Ibex Climbing Gym

Ibex is a great gym! I’ve been climbing at Ibex on and off for about 10 years — For the past 5 years I’ve been climbing there 2 – 3 a week when I’m not traveling.
— Staff is awesome. High focus on safe climbing, as it should be.
— Routes are refreshed fairly often, which is important if you are coming into the gym a couple of times a week.
— Bouldering setting has improved greatly. Worth a trip upstairs to check out the bouldering too.
— Great top rope and lead routes.
This is the best place to climb in KC and caters well to new climbers in addition to more experienced climbers.

I lead trad sport and am in the gym 4~5 a week usually with my son and friends. I’ve climbed at gyms on both the East and West Coast, and around Boulder /​Golden. I’ve been into Ibex maybe 10 sessions visiting family in KC. I’d rate the routes pretty good as far as the setting goes and in terms of ratings stiffer than the West coast but probably a little soft for the gym in the DC area I climb at – that has a stiffer reputation than the others. The gym is a decent size and the bouldering area and problems were well set. There’s a mix of slab and overhung features. THere are also some fun dihedral and chimney features in the gym. I don’t recall if there was a crack or not but I thought that it was surprisingly well put together in the design of the walls. I’m certainly happy that Kansas City has a solid climbing community and Ibex. I’ve traveled and run into smaller less interesting, less well organized gyms.
I’m surprised sometimes by how much setting varies from gym to gym and ratings. In general if you climb a 5.9 in the bay area you should expect that the rest of mid-​west and the East coast is going to feel considerably sandbagged. Planet Granite in the bay area was very noticeable the first time I lead and TR’d there. Lead certs and practices on rope and gear also vary, and are largely directed by the insurance and underwriters requirements. Most gyms I lead at supply rope and prohibit use of your own rope. That naturally varies especially in California, in my experience.
I can appreciate Chris P.‘s surprise and disappointment both on the ratings of climbs and belay practices. In my experience, gyms typically will require a belayer for a lead cert to already be certified at the gym or staff will belay. It is surprising that the ibex staffer wasn’t a leader and I would have protested if the staff couldn’t competently lead belay and stopped me from. I think people evaluating a certification are usually limited to the more experienced staff – though most any trained staff will provide evaluations for toprope belay certs.
I am not surprised that Ibex staff prohibited Chris from lead belaying his wife before he had a cert, but a common approach – and something for Ibex to probably consider – is to have the lead certifying climber top-​rope w/​belayer and mock lead with the belayer being certified on appropriate lead belay technique and usually catching a lead fall at the top of a route. Two belayers and a cert seeking climber is a hassle but protects the potential climber in the event of a truly bad lead belayer.
Running a gym or managing climbing activities outdoors is no easy business and much of the practice is dictated by the policies demanded or recommended by your insurance or host institution – Boy Scout climbing practices vary significantly in some respects from practices of some guide certification groups as well.

The way this gym runs is laughable at best. My wife and I and our three boys visited from out of town. We were greeted by a completely inexperienced staff member, who initially charged us for gear we did not even receive. After we fixed that debacle, the ridiculous process by which one becomes belay certified began.
First we were required to prove that we could belay on top-​rope. Fine. After a second trip to the computer, we return to the floor.
Then began the lead portion of the certification. First off, the staff member, a young woman, insisted that my wife climb first, and chose a slanting, overhanging route (rated 5.9 in this gym, in reality, probably more like 5.10b). She refused to allow me to belay my wife with a backup, instead insisting a nearby teenage boy who was apparently a staff member belay her instead. Fortunately for my wife, she figured she could solo the route, so short of the teenager plucking her off the route, she was going to make it, and did so confidently.
Next up it was my turn to have a go, and the staff member (which mind you she admitted to lacking the lead certification herself) allows me to pick whatever climb I wanted to climb. (sexist much?). Fine, after watching my wife climb I figured I’d pick a better warm up and hammered out a juggy 5.8 (not really 5.8).
After yet another round at the computer, entering the same information the third time, our certifications were completed. We continued on our way leading the sandbagged 25 ft. routes. The setting was not memorable, save one long overhanging route that had multiple roof problems and was entertaining. If you are visiting from anywhere near Yosemite, add a number grade to the rating and you will fare well.
My son wanted to try out one of the overhaning 5.7s which lacked a toprope. No problem! I lead up, hooked into the manky-​but-​sufficient cold-​shut and carabiner anchor and lowered off. My son proceeds to head up, unclipping bolts as he goes, and at the 4^th bolt a staff member shouts over «You can’t do that, whatever you are doing» (I think he meant «Seconding is not allowed»). Mildly amused we laughed it off and returned the few rental items we had borrowed before leaving.
I have been to many gyms across the country. This gym’s policies are onerous, the staff is idiotic, sexist, and unsafe. Asking a climber to lead with a completely unknown party when they have brought someone they trust with them is absolutely unacceptable. I really like to try out gyms around the country, but this one I would definitely skip the next time around. In my 12 years of climbing I have never had such a lack-​luster experience. I have never been asked to return to a computer to certify my ability to belay or lead.
I have never been certified by someone who themselves could not lead. Whomever is managing this gym and setting the standards needs to check out some other gyms and determine not only what policies are practical, but which are safe. If it takes more than an hour from stepping up to the register to leading your first climb unaccompanied, you need to review.

I have been climbing at Ibex now off and on for 20 years! I was introduced to climbing there by my dad and I have had the pleasure of introducing my own daughter to the sport at the same place I first learned.
She can’t get enough of this place. The instructors for the kids have all been wonderful and really make the experience a great one, especially for first timers. I recommend Ibex to everyone looking for a fun active thing to do with their kids on a weekend. Now I just need to find someone to belay for me too!

Great place with awesome staff. We have been here twice with our boy scout troop. Wish we lived closer so I could justify a membership.

I’ve been going to Ibex since 1996. When I first started climbing there were wood chips in the landing zone! The gym has focused on improvements and has been the cleanest, most well-​lit indoor gym I’ve been to.
There are plenty of routes for all levels and the bouldering upstairs is a blast. My kids both started climbing at Ibex when they were 3 and were quickly adopted by the staff and regulars. Kids are definitely welcomed and encouraged to climb! We’ve hosted a handful of birthday parties at Ibex and have spread the climbing bug to friends and family.
Only downer is my desire to climb later into the night on weekends. Longer hours would fulfill my need when I’m in town.

My son attended 3 day climbing camps this summer (age 13) and last summer (age 12). He loved it and the staff! We were very comfortable with the staff and safety.

Great climbing gym, great routes, and great staff! From bouldering to top rope and sport climbing they have a space for it all!

Great staff. Walls are well maintained, and the landing zone is kept clean. Plenty of routes for all levels, with over and under hangs, cracks, slabs, and a chimney. Bouldering, top rope, and lead climbs all in the same building. Will climb again!!!

Tons of routes, friendly staff, the gym is in great shape, lots of camaraderie amongst climbers.

Love everything about this gym: huge amount of space for climbing, and friendly staff focused on both safety and fun. Top-​notch, appropriate for all ages and skill levels. Whomever designed their new logo and look for the inside of the gym did an absolutely amazing job.

I walked into Ibex yesterday, nervous and terrified of heights. Today, I walked back in, eager to get back on the wall and try a harder route. What changed? A thorough review of safety in the Ropes and What-​Knots course, and interactions with a fantastic staff. While it was clear the trainers have done this hundreds of times before, they still took the time necessary to get everyone on the wall. Sure, that meant we had to wait around some while others had their turn, but it also meant we had the instructor’s full attention when it was ours. I made it up the wall, had my trust fall, and was immediately hooked. Your first two weeks are included the class price, so I walked back in today to get in some more time. While we were there, we got to watch the experienced climbers pull off moves I didn’t know were possible, and inspiration to keep trying. Can’t wait to go back!

My Husband and I took the intro belay class yesterday. It was really fun and we enjoyed learning to climb. The gym is a really great size (especially in comparison to others in the area) and the price for our class was pretty reasonable. All that being said, we wouldn’t go back. The class was taught by two kids. The female instructor was lovely and very helpful. Unfortunately, the young Asian guy was a total jerk (edited my choice word for this review). I don’t know what his problem was but he was rude from the moment we got there and bordered on insulting through the class.
Also problematic, there were little ones everywhere. I think perhaps their parents were climbing, but no one was watching them while they madly ran around the mats.

Ever had one of those nightmares where you walk into an operating room and they hand you a scalpel and everyone is looking at you to save someones life, or some such equally impossible task.
That was kind of the feeling I had as I walked in to Ibex and looked up at the four story wall curving around above my me. Did not see anyway that was going to happen. However, as it turns out the staff is extremely patient at explaining and showing you how to setup the rigging, knots, etc. And sure enough an hour later I was climbing to the top of the wall… granted it was the easy one, but still it was more than I saw myself doing.
And for just $ 25 it is a pretty cheap way to have a good time and try something new.

I started rock climbing here thanks to a great Group on offer. I love the routes and the layout of the place. I went last Sunday ⁹⁄₂ and greatly regretted it. They had a class that easily had 20 or more people in it. When the class let out and people were being checked off by the instructors, the instructors told the class to tie in to a route and wait for them to come check them off. Do the math, 10 couples tied in to routes but not climbing… we went and complained to the young lady working the front desk and all she said was they will get them checked off as soon as possible. I understand everyone has to be checked off before climbing! It’s always best to put safety first. I wouldn’t want it any other way. But to have 10 routes taken by people that are just standing there is not ok. Take one or two routes and check people off.
Also the instructors need to be sure to inform new climbers that they have to watch out for people coming off the wall. I was coming off the wall and my belayer told a lady from the class that I was coming down and she refused to move. She said she was trying to tie in and when she was done she would move. Again, safety first. I’m hanging off the wall and you are worried about tying in? The instructor should have corrected the lady right then and told her she needs to move but he just stood there. What can I say, when you have young people that are easily intimidated, they aren’t going to correct those Type A personalities.
While talking to one of the ladies that sets routes during a quick break, she told us that they booked so many people in the class that day that they had to call in additional help. So, needless to say, we won’t ever go back on a Sunday. I didn’t mind driving from Shawnee to Blue Springs because we love the routes and the environment but if you can’t climb, it just isn’t worth it.

It’s a great time. I love coming early in the day before everyone gets there. The staff is nice and knows what they are doing. I only wish they could expand and add auto bilay.

This is one of the best indoor Rock Gyms I have ever been to, it has been around for a long time.
The staff is excellent and well trained and the gym is nice and well kept. The wall was/​is insane and fun. We drove all the way from St. Louis to climb here several times.
Check it out! Especially if you are close to Blue Springs MO!!!

I’ve just gotten into rock-​climbing recently, and I was so excited to find a place in KC that offers an great facility with ever-​changing routes to climb and friendly, knowledgeable staff. If you’ve already climbed in the past, they’re pretty cool about letting you test out of their official «belay safety class» (you know, as long as you sign your life away on the waiver!) The prices seem pretty fair – especially for girls – Thursday nights are ladies night, and you can climb as much as you want for $ 10 and that even includes renting shoes and harness. Pretty sweet.
This is a great place to bring friends and family, someone on a date to get their adventurous side out, or to meet some really cool people that love climbing! I would definitely recommend checking it out – it’s fun for all levels and all ages!