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I am not exactly sure what classifies .... A Climbing Gym. There have been many climbing structures built pre 1980s for climbing schools, many boy Scout camps had a climbing structure, some weight lifting gyms glued rocks to their concrete walls and called it a climbing challenge, etc, etc. The Vertical Club in Seattle Washington is listed as being the first Climbing Gym in the USA, so I will start there.....

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Vertical Club, opened fall 1987
(listed as being the first Rock Gym opened in the USA)
Owners: Richard Johnston and Dan Cauthorn
Seattle, Washington

Vertical Club - January 1988 advertisement

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Vertical Club - August 1988 advertisement

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Vertical Club
Richard Johnston and Dan Cauthorn

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Portland Rock Gym - opened early 1988
Portland, Oregon

SCS - Portland Rock Gym - March 1988 advertisement

Portland Rock Gym - September 1989 advertisement

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Cat's Gymnastics
Boulder, Colorado
Opened summer/fall 1988

Rob Candelaria

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Boston Rock Gym - Opened August 1989
Boston, Massechuttes

Boston Rock Gym
July 1989 advertisement

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Art Of Climbing
Opened August 1989
Chattsworth, California

Art of Climbing - August 1989 advertisement

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Extreme Sports - Opened February 1990
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Extreme Sports - February 1990 advertisement

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The Sporting Club - Opened June(?) 1990
Atlanta, Georgia

Entre Prises advertisement

Entre Prises - June 1990 advertisement

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Colorado Indoor Climbing Center
"Coming Soon" - June 1990
........., Colorado

Colorado Indoor Climbing Center
June 1990 advertisement

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The Wall Climbing Center
"Coming soon" - June 1990
Brooklyn, New York

The Wall - June 1990 advertisement

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Joe Rockhead's Gym - Opened in June 1990
Toronto, Canada

(First climbing gym to open in Canada).

Joe Rockheads - June 1990 advertisement

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