“It’s a place to climb”: place meanings of indoor rock climbing facilities

Many recreation and sport activities that traditionally took place in natural settings are now being made available to people in artificial settings. This trend raises fundamental questions about the relevance of place to participants. This paper, therefore, examines the place meanings that rock climbers develop for indoor climbing facilities. Twenty-one rock climbers from Western Canada participated in semi-structured interviews, during which they provided detailed narratives about their climbing experiences. Nine place-based themes (consciously artificial, re-creating nature, accessibility, distinct sport, outdoor desires, loyalty, skill development, physical fitness, and camaraderie) emerged in the analysis and were grouped into three dimensions (physical, experiential, and activity). The findings reveal that indoor climbing facilities are indeed places that are infused with meanings. By understanding these meanings, setting managers are in a better position to foster positive place experiences for participants.

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