Fort Rock Climbing Center — Local services in San Carlos Park

Very happy to have this place in town. Never tried climbing before they opened last summer, but now I'm hooked (as is my 10 year old daughter).

Since starting here we've visited a few other gyms (St Pete, Ft Lauderdale, Flagstaff, Phoenix) and with that perspective I really like Fort Rock's layout, setup, and routes. -about 1/3 of routes are auto-belay, which really helps for new people and those climbing solo. the base walls are interesting, with good combo of vertical, overhangs, and negative pitches. -caribeeners on all ropes makes it more inviting to new climbers.

As with every gym we've hit, the staff and crowd are super friendly and supportive. Been very impressed with the overall climbing culture.

I read some negative comments on price, and I get it. That said, I always get the 10-punch passes, which works out to $22 per climb for me and $14 for my daughter, which I feel comfortable with.

Other negative comments mention the size. I agree it's on the smaller side, especially if bouldering was your main focus. Fortunately most of my time is spent on top rope and there's plenty to stay busy. It would be great to see some expansion in the future if the demand warrants it (especially for bouldering)

My only complaint/suggestion: I struggle with colors on a good day, and between low light and the chalk/shoe marks it's hard to tell reds from pinks, blues from purples, etc. It would be great to reduce similar colors on the same route.

From my daughter: I LOVE the gym, when I heard that you own the building I was imagining how huge it could be. I really like to do the wall that is the closes to the check in place. I hope that if you do expand there will be more bouldering (being bouldering is my type of climbing. One thing that I am the tiniest disappointed in is the smaller Bouldering wall, because the holds are all together so it sort of looks like you guys put is there a storage. But I think that that little thing isn't a big deal, (and maybe you could grade those ones too?) We are signing up for the competition so I wanted to start practicing. I can not wait to go again.

Best wishes, Milla and Lars. (Your...

I never thought I’d give a 1 star review to a climbing gym… Neither does it have quality nor quantity. While the staff here were PSYCHED for climbing and extremely helpful attempting to debunk the mysterious setting to us. Kudos to them because that is the only positive thing about this place. For reference, I have sent multiple 5.13s and V8s outside, I have five years of climbing experience in both the industry and outdoors and there were “5.10”s that I could not do in this gym. There is a big difference between a hard route and just downright poor setting. While there was a handful of okay routes and problems here, a vast majority I would describe as a route setter slapping a few holds on the wall, not forerunning it, and calling it a number they believe it to be. Also, can we take a second to acknowledge that this place charges THIRTY DOLLARS for a day pass???? I have climbed at some of the most premier climbing gyms on the east coast and that pricing for the return of investment is downright disrespectful. You can go to any other climbing gym that has far more routes, higher walls, more lead routes, training boards, and quality setting and not expecting to pay more than $20 most of the time. Moral of the story, if this place was my local gym and it was between this and never climbing again, I’d take up bowling or birding. Save your money and time, go to ProjectRock in Fort Lauderdale, Vertical Ventures in Saint Pete or any roadside retainer wall.

Edit: We were offered free day passes to come back due to our poor experience at this “gym”. However, I would not climb here again if you paid me to do so. Just another non-climber owned gym trying to monopolize on the few who enjoy the sport. Also you can’t not convince me that the owner of this doesn’t not place makes fake Google reviews… It’s strange how every review with 5 stars is counter-reacting the recent 1 or 2 star review, and most of the five star reviews have NO CLUE what they’re talking about with terminology. If you live in the area and want to climb, please do yourself a favor and drive to Vertical Ventures or...

Can't wait for central rock to open and you lose most your clients because you all were way to greedy on price overcharging with the excuse "support small business." Being a small business doesn't give you the right to charge more then double, and now finale a bigger gym with better reputation, offering also a full gym. This company is pathetic thinking it's ok to charge double the last couple years and I hope you all crumble for your greed

For anyone reading fort rock charges $150 a month or $89 a month if you go only m-f. Family membership of 4 is $450 a month.... ridiculous.

Central rock charges $75 a month and you get more to climb, more to boulder, full fitness, and more. Family of 4 is $220.

Can't stand entitled business practices blaming the fact they didn't have corporate backing to justify their prices.

Edit: feeling entitled to a realistic far price point that's not double then the average cost of a climbing gym is justified. feeling entitled to charge double the the average price is not justified no matter how you want to spin it. You're the first small business I am actually ever wanted to fail because of straight greed. All these corporations started small but instead of doubling the price they chose fair pricing and customer service to grow their business.

You are the reason why people don't support local, why they go to corporations, and they don't think twice.

The only value you provided was you were the only one who offered this service and you took advantage of it, and now it will bite you in the butt because people will see how much you took advantage.

The only thing you said that's right is competition is great and it's because it helps keeps pricing fair from predators like you taking advantage of situations.

Oh, glad you stalked my reviews too, but what you don't see is that I have double the positive reviews from my other account. I like to keep...