Nothing really gay happened while I was at Mesa Rim Climbing Center tonight.
I called for a climbing partner and was met by Samuel, a tall climber who designated himself bi when I asked.
They fly a Gay Pride flag from the rafters, next to the American and Nevada state flags. Their binary bathrooms signs also announce that they are allow non-binary users.
A lot of the young folks could have been gay or trans or just needed haircuts. They kept a stash of LaCroix under the stairs. Just a strong low-key gay-friendly vibe. But nothing super-gay.
I asked the front desk if there was anything super-gay to know about the place or any big gay events they may hold periodically and they looked confused. But they were very nice.
It’s a great center. Very clean, which is difficult with all that chalk and sweat and young people who use their gear outdoors a lot.
They have a super-dope virtual tour of the location you can check out on their website.
Some of the location highlights include:
- top-rope and lead belay
- bouldering for days
- a yoga studio
- cardio equipment
- a full set of weightlifting and cross-training equipment
- hang-boards on hang-boards on hang-boards
- a snack section
- a gear and merch section
- I think I saw a birthday room
- an upstairs lounge (no nasty climber couches, but tables and stuff)
- group and one-on-one climbing classes
- workshops
- team climbing
- a rooftop deck with grill
- co-ed sauna and binary locker rooms that include non-binary
- They also have kids stuff, for the gays with shorties
The website shows that Mesa Rim operates 6 locations here, in California and they are opening one of them in Texas this fall. They say their “… founders dreamed of creating an inclusive space where people of all walks of life and abilities could venture out of their comfort zones in pursuit of a remarkable movement experience.” Righteous.
Check out the vid I made tonight.
Erica Pionke's Guide to Reno LGBTQ 