The Rock Dump Indoor Climbing Gym is staying open. For now, that is.
The climbing gym was facing financial difficulties that threatened to close the facility that opened in the early 2000s. For the past four years or so, the gym has rented its space from Alaska Coach Tours, which owns the building located near the Alaska-Juneau Dock.
Alaska Coach has been heavily subsidizing the Rock Dump’s rent over the years. Alaska Coach President Dennis McDonnell said the gym is only paying 25 percent of the market price for the space. McDonnell approached the owners of the gym and explained that the Rock Dump needed to become more financially independent or it would have to find another place to go. The Rock Dump board prepared for the worst.
Through numerous conversations, the owners of the Rock Dump and Alaska Coach came to an agreement. Alaska Coach would extend the Rock Dump’s lease by 18 months, allowing the gym time to develop a funding plan and raise enough money to sustain itself.
“Once they realized we could pay more and we realized we were willing to do it, it worked out,” Rock Dump board member Eran Hood said. “As far as long-term plans, I don’t know what they have, but (McDonnell) was like, ‘Hey, I’ll give you guys 18 months and we’ll see if we want to go beyond that.’ So it’s not like we have an ultimatum, like, ‘You need to get out of here in 18 months.’”
At a public meeting Tuesday, Hood and his fellow board members explained the general plan for the future of the gym. Membership fees are rising, from $50 a month to $59 a month. For family members on automatic payment plans, the price is rising from $25 a month to $35 a month.
The gym has a little more than 100 members who are on automatic payment plans, and around 40 of them showed up to Tuesday’s meeting at the gym. The gathering turned into a brainstorming session, with members and board members discussing ideas for nearly an hour. The group talked about catering to schoolchildren to try and stoke an early interest in rock climbing, keeping better track of membership fees and asking for donations from members.
In his conversations with the gym employees, McDonnell said they mentioned being more assertive in applying for grants. The nonprofit that runs the Rock Dump, Juneau Climbing & Recreation, is looking to become more active, he said. The best way for the gym to stay in business, McDonnell pointed out, starts outside the gym.
“Now I think they’re really building a plan to make it self-sufficient,” McDonnell said. “That starts with, if the community really wants a rock climbing gym, they’ll be part of the process by joining the gym.”
McDonnell is located in Anchorage, but many of the employees for Alaska Coach are Juneau residents. In talking with them, he began to understand the importance of the gym and the service it provides for the community.
Alaska Coach, he said, has long-term plans to use that area for an event center for tourists, but if the gym can raise enough money he’d like to see it stay in business. By the end of this 18-month period, McDonnell hopes that the Rock Dump can be able to pay upwards of 95 percent of its rent.
Hood spoke optimistically Tuesday, even though he admitted the next 18 months will be challenging.
“I’m pretty confident we’ll be fine,” Hood said after the meeting. “It seems like we’re in good shape, as long as we don’t get people leaving in droves.”
Many of the members on hand were in good spirits as well, including longtime member Joan Cahill. Seven years ago, Cahill was diagnosed with osteoporosis and began looking for ways to stay in shape without putting too much stress on her bones.
She found the Rock Dump, and has become a consistent member ever since. The news of the gym staying open meant a great deal to her, she said.
“I’m so relieved,” Cahill said, “because there’s nothing like it. There’s nothing like the Rock Dump. It’s a community.”
• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at alex.mccarthy@juneauempire.com.
Rock Dump Gym board member Eran Hood holds up a copy of the climbing gym’s budget at a community meeting Tuesday. The gym signed an 18-month extension to its lease in order to stay in its current spot near the Alaska-Juneau Dock. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
