South Austin Crux Climbing Center to close temporarily

The south Austin location of Crux Climbing Center, located near South Congress Avenue just north of Ben White Boulevard, will be closing at the end of the year before moving to a new facility due to affordability concerns.

What's happening?

“Austin has been experiencing rising rental rates, which has, unfortunately, impacted many local businesses,” the company wrote in a statement. “... Despite our best efforts to negotiate and our willingness to adapt to rent increases over the years, the landlord has decided not to renew our lease at the end of this year, regardless of our attempts to reach an agreement.”

In anticipation of these turns of events, Crux has been underway with construction of a new south location at 220 Ralph Ablanedo Dr., Austin for the last several months.

Comparable to the size of another recently opened roughly 30,000-square-foot Crux Climbing Center in Pflugerville, the new space will feature a large kids’ room, rope climbing area, expanded fitness and yoga spaces, ample parking, remote work spaces and a courtyard.

The new south location will not be open before the closure of the original south Austin site. The company will work on freezing memberships, at no cost, during the interim period. Besides the Pflugerville location, there is another Crux location in Central Austin at 6015 Dillard Circle, Unit B, Austin.

“It’s heartbreaking to have to move on from your first location,” the company wrote in its statement.

The last day of operations will be at the end of the year with plans for the new south location to open in late 2025.

• Closing Dec. 31
• 121 Pickle Road, Ste. 100, Austin
• www.cruxclimbingcenter.com