Walk through the doors of Greeley Climbing Collective, and the details immediately strike you—sunlight catching chalk in the air, bold geometric walls rising like sculptures, and a quiet current of motion as climbers navigate their routes with intention. This isn’t a warehouse of workout machines. This is a place where style moves vertically. Here, every detail reflects a belief: that how we move through a space—and up a wall—says something about who we are.
Who Built This: Three Local Families, One Vision
Greeley Climbing Collective isn’t just a gym—it’s a curated experience shaped by three Colorado families who share a belief that climbing should be expressive, inclusive, and deeply rooted in community.
Bryan Hylenski, a lifelong climber and entrepreneur, brings decades of hands-on expertise. With multiple first ascents across the globe and a résumé that includes founding climbing gyms throughout Colorado, Bryan helps steer the Collective with a focus on authenticity and longevity.
Shauna Hylenski draws from a background in healing arts, yoga, and education, infusing the gym with a deep sense of balance and sustainability. Her work with both youth and adult programs ensures the Collective fosters inner strength as much as physical ability, blending mindful movement with the challenge of the wall.
Mack Maier, an experienced climber and creative voice within the Collective, plays a key role in shaping the atmosphere and experience of the gym. While a talented climber himself, he credits their team of local route-setters for turning the walls into art installations—routes that invite expression and test problem-solving in every form.
Aaron Tellier, a seasoned marketer with 30 years of experience, uses his entrepreneurial mindset and operational insight to help power the gym’s growth from the inside out.
Heather Tellier helped bring the concept to life with a vision rooted in connection. The Collective is a family endeavor and a labor of love that allows her to work alongside her sister, Shauna, creating a space where friendships and community ties naturally form.
Heeran Joe, co-owner and bookkeeper, keeps the business running smoothly behind the scenes. Passionate about fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment, she brings hands-on leadership and meticulous care to supporting the Collective’s growth and sustainability.
Together, these three families have built more than a climbing gym. They’ve created a space where movement has meaning, style is celebrated, and community sits at the core.
Community as Culture, Not a Buzzword
Connection is the first thing you feel here. No one’s isolated behind earbuds. Climbers cheer for one another, swap advice, and laugh off tough moves together.
This spirit is clearest in the youth programs. Kids often start out hesitant, unsure of their strength. A few weeks in, they’re racing up walls, solving problems out loud with friends, and dropping down grinning whether they topped out or not. “Climbing gives them a chance to fail safely, try again, and grow from it,” Shauna says. “That’s something they take with them off the wall.”
Inclusivity isn’t just a value statement—it’s in action. Heather points to a work-study program designed to welcome individuals with special needs, offering meaningful opportunities while adding to the gym’s culture of support and kindness. “We wanted it to feel clean and functional, but also warm,” Heather says. “This is a space where our friends meet up after work—it’s personal. Everyone should feel like they belong here.”
Community here feels effortless because it’s built into the experience, not layered on top of it. Climbers show up for a workout and leave having connected with someone new.
The Style of Movement
Climbing at Greeley Climbing Collective is more than a race to the top—it’s a conversation between climber and wall. Each route is a problem to solve but also a chance to express individuality.
“Some climbers move like dancers. Some launch like gymnasts. Others pause and plan each detail like a chess match,” Mack explains. Their route-setting team, a group of talented local climbers, intentionally crafts paths for every type of mover. Graceful, dynamic, meticulous—each style has a home here.
Shauna ties it back to mindfulness. “A well-timed breath, an engaged core, a softened landing—those details matter,” she says. “That’s where strength and focus meet.”
Gear, too, tells a story. Neon chalk bags, bold-patterned harnesses, or well-worn shoes all hint at who a climber is and where they’ve been. It’s a reminder that style isn’t just what you see—it’s what you feel in motion.
Designed to Reflect, Not Impress
Much of the bouldering wall was repurposed from their Longmont location, carrying history into this new home. But the Greeley gym has its own personality.
In the retail area, black-and-white cowboy portraits quietly nod to local heritage. Upstairs, a first-of-its-kind outdoor mezzanine overlooks 8th Avenue, perfect for evening hangs or small events. Even the color palette—clean but not cold—was chosen to invite people in, not overwhelm them.
“We wanted it to be functional and high quality,” Heather says, “but still feel like a place you’d want to spend hours in.”
Every corner of the space tells you this wasn’t built to impress outsiders—it was built to belong to Greeley.
Climb Boldly. Climb Differently.
Greeley Climbing Collective isn’t just a gym. It’s a place to move, connect, and carve out your own style on the wall. Whether you’re here for a first climb, a new challenge, or simply to find your people, this is a space that celebrates who you are—on and off the wall.
Located at 1516 8th Avenue, the Collective offers easy parking just south of the building and a variety of flexible entry options, including single-day passes, 5-punch passes, and 10-punch passes. Memberships are available for adults, students, youth, partners, and families, with full access to all climbing, fitness, and yoga amenities. Weekly classes, gear discounts, and exclusive savings on climbing courses and workshops are included with every membership or pass, making it simple to experience everything the Collective has to offer.
“Climbing becomes much more than a sport—it’s a truly personal and creative act.” — Mack Maier, Co-Owner