The Proving Ground Bouldering Gym

Get a membership or go climbing anytime with friends or family. The staff are friendly and helpful and the facility worth every penny paid for each session. P/S - the climbing shoes make the place feel like home.

Man oh man, I am from out of town and I deeply am saddened I will not be able to come back to this gym. What an absolute treat this place is. I would come to this place 10 out of 10 times instead of Upper Limit (gym nearby). I am a little disappointed this is a shirt on gym, but that's the rules and I respect that. The route setting is 10/10 - so many bangers - I want to thank one of the setters Mark for making some amazing routes. Truly had fun here. Front staff was super helpful and respectful - even when they told me to put my shirt back on it didn't feel rude or anything. Pricing is pretty decent, I'd be more than happy to pay a little more for this place as opposed to upper limits. Super friendly for advanced climbers and new climbers. Great stuff! Thank you for hosting me

I do classes there and there so much fun. I highly recommend taking these classes

Great route setting and the perfect assortment of terrain and styles at all difficulties. Really glad I found this spot and will stop by every time I’m passing through town. Wish my local gym was this good.

"TPG HATES WOMEN!" is what was chanted by an employee after the gym hosted a meetup for Midwest Boulder Babes. It is not just one bad apple; it's the whole tree. A close female friend describes the misogyny structural to TPG clearly:TPG hires nationally accredited female route setters to set routes for the female division of the gym's competitions. During at least the past two comps, employees found the routes the professionals set to be too hard for women, so the routes were stripped and new "female friendly" routes were set. Needless to say, my friend and many others flashed the hardest routes. Moreover, when an experienced female climber asked to set routes for the gym for regular climbing sessions, she was told the gym was "too busy" to let her set in the foreseeable future. However, when a male climber asked the same question days later, he was welcomed by the gym to set routes.The sexism core to this gym should not be tolerated. Don't support their behavior. Take your business elsewhere.

Crazy fun bouldering gym. I always come by if I'm in the area. It's a fun, and welcoming community. They do a great job of putting up new problems. The sets are always fun and interesting. Lots of technical problems to work thru and some really fun jug-hauls too. Love this gym

My two daughters (8 & 6) love this place. They’ve been 2-3 times in the last few weeks. Options for all ages and skill levels. Recently took a few friends for a small birthday afternoon and they had a great time. The gentleman working that morning took extra time to explain everything and made sure they were having fun. What stood out most is from today. My aunt purchased a few more sessions for my oldest as a birthday present. Said she only purchased two sessions, but someone delivered a birthday package to her at our front door (I don’t think delivery is a normal part of their business 😀). Along with the two sessions were other climbing items (not requested or paid for by my aunt). Pretty sure they did it to be nice. Made her day! Thank you for your kindness and going an extra step. Definitely didn’t go unnoticed in our household!

Shout out to TPG for an incredibly clean amazing gym; they go the extra mile to ensure everyone's safety. They have a wide range of problems to challenge any climber, whether new to the sport or very experienced. The setting is fantastic and love their unique/new holds! Chris and his staff are genuinely kind and helpful people. Make sure to support them if you're in the area!

Amazing, so amazing. The staff, the climbing, the design, all are so great. Really if you are in the area, or even not in the area (we drive a hour one way to come at least once a week), it's worth the trip. Whether your a new climber just learning what a jug is, or an experienced crusher you will love the bouldering and the staff here. Truly the staff makes this place exceptional, the climbing, well that's an amazing extra.

TPG's Staff is top-notch, the facility is so open and bright and the atmosphere is extremely welcoming! Our entire family has loved climbing at this gym and getting to know this bouldering community! The staff members truly care about creating an enjoyable and excellent experience, offering tips and advice to climbers of all ages and abilities and encouraging everyone along the way. Proud to call TPG our home gym!