Higher and Higher

Ascend to new heights with 3 of Dallas-Fort Worth's best climbing gyms

Oso Climbing Gyms specializes in bouldering.

Oso Climbing Gyms/Facebook

You might have been hitting the gym more than the trails lately because Texas in the summer is no joke, and air conditioning is a must.

But if lifting weights and running on the treadmill has you yawning with boredom, consider challenging your body in a different way — with rock climbing.

Your body becomes the resistance as you hoist yourself up man-made walls studded with toe-holds and divots, all safely strapped into a harness with professionals making sure you don't take a tumble.

If you're ready to try it, here's a closer look at three of the best spots for indoor rock climbing in Dallas-Fort Worth:

Movement
What it is: The newest addition to the bunch, Movement is opening in The Hill in October (in the former space of Candytopia and Treehouse). It comes from El Cap, which owns a nationwide network of indoor climbing facilities that also include Earth Treks and Planet Granite. If that last name sounds familiar, that's because Movement was originally supposed to be a Planet Granite, but underwent a name change.

What it offers: Bouldering, top-roping, and lead climbing, as well as amenities like yoga studios, functional fitness, cardio zones, and climbing gear shops. Each facility caters to participants of all abilities — from competitive athletes to weekend adventurers and families.

Fun fact: A second location is planned for the Design District in 2022.

Summit Climbing, Yoga and Fitness
What it is: Three locations in Dallas, one in Denton, one in Fort Worth, and two in Oklahoma give Summit quite the presence, but founder Kyle Clinkscales has always been determined to make climbing accessible to all and break down the socioeconomic barriers that usually hinder the sport. There's even a scholarship program.

What it offers: Personal and group training classes, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, and yoga classes. Its big event is called 12 Hours of Summit Suffering, and challenges teams of two to scale as many routes and boulders across Summit locations within a 12-hour time period.

Fun fact: The Plano location is the largest climbing gym in DFW, with 5,000 square feet of bouldering and 20,000 square feet of roped climbing with 55 foot walls.

Oso Climbing Gyms
What it is: Bouldering only, but it's so luxe you probably won't mind. A lot of the classes are themed (BIPOC meet-up, climbing fundamentals, etc.) and there's very much a group mentality.

What it offers: In addition to the walls, take advantage of 36,000 square feet of gym space, saunas, elite fitness area/classes, yoga studio, showers, locker rooms, workspace, and coffee, beer, wine, and fresh foods.

Fun fact: A day pass is just $22 and includes free rental of your climbing shoes.

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REFIGURE THE ALAMO

The Alamo previews awe-inspiring new exhibit ahead of 2024 debut

Photo courtesy of the Alamo.

The Mission Gate and Lunette exhibit gives visitors an understanding of the original ground's scale.

Ask first-time visitors about their experience at the Alamo, and you're likely to hear a frequent refrain: the grounds are so small. But that's slowly changing with ambitious plans to bring the site's original footprint back to life.

Starting May 25, visitors have been getting a sneak peek at the complex's newest structure, the Mission Gate and Lunette exhibit, before it officially opens in 2024. Funded in part by a $3 million donation from the Joan and Herb Kelleher Charitable Foundation, the exhibition gives guests a broader understanding of the Alamo's scale.

The historical re-creation was crafted by lauded San Antonio artist Carlos Cortés. A third-generation concrete faux bois artisan, his work is featured throughout the city, most notably on the River Walk, where his fantastical The Grotto greets thousands of Museum Reach visitors each year.

The life-size sculpture stands in for the original main gate of the fort at the southern boundary of the complex. Cannons and placards scattered throughout give crucial context to the structure. Though early renderings show the beams and spiked fence with more verisimilitude, the forms currently stand in ghostly concrete — inviting quiet contemplation.

When the exhibit is finished next year, guests will be more fully immersed in the hallowed grounds, which extend far beyond the walls of the iconic Church and Long Barrack. Coupled with the upcoming Alamo Visitor Center and Museum and the recently debuted Ralston Family Collections Center, it will turn the grounds into one of Texas' most awe-inspiring historic sites.

"We are deeply grateful to the Joan and Herb Kelleher Charitable Foundation for their support of the Alamo and our ongoing efforts to preserve this important piece of Texas history," says Kate Rogers, Executive Director of the Alamo Trust, Inc., in a release. "Their generosity will allow us to continue to educate and inspire visitors from around the world, ensuring that the legacy of the Alamo lives on for generations to come."

Photo courtesy of the Alamo.

The Mission Gate and Lunette exhibit gives visitors an understanding of the original grounds' scale.

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