real core climbing gym here - old school setting, moonboard, weights, and a mix of vintage and new hold selection. good hold density allows for lots of boulders/routes and mega potential for made up blocs. lots of psyched climbers, very skin friendly and good place to train. the small neighborhood community vibes really hit different compared to all the mega gyms and modern climbing culture. i really enjoy this place and gso is lucky to have a space like this!

Tumblebees is clearly not the newest or best climbing gym in the world or even central NC, but as an experienced and somewhat accomplished climber, it's the best climber's training facility in the Triad.The good:· Grading is pretty spot on for NC outdoors· While the staff can feel standoffish (and I would argue that most are introverts), they are largely kind and supportive folks who are also accomplished in outdoor climbing.· The price is right, both when they were the only gym in town and even moreso now that Ruckus is charging 3x more for a family of 3.· Their upstairs expansion has really improved the feel and quantity of climbing. Upstairs allows for full height bouldering and short rope routes for children. Thank goodness!· While they have asked my kids to settle down, they largely allow kids to be kids when things are slow.The meh:· Taping routes. Yeah, yeah, they do it so they can put more routes in. It still antiquated and sometimes downright frustrating. Colored routes have their flaws but are largely easier for novices and advanced climbers.· When it gets crowded, it's crowded. Since they have more routes packed into a smaller space, access to most routes gets limited.· Roped routes don't get changed nearly as frequently as the bouldering· As always, nearly every gym in America is boring for lead/rope climbers when attending solo. After three years, I'm more comfortable asking folks I recognize but don't know for belays, but on very slow days the staff sit around while I wait for a partner. Staff belay should be a thing in every gym.· Dark, chalky and generally depressing. The color scheme and flow could use an interior designer to make the place more welcoming and functional.The bad:· Operation hours are just painful. Covid had a lot to do with this but some friends wanted to climb Saturday morning and they aren't open until 2pm for non-members.· College students get discounted prices on day passes but not kids. Admittedly, their $15 day price for adults and kids is still cheaper than most gyms. But a college kid will likely invest more time/routes in a given visit than an average kid. Hopefully the upstairs addition will now make it worth the price.· Most of the holds are 30+ years old. There has been a push recently to buy new holds and hopefully they will consider re-texturing their old walls and holds.· Footholds on harder routes are often sparse or non-existent.TRC and Cliffhangers may have more routes and better facilities, but if you live in the Triad and want to get strong, Tumblebees is the best option for now. Bring your kids because they will love it (mine prefer Tumblebees over Ruckus).

This gym is awesome! As someone who climbs outside often I have found it hard to find a gym that matches up but the grades here are set realistically and what you climb outside you can climb here. The staff is amazing here and you call tell they are all passionate about climbing. Staff is always willing to give you tips and advice if you ask them on how to get strong and trust me if you climb here often you will get strong.

I went with a group of 4 adults, 2 of them first-time climbers. We met Bill, who was super nice and helpful. He was able to answer all of our questions, got me belay certified with them really quickly, and was walking around making sure everyone was having a good time. I hope I get to come here again soon!