Tulsa bouldering gym asking community for help to stay open
Fri, August 21, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Tulsa’s News Pulse
TULSA, Okla. — A downtown Tulsa bouldering gym is asking the community for help after reaching a financial crossroads just one year after opening
GRAVITY BEAR Bouldering Gym opened in August 2025 in Tulsa’s East Village. Owner Parker Simms, a military veteran who spent 11 years in the armed forces, says his experiences traveling around the world and seeing different climbing communities inspired him to bring a new kind of climbing space to Tulsa
Unlike traditional climbing gyms, GRAVITY BEAR focuses on bouldering, with walls reaching up to 15 feet. The facility also includes a fitness area, café and coworking space
Simms says his goal was to create more than a place to work out
“The number one thing was like, build a community,” Simms said
He wanted people to have a place to hang out, connect with others and step away from the outside world for a while
Building a Climbing Community
GRAVITY BEAR got off to a strong start, hosting a USA Climbing youth qualifier just months after opening. The gym also hosted a competition camp in December that brought people from around the region to Tulsa
Over the past year, the gym has worked to build its membership base through community events, including movie nights, First Friday climbing events and college nights
The gym also has competitive teams and hosted summer camps. Simms says roughly 50 kids participated in summer camps this year
For many members, Simms says, the gym has become a place to make friends and find community
He says people who have never climbed before often come in looking for something new and eventually begin seeing familiar faces and forming friendships
Financial Challenges
Despite growing its membership, Simms says the business has faced the financial challenges that come with opening a new gym
He says the cost of starting a climbing gym is significant, with large upfront expenses that are expected to be recovered over time. As a first-time business owner, Simms says he has learned firsthand how difficult that process can be
Now, he has launched a GoFundMe asking the community to help keep GRAVITY BEAR operating
Simms says the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with people offering not only financial support but also their time and energy to help spread the word and bring more people into the gym
The timeline for how long the gym can continue operating varies depending on several factors, Simms says, ranging from roughly six weeks to several months
Some of the fundraising money will go toward operational expenses, including the gym’s lease and loans. Simms also says he wants some of the money to help restore hours for staff whose schedules were recently reduced as part of efforts to cut expenses
More Than Climbing
Simms says GRAVITY BEAR is unique because it is a bouldering gym located downtown, while also offering a fitness area and coffee shop
The gym serves as a place where people can climb, work out, grab coffee and connect with others before or after exploring the East Village
He also wants to challenge the idea that climbing is only for people who are already physically fit
Simms says people don’t need significant upper-body strength or climbing experience to get started
“All you need is a desire to have a little fun.”
He says the gym’s goal is to make people feel welcome regardless of their experience level
The gym also offers a $15 day pass, including rentals, for college students on Monday nights. Simms says the gym’s largest demographic is people ages 18 to 25 and sees the space as an alternative place for young adults to meet people and socialize
How to Help
Simms says the biggest thing the community can do is help spread awareness of GRAVITY BEAR, visit the gym and encourage others to try it
He describes GRAVITY BEAR as a small, veteran-owned business and says continued community support could help determine whether the gym gets the time it needs to become sustainable
