Austin Bouldering Project, located in the Westgate Shopping Center at 4477 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 600, Austin, offers what General Manager Charles Morris refers to as “more than just a gym” with climbing terrain for all ages, fitness and yoga classes, and community events.

The 25,000-square-foot facility features climbing terrain, fitness equipment, a yoga studio, a coworking space with Wi-Fi, and designated areas for birthday parties and summer camps.
The fitness center can be accessed with a day pass or a gym membership. (Elle Bent/Community Impact)
The location, which is one of two in Austin, opened in 2021 and has since been able to expand, now offering an extra 2,500 square feet of climbing terrain since last month to serve climbers of different levels.

“We wanted our newest space because there are a lot of families around the Westgate area, so we wanted to make sure that we have lots of youth space for the summer,” Morris said.

Morris, who has been bouldering for about 12 years, said ABP serves as a “third space” for many of its patrons where they can find community and gather in addition to home and work.

“A big part of our mission is inclusivity and making sure people feel welcome in the space,” Morris said. “We don't want to be the gym that's for the expert climbers. We also don't want to be the gym that's for just beginner climbers. We want to be the space where everybody feels welcome.”
Part of the location's new terrain, the thin wall in the middle is referred to as “the fin” because it resembles a fish fin. (Elle Bent/Community Impact)
The circuit system the climbing terrain across the facility uses is color coded by difficulty, but levels overlap in different areas to encourage people to climb out of their comfort zones.


“[We’re] really trying to encourage people to push themselves and try new things and just have fun,” Morris said. “There's no beginners area; there's no expert area. We have climbers spread out all throughout the gym; we want everyone to be together, and we want folks to encourage each other.”

The routes change every Tuesday and Thursday, and are crafted by route setters who plan and test different routes on the terrain.

“They're exceptional climbers and really creative, passionate individuals,” Morris said of the route setters.
Route setters move holds on terrain near the front of the gym June 22. (Elle Bent/Community Impact)
ABP hosts community events in the space, such as Height Fight, an inclusive climbing competition in which categories are based only on height and proceeds are donated to Austin nonprofits. Fitness and yoga classes are offered throughout the week, and bouldering classes are offered biweekly.

Parents can book birthday parties or sign up for ABP’s summer camp programs for youth ages 5-12. Routes that are shorter and include shaped holds, such as of pizza or a dog, are offered for young climbers.


Memberships can be purchased monthly or annually and range from $45-$85 a month based on age. A membership offers access to the entire gym and classes offered at both ABP locations in Austin. Day passes, ranging from $13-$20 based on age, can also be purchased for access to the facility.

“If I have to sum up what we're about, we just want people to feel welcome,” Morris said.

737-237-0899. www.austinboulderingproject.com/westgate