Climbing gym coming to Inverness

High Point Climbing and Fitness, a Chattanooga-based climbing gym, is at work on a new location at 4766 U.S. 280.

John Wiygul, High Point’s general manager, said the new gym will be in the former Next Total Fitness location in Inverness between Inverness Plaza and Goo-Goo Express Car Wash. After a complete renovation, Wiygul said the Birmingham High Point will be the largest climbing facility in the state.

“We want to build a very unique and fun facility,” Wiygul said.

The facility will cover 35,000 square feet of floor space, with more than 27,000 square feet of climbing area. There will be climbing opportunities for every age and experience level, as well as fitness facilities for yoga, spin classes, aerobics and free weights.

High Point also received approval from the Shelby County Planning Commission on April 21 to build a 60-foot-tall addition for indoor speed and belayed climbing.

Wiygul said the kids’ climbing zone will feature interactive walls with themes such as firemen and dinosaurs. For adults, there will be high walls for regular roped climbing, a 50-foot speed climbing wall and lower “bouldering” walls for climbers who don’t use ropes or harnesses. The bouldering walls will have heavy padding beneath them.

“Bouldering is very popular with the younger generation,” Wiygul said.

High Point will also offer climbing classes and youth teams for competitions. A day pass to the gym will be $15 per person, and individual memberships cost $60 per month or $600 per year. Family memberships are $900 per year and include an unlimited amount of immediate family members.

“It’s a really great way to spend time with your family,” Wiygul said.

The new location will employ between 20 and 30 people, and Wiygul said the new employees will spend time at the Chattanooga facility learning about the business.

Renovations on the High Point location are scheduled to begin in June, and Wiygul expects the business to open in Spring 2016.