A new all-in-one gathering place is launching to shake up the city’s beach-and-bar social monotony, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Hexrock, the sprawling new climbing gym and community hub east of I-75, is aiming to redefine how people stay fit, have fun, and get connected in town.
At first glance, the 24,000-square-foot facility, formerly known as Project 24 Climbing, delivers what you’d expect from a serious climbing gym: towering walls with 14,000 square feet of climbing surface, a mix of top rope and lead climbing, and a sizable bouldering section. There are 14 auto belays (a rock-climbing safety technique) and a variety of wall angles designed to keep climbs dynamic and engaging.
But for its creators, Sarasota’s first climbing gym isn’t just about climbing—although, if you’re a climber, you’ll rejoice over the fact you no longer have to make the trek across the Skyway Bridge every time you want to spend a weekend on the wall…