The Spot opened in 2002 as one of the first two bouldering gyms in the country. Our founder, Dan Howley, built an impressive team of routesetters, coaches, and climbing leaders who would offer revolutionary walls and facilities, inspiring competitions, and the most welcoming climbing community in the world. 20 years later, and with five gyms across the Front Range that have serviced 230,000 climbers, our mission is the same: build strong bodies, healthy minds, and friendships for life.
2002
The Spot Boulder opens as the first bouldering-focused gym in the United States, offering one-of-a-kind freestanding bouldering with natural features that mimic the rock of Hueco, Fontainebleau, and Yosemite.
Photo: Emily Harrington Climbing at The Spot Boulder in 2002. Photo by Jeff Cloud.
2003
The Spot Boulder hosts its first annual Psychedelia blacklight competition. Psychedelia has since become one of the most famous climbing competitions in the world, bringing thousands of local climbers together every October.
Photo: Psychedelia in 2003.
2008
The Dojo is added to The Spot Boulder. Built by Vertical Solutions, The Dojo added a 31-foot long cave with 16-foot tall sections of 10 to 50 degree overhang.
Photo: Dojo opening night in 2008.
2010
The Spot hosts the Battle in the Bubble, an outdoor competition on the shores of the Boulder Reservoir. The specially-built Walltopia wall used for the event was later moved inside The Spot Boulder (now it’s called The Beach!).
Photo: Daniel Woods competing at the Battle in the Bubble in 2010. Photo by Keith Ladzinski.
2017
The Spot celebrates its 15th anniversary. This many years of climbing and community is worth celebrating… keep an eye out for future anniversary parties!
Photo by Jesse Sklut.
2019
The Spot Denver opens, offering 19,000 sq. ft. of rock climbing and training space, plus an in-gym bar, in Denver’s Golden Triangle District.
Photo by Mike Mills.
2021
The Spot Golden and The Spot Louisville open, doubling both the number of gyms and square footage of climbing surface available for Spot climbers.
Photo by Jesse Sklut.
2023
The Spot Thornton (previously ROCK’n & JAM’n 1) opens, adding another 9,500 square feet of climbing terrain for Spot climbers.
Photo by Hunter Smith.
Ready to climb?
Come visit us in Boulder, Denver, Golden, Louisville, or Thornton. We’ll show you the ropes.