A new indoor rock climbing gym is preparing to open in Setauket, giving climbing enthusiasts in eastern Suffolk County a place to scale walls closer to home.
RockSteady Climbing, owned by South Setauket residents Erik and Kristin Cline, is putting the finishing touches on a 10,630-square-foot facility tucked behind the Ethan Allen furniture store on Route 347. The gym features more than 6,000 square feet of climbing terrain, including rope climbing walls, bouldering areas, a dedicated children’s climbing space, a yoga and training area, fitness equipment, birthday party rooms, summer camps and field trips.
The facility, located at 4016 Nesconset Highway Suite C, will be the easternmost indoor climbing gym on Long Island.
For Erik, the idea has been years in the making.
He first discovered rock climbing about a decade ago after a friend invited him on a bachelor party trip that included outdoor climbing. After returning home, he found himself making regular trips to a climbing gym in Plainview because there weren’t any options closer to where he lived.
Cline said he first dreamed of opening his own gym about 10 years ago. Around 2019, he began seriously exploring the idea and even looked at the Setauket location before the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to put his plans on hold.
“Then the pandemic happened and I shelved the idea for a while,” he said.
About three years ago, he revisited the business plan.
“I decided to dust off the business plan and make it happen,” he said.
The opportunity came after Ethan Allen downsized its showroom, leaving roughly 8,000 square feet vacant in the rear of the building.
RockSteady is designed to appeal to climbers of all experience levels. Its bouldering area allows visitors to climb shorter walls without ropes or harnesses, landing on thick padded flooring below. The gym will also feature auto-belay devices that safely lower climbers back to the ground, making rope climbing more accessible for beginners and children.
A separate kids’ climbing area includes smaller climbing walls and slides, while adults can take advantage of yoga classes, climbing-specific strength training and a fully equipped fitness area.
Memberships will include annual plans, weekly memberships, day passes and six-visit packages. The gym also plans to host birthday parties, summer camps and school field trips.
While many fitness centers are owned by large companies, the Clines hope RockSteady will have a different feel.
“We’re a mom-and-pop style gym,” Cline said. “My wife and I are the owners and will be working here regularly, not like a gym where you never see the owner.”
With construction nearly complete, RockSteady plans to initially open to members before expanding access to the public.
A look inside the soon-to-open RockSteady. Courtesy photos.
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