It all goes back to a summer camp at the Virginia Outdoor Center, where Nic Wolfe, our founder, was nine years old, covered in mud, and totally hooked on climbing. That spark turned into a full-on obsession. He guided trips, taught others, and eventually built his first gym in his studio apartment downtown (neighbors loved that, by the way).

After a detour through college (The University of Alabama, degree in Bio-Medical Anthropology—go figure), Nic came back home, taught biology by day, and climbed every spare minute he had. And with a ton of support from his fiancée Lexi, some scrappy gear, and a dream that wouldn’t quit, Rapp Rocks was born.

With the unwavering support of one of Nic’s closest friends, Keth, who poured three unpaid months into physically constructing the gym from the ground up, every wall, every piece of furniture, built by hand. Even the lounge cushions were stitched by Keth’s mom (much love, Dawna!). What you see when you walk into Rapp Rocks isn’t just a gym. It’s sweat equity, stubborn determination, and a whole lot of heart from the people who built it.