Our mission

To build a community of climbers dedicated to sharing the passion and rewards that this unique and wonderful sport can bring. Each Philadelphia Rock Gym is committed to providing a fun and challenging environment for climbers of all skill levels. You, your success, and your satisfaction are our top priority.

Our core values

Our Core Values are based on the best of climbing culture and lifestyle. Climbers are:

Climbers treat everyone with respect and care, regardless of ability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, or creed. All are welcome. All are unique and valuable. They take pride in the successes of their community and its members, as well as their own. They help each other succeed, pick each other up when they fall, and root for each other when they try again.

Climbers understand that truth is not a matter of opinion. It is, rather, a matter of survival. Being dishonest with oneself, or others, can kill; and so, should be avoided. Moreover, true honesty is not merely saying what you believe to be true, but rather committing to pursue and uncover what is actually going on, and accepting the results, even if it makes you uncomfortable. They understand that there are many ways to get to the top of the wall—but some ways are better than others. They are always willing to experiment, to learn and adapt to the world around them, adjusting their beliefs to fit reality, rather than pretend that reality is different just to fit their beliefs.

Climbers understand that failure is a necessary step toward success. They are not afraid to take reasonable risks, and they do not give up when the going gets tough. They know that real confidence comes from knowledge, skill, and practice. While there is no shame in asking for help, their goal is to impose upon others as little as possible, aiming always to increase their own competence.

Climbers understand that what goes around comes around. They lend a hand whenever others are in need.

Climbers know that ego is their own worst enemy, and that over-confidence can be deadly. They avoid following the crowd merely because it is expected, question entrenched beliefs, and believe that a sense of humor about all things, especially themselves, is the best path to success and happiness.

Our History

Founded in 1994, the first Philadelphia Rock Gym (our Oaks location) was built by two college friends (Greg and Matt) who had a vision – to bring their passion and enthusiasm for climbing back to their hometown and to make a living doing what they loved. By taking the novel step of bringing climbing inside, they became one of the first indoor climbing centers in the US. Soon, they were one of the best.

Since then, PRG has introduced more than 500,000 of your friends and neighbors to the amazing sport of rock climbing. And In all that time our passion and enthusiasm for this sport has continued to grow. And, as our passion has grown, so has our dedication to excellence, to safety, and, most of all, to our customers. PRG has grown, too: we have opened multiple locations, we offer outdoor training and expeditions all over the US, and we use the philosophy of climbing to promote team development and leadership skills through ground-based initiatives and seminars in our Teambuilding program.

It is our vision to continue what Matt and Greg started. To share our passion with you, your friends and your family. To help our customers discover, not just the joy of climbing, but also what its spirit has to offer–confidence, camaraderie, teamwork, and balance. Not sure? Just drop by and let us get you on the wall. We bet you won’t want to go home!