Since the closest Rock climbing gym is currently in Ann Arbor, many of the MSU Rock Climbing Club’s endeavors have drained excessive amounts of time and money from members. 

President of Rock Climbing Club and social science senior Gabe Boyce voiced his frustration with the climbing scene over the past few years. “We spend a lot of gas money and annoyingly long drives because you want to go to the gym and climb for 2 or 3 hours,” said Boyce, “And then you're driving at least 2 hours at the minimum, so it's frustrating and stops you from climbing as much as you'd like to.”

MSU Rock Climbing Club got to meet with the owners of the new location, as well as get a sneak peek inside the building.   

“They've been super kind to have us over and check out the construction site, and several times they've offered it up. One night they had us over and ordered like a bunch of pizza and dessert and drinks and had a Q and A session,” said Boyce.

Many members of the club inquired about the price of a membership, which is $79 per month, with a day pass costing $19. This is very standard pricing for a gym like this, according to Boyce. 

Terra Fima isn’t the only new rock climbing site opening this spring. The MSU Student Recreation and Wellness Center, which opened on April 15, includes a rock climbing and bouldering wall available for all students.

Hailey Mecenas, a senior human biology major as well as the MSU Rock Climbing Club’s secretary and safety officer, is optimistic about the opportunities that both Terra Firma and the new Student Recreation and Wellness center can provide for rock climbers at the university.

“I think it might potentially be a better compromise sometimes to go to the student gym because financially it is more accessible being included in being a student,” Mecenas explained. “But going to the Terra Firma gym would really offer a lot more opportunities for boulderers that I don't think they'd be able to have at least at the capacity in the student recreation center that we offer at State.” 

MSU chemical engineering and materials science professor and co-owner of the new Terra Firma Alexandra Zevalkink doesn’t see the new MSU recreational center’s climbing wall as competition. In fact, she sees it as beneficial for Terra Firma's business. 

“It's complementary to what we're doing here”, said Zevalkink. “So we're really excited about it. I think that the rec center is going to be an awesome place for students to try climbing for the first time. I think the difference is that here we'll be able to have a community that's built around climbing.”

With an upstairs lounge designated for socializing or studying to amplify the interpersonal aspects of the sport, Terra Firma aims to create a space for climbers to enjoy even when they aren’t scaling the walls.

Alongside the communal atmosphere of the gym, there is also an intellectual component that the courses offer.

“It's like a puzzle that you're trying to figure out. So it's both logical and also social, because you're usually working on it with friends. You take turns, trying, giving each other tips,” Zevalkink said.

Whether a student is a beginner or an experienced climber, there is something new in the area for them to experience. 

 “Climbing is definitely going to get a really cool revitalization this semester,” Mecenas said.