First Ascent Peoria

Staff were super friendly and helpful for my first-ever indoor climbing experience. They explained terms, gave a great tour, and a great safety introduction so I could climb with confidence. They made a day that was honestly pretty intimidating when I walked in, in to an enjoyable, fun time. Highly recommend for brand new first time climbers.

Just finished my son's first climbing class and am extremely pleased! Top notch climbing facility that also sports a variety of fitness equipment typical of a normal gym (cycling, free weights, rowing, etc.) I'm now extremely interested in signing up for myself, since I would be able to climb alone, at any time, either by using the walls equipped with Auto-belay or climbing in the bouldering area. The instructor also said I could hit-up the staff on the floor if I needed assistance, and that they were usually pretty quick to help with belay if the place wasn't too busy. The facility appears to be very new and modern, but retains much of the character of the original building. You can still see the old industrial doors for loading out the back, the huge structural timbers holding up the enormous steel H-Beams, and even the ivy vines that were growing in what was once the back of the building. COVID-19 policies require all staff and visitors to wear masks, and I did not see a single person breaking this rule (First place I've been in awhile that strictly enforces the mandate.) They also wipe down their walls and other equipment with sanitizer, which an athletic facility should be doing anyway to prevent spreading around the nastys, but again I've found this commitment to disease prevention to be rare as of late. (UPDATE) In line with CDC Guidelines, masks are no longer required; however, highly visible placards are placed at the entrance strongly recommending them. Overall very impressed!

All the staff were very informative and kind. The community there was super supportive and generous with their knowledge. I was nervous about taking my 3 yr old and 7 yr old, but it couldn’t have gone better. They were both climbing higher and with more confidence by the end. One kind climber offered to belay my daughter which gave her the courage to climb up to the candy bowl at the top. Go to First Ascent if you are a first time climber. They’ll set you on the right path. The prices there are very reasonable with memberships or individual day passes.

I am 40 and overweight so as a new hobby, I chose bouldering because it is like solving a puzzle with your whole body. I recommend it to anyone looking for great indoor fun especially during the winter months. Use the Chalk! Great staff and will aid you in your journey. They are friendly and encourage you to keep going, even give pointers on technique. As a budding mean old man, this place has my approval.