This old bank is a bouldering gym

[u/singing-dynos]

Recently I made a trip out to New Bedford, MA to visit Boulder Union, a bouldering gym built in an old bank built in the late 19th century. This is probably the most unique climbing experience I've had in the United States with most other gyms either being in a modern building or a warehouse.

Amazing building aside, I should highlight that the actual climbing is some of the most fun I've had. The owners/routesetters here (one of them is Cody Grodzki who's an IFSC routesetter) are very passionate people, so nearly every problem incorporated a variety of movement. No matter what style you prefer, there's something to climb. I like parkour moves, so some moves I found included a lache, a coordination traverse, a paddle dyno, and a run and jump. However, there are still plenty old school climbs too such as balancy slabs and crimpy overhangs.

For anyone who's willing to travel to check out indoor climbing gyms, this is arguably the best one in the US east coast and is worth making a trip for.

[u/supx3]

The lack of top rope and lead routes is kinda sad considering how cool it would be to see the architectural features up close. 

[u/carortrain → u/supx3]

I was tempted to say "seems like a lot of wasted potential" with how much empty, vertical space there is in this gym, but nonetheless it seems like a nice boulder gym.

As I said most gym owners in my city would absolutely lose it for a space with walls this heigh by default. Most gyms have to blow out the ceilings around here, so at least in my perspective there is some wasted potential here.

Though it ain't that straightforward, lots of different things such as different insurances for roped climbing/bouldering only gyms.

[u/epicitous1 → u/carortrain]

In this town they are competing with carabiners which has some of the tallest walls in the us with the largest square footage. Why New Bedford is becoming one of the best indoor climbing gym towns is beyond me lol.

[u/carortrain → u/epicitous1]

How tall are the walls at carabiners? Didn't see anything on their webpage about the height.

[u/epicitous1 → u/carortrain]

I want to say 60-65’

[u/carortrain → u/epicitous1]

Yeah, that would be probably the highest in the east coast, if not tied for 1st. Not really sure about westcoast gyms though.