Growing up in Utah meant growing up climbing and exploring the Rocky Mountains, Climb Woodlands owner Holly Hedengren said. She fell in love with rock climbing and introduced the sport to her children as they grew older, Hedengren said. She and her husband, Alan, moved to the Magnolia area 12 years ago, which came with a sacrifice: no more mountains to climb, she said. After the previous owners of Climb Woodlands left, Hedengren took over as owner in December 2018—just more than one year after the business’s opening—to fill the climbing void in her family as well as offer an alternative exercise option for the Magnolia and The Woodlands areas. “My children were always begging to go back home [to climb] because that’s all they wanted to do, and we don’t really have mountains in Texas,” Hedengren said. “Finding an indoor climbing gym has been a good balance.” Climb Woodlands instructors stretch out the length of time for learning basics, Head Instructor Joel Durden said. Instructors emphasize the history of both outdoor and indoor climbing, he said, so climbers can better understand the sport. “Most people that hear ‘climbing’ think it’s a one-day, one-time thing, but it’s not. Once you learn about it, there’s so much more involved with it than just climbing up a wall,” Hedengren said. Climb Woodlands is open to people of all ages and skill levels, Operations Manager Zoe Wilburn said, as patrons have ranged from ages 3-80. The sport helps sharpen problem-solving skills, focus, coordination, confidence and team-building skills, she said. Climb Woodlands staff also places value on being inclusive and welcoming, Wilburn said. “You might feel intimidated walking into a place like this if you’ve never been climbing before,” she said. “We try to show people it’s okay to be a beginner because we all were at one point, and we’ll show you the ropes.” Climb Woodlands 7515 Oak Bluff Drive, Ste. C, Magnolia 832-521-3131 www.climbwoodlands.com Hours: Mon.-Thu. 4-8 p.m., Fri. 3-8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., closed Sun.