 to 5.11. The staff does a great job of making sure folks are staying safe, and are helpful as opposed to dogmatic when offering suggestions for doing stuff better.

The hours are good - 10A through later than I stay up. Part of me wishes that they'd have an early morning session at least a couple days a week, but, as a 40-something, I'm probably way outside of their target demo.

They also do great kids programs. I got introduced to the place through a Boy Scout Merit Badge class. My scouts loved it, and I was hugely impressed with the quality of education the guys got. Since I'm usually stopping by on my way home from work, I also get to see their after-school and summer camp programs, and the kids are engaged and well behaved, which is the sign of quality instruction.

Anyway, I love climbing again after a couple of decades on hiatus. It's been great getting back in climbing shape, and I really look forward to continuing to grow, and will be using these guys to get...

This place is terrible.

its small its crowded its poorly managed its over priced

Monthly membership fees more than doubled during the time I was a member here. I tried to cancel my membership three times and they have continued to charge me. You cannot even speak with a person about this because their management staff is only reachable via email.

What they do is charge less for the electronic funds transfer memberships so that they can hit up your credit card even if you haven't actually attended the gym for months. It's disgusting and despicable and it is clearly intentional.

When my credit card number was stolen, I went in the day that I found out (the 5th of the month which is the day they charge your monthly fee) to change my method of payment and they charged me a 5$ fee because they had already tried to charge my frozen card and it was declined. And again, they were unwilling to waive the fee because there is no management on site, just a bunch of kids who direct you to the management email!

Two...