What is "fun climbing," and hey, isn't all climbing fun?
Almost two decades ago in New Zealand, a new concept was developed to help make climbing more accessible and attractive to non-climbers. Unlike gym climbing, which can feel intimidating with its focus on technical difficulty, this new approach prioritized accessibility and imagination. Forming the bulk of that experience were individual, freestanding climbing lanes, 24-ish feet tall, all with auto belay devices and routes specifically designed to be achievable for beginners. These lanes featured playful, colorful themes—think pirate ships, jungle adventures, and castle walls—that transformed intimidating climbing into imaginative play for younger participants. Fun climbing was born. These climbing structures are now commonplace in hundreds of facilities in Europe and around the world. But oddly, they are not as prevalent in North America. Enter Eldorado Climbing.
For years, Eldorado kept a close eye on the burgeoning fun climbing, active entertainment space. In 2019, after extensive market research, Eldorado began developing its own evolution of fun climbing. With a focus on broadening the age appeal, encouraging repeat visits, and addressing many common pain points reported by facility owners, Kinetix Action Towers was launched.
A Fully Customizable Experience
Kinetix Action Towers is an innovative product line designed to combine the challenges of traditional climbing with the approachability and excitement found in other engaging, action entertainment activities—like obstacle courses, trampoline parks or zip lines.
Available in four heights (14, 18, 22 and 26 feet), the Towers themselves form the foundation of the Kinetix Action Towers system and can be delivered in practically any colors. There are three tower structures, each designed to fit different spaces, which can be installed indoors or outside. From the Towers hang the modular Challenges: 36 different activities that provide a wide range of physical challenges, which can be adjusted for various skill levels and changed over time to keep things fresh. Eldorado also offers Climbponents, which are unique, climbable features that can be bolted onto Challenges or existing climbing walls, offering endless combinations for a customized climbing experience.
What do Kinetix Action Towers bring
to the table that's new and innovative?
- Modularity: By easily swapping Challenges and Climbponents, countless combinations are possible, enabling facilities to keep their attractions fresh and engaging, encouraging repeat visits.
- Variable degrees of difficulty: Facility owners can configure activities to suit a wide variety of ability levels.
- Movement: Many of the Challenges tip, sway, wobble or spin, bringing a different dimension than climbing on a planar, static surface can offer.
- Duo climbers: Several of the Challenges are designed to accommodate two participants and can be climbed cooperatively or competitively.
- Unique aesthetics: The contemporary, industrial look and feel of the Kinetix Action Towers is inviting to all ages.
A Fresh Challenge for All Ages
Kinetix invites kids and parents to play together: Teens can seek a thrill, companies can conduct corporate team-building events, and everyone belongs. "The addition of Kinetix to our drop tower has really made it a full-service attraction and brought more business. We’re extremely happy with the product overall," said Ty Seufer, the owner of The EDGE Ziplines & Adventures in Castle Rock, Colo.
If you already own a climbing facility and space is limited, look to supercharge your "kid's area" with a Challenge or three, or add some Climbponents to an existing wall to spice things up. For operators looking to build a new climbing facility, consider designing space for fun climbing—it's a great way to stand apart from the competition. A great example of this differentiation in action is the Kinetic Park in St. Charles, Mo.
Kinetix Action Towers are engineered to attract new clients, drive traffic, enhance engagement and capture repeat business. It's climbing, but different.
Eldorado Climbing Author Bio
Eldorado Climbing has been building climbing walls since 1991 and offers a vast array of wall products: custom gym walls, artisanal concrete for outdoors, do-it-yourself and artistic panels, outdoor boulders, modular climbing walls, Kinetix Action Towers and more.
Story Sponsored by: Eldorado Climbing Walls
