High Plains Climbing
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Specs: High Plains Climbing recently reopened under different ownership in the iconic 90-foot grain elevators in Oklahoma City. According to High Plains Climbing Co-Owner Aaron Gibson, the agricultural background of the facility “pre-dates Oklahoma statehood, as early as 1901. The silos were abandoned in the 1970s and stayed dormant until the late ‘90s before they took on a new life.” In 1997, the silos were reenvisioned as a gym, with the help of Freddy Harth, before opening as OKC Rocks in January 1999. Soon after, Gibson joined the project as an early employee, before he, his wife Lisa Gibson, and a nonprofit partner purchased the facility and operated it as Rocktown Climbing Gym. According to Aaron, “The gym later changed hands several times, first through Climb UP in 2014, then Summit following a merger in 2018, and most recently Ozark Climbing Gym/Stoneyard in 2023.”
Under Ozark Climbing Gym, the gym closed on December 21st, 2025, following an announcement that the lease would not be renewed. “Conversations immediately began to strategize what could be done to save the gym. Among those talks, a group of dedicated climbers, with a history of previous ownership of the silos, years prior, emerged,” Aaron recalled. “Freddy and Dawn Harth and Aaron and Lisa Gibson came together to form a new partnership, secure a new lease, and begin reimagining the facility as High Plains Climbing for its next chapter.” He said the team then “mobilized quickly to develop an investment strategy, negotiate improved lease terms, and plan for a new and improved version of the gym,” combining their gym ownership experience of over 100 years.
According to Aaron, none of the ownership team members “were actively looking to get back into the climbing gym business, but the idea of losing the silos felt significant—not just personally, but for the broader climbing community in Oklahoma.” He noted that all team members have deep roots in Oklahoma climbing and a history with the silos, and they believed the facility was worth preserving. “The current owners bring both historical knowledge of the facility and prior experience operating climbing gyms,” Aaron said. “That shared history made them well-positioned to step in when the gym closed and help bring it back as High Plains Climbing.”
Since deciding to reopen the facility as High Plains Climbing, Aaron stated the team’s goal “has been to reopen as quickly as possible to maintain continuity and help the climbing community see this as a relaunch rather than a permanent loss.” Additionally, Aaron said bringing the gym back makes sense “because of the gym’s location and long-term potential,” adding, “The silos sit in a high-profile area of Oklahoma City, with major surrounding development underway, including a new stadium nearby and the city’s growing visibility as a host for Olympic events in 2028.” The team believes “this is the right time to reintroduce the silos with renewed energy and a strong local identity,” he added, with some facility upgrades for visitors…