Setauket’s new indoor climbing gym is almost ready to open

A new indoor rock climbing gym is preparing to open in Setauket, giving eastern Suffolk County residents a place to scale walls without driving across Long Island.

RockSteady Climbing, owned by South Setauket residents Erik and Kristin Cline, is putting the finishing touches on a 10,630-square-foot facility at 4016 Nesconset Highway, Suite C, tucked behind the Ethan Allen furniture store along Route 347.

When it opens, the gym will become the easternmost indoor climbing facility on Long Island.

Inside, climbers of all ages and experience levels will find more than 6,000 square feet of climbing terrain, including rope climbing walls, bouldering areas, a dedicated children’s climbing space, yoga and training areas, fitness equipment, birthday party rooms and programming such as summer camps and school field trips.

For Erik Cline, the project has been nearly a decade in the making.

He first discovered rock climbing about 10 years ago after a friend invited him on a bachelor party that included an outdoor climbing excursion. Once he was hooked, he regularly made the trip to a climbing gym in Plainview because there weren’t any options closer to home.

That experience sparked an idea.

“I always thought it would be great to have something like this out here,” Cline told Greater Long Island.

He first began exploring the possibility of opening his own gym around 2019 and even looked at the Setauket location before the COVID-19 pandemic brought those plans to a halt.

“Then the pandemic happened and I shelved the idea for a while,” he said.

About three years ago, Cline dusted off the business plan and began pursuing the project again.

The opportunity finally came together after Ethan Allen downsized its showroom, opening up thousands of square feet in the rear of the building.

RockSteady is designed to welcome everyone from first-time climbers to experienced enthusiasts.

Its bouldering area allows visitors to climb shorter walls without ropes or harnesses while landing safely on thick padded flooring. The gym will also feature auto-belay devices that automatically lower climbers to the ground, making rope climbing more approachable for beginners and children.

A separate children’s 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.

Membership options will include annual plans, weekly memberships, day passes and six-visit packages. The facility also plans to host birthday parties, summer camps and school field trips.

Cline said he hopes the gym’s biggest difference won’t be the climbing walls — it’ll be the atmosphere.

“We’re a mom-and-pop style gym,” he said. “My wife and I are the owners and will be working here regularly, not like a gym where you never see the owner.”

RockSteady plans to open first to members before expanding access to the general public.

Take a sneak peek

Courtesy photos