- March 11, 2026
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Austin Venhaus says the goal of Hexrock Climbing was to bring the mountains to Sarasota, and as they take shape inside the 24,000-square-foot space, he says the sight looks just like the renderings.
After procedural and construction delays, the climbing gym, which was previously planned to open early 2025 as Project 24 Climbing, is now anticipating an opening in early April.
Once it opens, it will serve as the main space of the small gym Project 24 Micro, although it has other offerings planned beyond climbing.
Venhaus says the silver lining of the delays has been that they have given the team the time to increase the space, as well as decide on how to expand the gym's offerings.
The project was started by Venhaus, a 2019 graduate of New College, with the vision of a space for the community to spend time. Aaron Rutsky and his wife, Andrea Rutsky, of Lakewood Ranch, then joined the project as its main investors.
What began as a 12,000-square-foot space grew to encompass additional rooms of the same facility, expanding to 19,000 square feet and then the current 24,000. The project, including the rental of the space, currently totals over $10 million, said Rutsky.
The numerous planned offerings include co-working spaces, a podcasting room, an infrared sauna, a recovery space, a retail gear shop and a coffee bar. It is located at 1355 Sarasota Center Blvd.
There will be a major focus on youth programs, as well as on yoga classes, with separate and joint memberships for yoga, and one complimentary yoga class per week for climbing members, and there will be a fitness area with free weights and equipment.
However, the distinguishing feature is the more than 14,000 square feet of climbing surface being installed by Walltopia.
“We are very lucky to have one of the best, if not the best, climbing wall installer in the world,” Venhaus said.
Amongst the climbing lanes, visitors will find 14 ropes controlled by auto belay devices. The team says the setup has a rare feature that exceeds conventional safety standards.
Because the auto belay does not involve a partner, there is the added risk of climbers not clipping the rope properly, Rutsky says. He says while most gyms have six to nine inches of padding, the One More Life padding being installed offers 16.5 inches of collapsible material.
However, new climbers will undergo an orientation, and the auto belay will include an additional carabiner, the clip used to anchor the rope.
“Everything we're doing is geared toward trying to be as safe as possible, because climbing is inherently dangerous," Venhaus said.
Lead-only lanes will allow more advanced climbers to clip their rope into different points as they ascend, while top rope lanes will serve teams of two, with one member standing at the bottom to belay the other. A bouldering space will allow climbing without a rope, to a height of about 15 feet.
One other major feature is a training area that will provide space for climbers to progress, or strengthen their skills, expected to open two to four weeks after the main gym.
“One of the perks of this space is, because we plan to have such a robust youth program, we are able to have a lot of the kids in here during those times when they're going to be active," Venhaus said. "That way, it's nice for the other climbing members because they don't have to worry about conflicting spaces in the gym."
The area includes a 21-by-15-foot competition wall as well as two training boards with light-up holds; a spray wall where users can create their own routes; a slab-style wall, or a wall that leans away from the climber; a campus board, which is a training tool for just the arms; and finger training boards.
The gym plans to host camps throughout the year, as well as multiple youth programs.
Those programs will include a competitive youth team that will travel to compete, a recreational youth team for those interested in climbing as a hobby, and another team that may compete within the area, among local schools.
However, Venhaus emphasizes that throughout the business, the gym is intended to be as inclusive as possible.
The gym will offer quiet climbing hours for those with sensory issues, and events for homeschool students. There will be birthday parties with a small climbing wall that offers interactive games projected onto the surface.
However, Venhaus also emphasizes activities aren't exclusively about climbing.
“We’re just trying to really make it where people kind of just come and hang out," he said. You can climb you can do schoolwork, whatever.”
A raised space with a climbable ramp will provide a viewing location for visitors to see videos projected on walls at events, including a video game tournament, while a communal space with a similar view will allow visitors to gather, play games or work.
"I love doing more nerdy things, like Dungeons and Dragons, board games," Venhaus said.
He says that the gym wants to make it easy for members to build whatever kind of group they may be seeking.
“If somebody just wants a nice, casual group that meets on Wednesday nights for whatever reason, they don't want it to be more than just their little friend group, we can help make that happen,” Venhaus said.
