Enclosure Climbing Gym to permanently close Sept 4 2013

Just found out and really bumming on the news. Yea, I live in Jackson primarily for the skiing but having a place to climb all winter long is huge and keeps me from getting burnt out on winter.

More information about the closure can be found at their website: enclosureclimbing.com/

Now I gotta figure out how to stay in climbing shape over winter

awesomejacksonhole wrote:Lame move on the part of the owner of Enclosure. He comes to Jackson and puts a well loved climbing gym out of business. Then he leaves and hires a horrible general manager who chases people away from day one. When the business can't make enough money for him he blames the county for building outdoor boulders and sells the building thus eliminating a needed resource for climbers living in a place with 9 month long winters. Boo to you Andy Laakman. You never should have come to Jackson in the first place. Sincerely yours, the entire Jackson climbing community.

Point of clarification:

I didn't blame the county. I simply said public projects create an element of risk for any potential buyers of a climbing facility in a small town like Jackson. That's a fact and was an issue in trying to find a buyer. The facility was for sale for three years.... and nobody stepped up to the plate in any material way. What would you have done?

I won't be commenting again, I just wanted to set the record straight.

Carry on.

Andy Laakmann wrote: Point of clarification: I didn't blame the county. I simply said public projects create an element of risk for any potential buyers of a climbing facility in a small town like Jackson. That's a fact and was an issue in trying to find a buyer. The facility was for sale for three years.... and nobody stepped up to the plate in any material way. What would you have done? I won't be commenting again, I just wanted to set the record straight. Carry on.

I completely understand why you would sell it... Anyone who's ever been in that gym in the summer knows its losing money. Basically everyone I know cancels there membership in the summer in preference to climbing outdoors (partially due to poor ventilated and the fact that it basically closes before its even dark in the summer).

Just wish it didn't have to close right as the outdoor climbing season is winding down. Just talking yesterday how I was going to fire my membership back up starting in September.

Andy, I know you said you weren't going to comment anymore, but whats going to happen to all the climbing infrastructure (i guess basically just the holds)? Is it headed to the new community "Teton Rock Gym" going up in Driggs?

It wasn't entirely Andy Laakmanns fault but I can say one thing. I was on the competitive climbing team with enclosure and as some of you know, the youth national ABS season is about to start. But it's hard to train with no gym and it's hard to compete without a team. So no one on our team can compete very easily anymore. And I do partly agree with awesomejacksonhole but when you said that Andy Laakmann hired a horrible manager I completely disagree. Without Randell the "Well loved climbing gym" that you described, would not be what it is now. It is in no way his fault and he has done an amazing job with enclosure

There's a new gym being built in driggs.

Chelsea Principio wrote:There's a new gym being built in driggs.

Yea, its better than nothing I guess. Driving a hour and a half over an icy pass at night isn't exactly convenient (or safe on many occasions).

I guess jackson is just SOL. Anyone got a big garage they want to convert into a bouldering cave? I'll commit $ and labor.

Maybe it's time to consider a climbing co-op. These guys might be able to help you figure out how to get started:

Minnesota Climbing Coop
Slo-op

However, I'm not familiar with the Jackson area/climbing community so I'm not sure if a climbing co-op is fesible.

Many of TRG's old holds are still getting regular love on my home wall.

Jackson sounds like a great spot for a Co-Op. Good luck.

Honestly, due to its outrageous policies and grumpy management (although Jason is awesome!), Enclosure was one of the lamest gyms I've ever frequented. I only maintained my membership because I like climbing indoors during the winter and Enclosure was the only act in town. This development is hopefully opening the door for something better. Jackson has a strong and passionate climbing community, and it seems reasonable to believe that we could all pool our time and resources in order to open a community-oriented (and possibly owned??) kick-ass gym. I would donate time and labor. Who else has the motivation and skills to help get this rolling?

AmandaM wrote:Honestly, due to its outrageous policies and grumpy management (although Jason is awesome!), Enclosure was one of the lamest gyms I've ever frequented. I only maintained my membership because I like climbing indoors during the winter and Enclosure was the only act in town. This development is hopefully opening the door for something better. Jackson has a strong and passionate climbing community, and it seems reasonable to believe that we could all pool our time and resources in order to open a community-oriented (and possibly owned??) kick-ass gym. I would donate time and labor. Who else has the motivation and skills to help get this rolling?

Amanda, I completely agree with you. Enclosure never really lived up to its full potential.

Although Andy states that enclosure had been for sale for 3 years, I had never heard a word of it. I feel as if he had made it more public that he was really wanting to get rid it, the climbing community would have had a more of a chance to react. Maybe even formed a co-op and purchased it from him. Instead we get a 2 week notice.

Now that its already been sold (rumor is to a Chrysler dealership), the challenges to get a new gym up and running in any reasonable amount of time seem much greater. If the community does come together to make something happen, I will donate time, money and labor.

There is some motion towards a solution. If you are interested, go here:
facebook.com/groups/6691109…

Charlie Jonas wrote: Although Andy states that enclosure had been for sale for 3 years, I had never heard a word of it. I feel as if he had made it more public that he was really wanting to get rid it, the climbing community would have had a more of a chance to react.

This seems to be the kicker. Does anyone know where it was listed for sale? Approximately how much $$?

I heard that it's closing because people kept dropping weights upstairs.

A letter to the Jackson Hole climbing community:

docs.google.com/document/d/…

Andy,
I can feel your pain at seeing a dream come to an unexpected end. And I am hopeful that all the money you risked and all the heart ache you endured opening and operating a climbing gym, were more than rewarded by the friendships you gained and the people you touched. May your future endeavors be even more successful than Enclosure. And if you made a bundle of cash on the sale of the property, invest it in good wine. You have a lot of friends and admirers who would love to share a glass with you and Wendy.

See post on forum about Summit Rock Gym (Co-Op)or Google Summit Rock Gym in Silverthorne, CO

I climbed at the Enclosure on a rainy day while in Jackson on vacation & it was a really nice gym. Shame to see it close down....

I grew up in Idaho Falls and helped build Stone Walls rock gym back in the late 90's. I even went to Teton Rock Gym once to get some route setting ideas. The TRG was a cool place for sure, I never got to experience the Enclosure, but wish I had.
I'd like to throw this out there and see what ya'll think. I'm just talking out loud here and correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that a low budget home made climbing gym (like garage quality but bigger, like the one in Idaho Falls) will attract only the core climbing base and maybe a few school kids. (Stone Walls rarely broke even, and over the years took on more and more partners to satisfy economic demands.) On the other hand a large expen$ive climbing gym attracts everyone that walks by in addition to the core climbing community. It seem like the large expen$ive climbing gyms are increasingly taking a bite out of the "Gold's Gym" pie.
With the $$$ that the Jackson Hole area is known for, why not find some investors and build a High quality Gym? If the Location is on the main drag, you'r going to hit a home run. If I remember correct the first Momentum Climbing Gym cost about $10 million. They are now in the process of building their 3rd facility.
It's like Utah can't seem to build them fast enough. Has anyone approached one of the resorts? Has anyone talked to City? The YMCA?

The latest news with the Enclosure is that although the gym is closed forever the wall will live on. For the past 6 months I, along with friends and family have been painstakingly dismantling the wall in order to move it to its new home in Idaho Falls. We will weld it back together and then resheet it with new plywood in its new building. I am pretty excited about it! I thought you guys would be too.
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