White Paper

Proposal of the Establishment of a Climbing Hall of Fame

Abstract:

The Climbing Hall of Fame seeks to annually honor legendary climbers, celebrating their remarkable achievements across various climbing disciplines. This proposal outlines the structure, features, and potential first inductees for the Hall of Fame, along with considerations for funding.

Is there a Climbing Hall of Fame?

There isn’t a universally recognized “Climbing Hall of Fame”  However there are climbing awards, such as the Piolet d’Or, which is an annual mountaineering award recognizing significant alpine achievements.  Additionally, certain climbing organizations and magazines may have their own hall of fame or recognition programs.

Other Climbing Museums

American Mountaineering Museum - Golden, CO

Mountaineeringmusuem.org

Other Similar Hall of Fames

 

  • Population - 1,867
  • 260,000 Annual Visitors
  • Average Annual Salary - $76,981
Baseball Hall of Fame - Cooperstown, NY
  • Population - 70,426
  • Annual Visitors - 200,000
  • Average Annual Salary - $42,556
Pro Football Hall of Fame - Canton, OH
Tennis Hall of Fame - Newport, RI
  • Population - 25,156
  • Annual Visitors - 15,000
Basketball Hall of Fame - New Castle, IN
  • Population - 17,424
  • Annual Visitors - 200,000

Proposed Location

Within the City limits of Campton, KY, Wolfe County

Campton, KY (Wolfe County) - Population - 6507 (2021)

- More specific location to be determined in the future

Why Wolfe County?

With a population in 2021 of 6,507 and a median household income $19,310.  According to Wikipedia, Wolfe County is the poorest county in the United States, by median household income (in 2021).

Building a National Recognized tourist attraction like a Hall of Fame could create hundreds of local jobs for the people of Wolfe County and also bring in Millions and Millions of Dollars annually to the local economy.

 

Wolfe County is in the Heart of the Red River Gorge and “the Red” as it is called by the climbing community is one of the top sport climbing destinations in the world.  According to a 2020 study done by EKU’s Division of Regional Economic Assessment and Modeling (Dream)  the Red gets 102,000 climber visits per year.  

Considering the positive economic impact to a low income area and the proximity and interest in climbing in Wolfe County, the proposed location is ideal for having a steady stream of interested visitors, along with a positive local economic impact.

Key Components:

  • Annually it inducts three to four legendary climbers.
  • Inductees receive a prestigious recognition, potentially in the form of a bronze bust or climbing-related artifact.
  • Hosts a grand ceremony to commemorate the achievements of the inductees.
Induction Process:
Museum:
Comparison with Existing Halls of Fame:
  • While there isn't an universally recognized Climbing Hall of Fame, existing climbing awards like the Piolet d'Or exist.
  • Notable climbing-related museums include the American Mountaineering Museum in Golden, CO, and the Museum of Boulder in Boulder, CO.
  • The Climbing Hall of Fame aims to differentiate itself by encompassing all aspects of climbing, including Sport/Rock Climbing, Bouldering, Mountaineering, Alpine Climbing, Adaptive, Indoor/Artificial, Big Wall, Ice Climbing, and Traditional Climb.

 

 

  • Accompanies the Hall of Fame with a comprehensive museum showcasing the history and evolution of climbing.
  • Invites climbers worldwide to donate significant items, such as gear used in iconic climbs.
  • Examples of potential donations: Alex Honnold's shoes from the free solo of Dawn Wall, Adam Ondra’s harness from his first 5.15d.

Differentiated Museum Sections

  • Alpinism
  • Rock Climbing
  • Bouldering
  • Big Wall Climbing
  • Search and Rescue
  • History of Climbing
Potential First Inductees
  • Yvon Chouinard
  • Reinhold Messner
  • Jimmy Chin
Funding
  • Estimated initial costs start at $2 million, subject to variation based on size and location.
  • Funding sources include a mix of private and public contributions:
    • Private: Outdoor-related foundations, private individual donors
    • Public: State grants, national grants, etc.

This proposal outlines a plan to establish the Climbing Hall of Fame, recognizing the achievements of climbers across various disciplines and providing a platform to preserve the rich history of climbing. Through a well-curated museum and annual induction ceremonies, the Climbing Hall of Fame aims to become a landmark institution in the climbing community and a national destination in the heart of Eastern Kentucky.

Prepared by Eric Wolterman, ericwolterman@gmail.com, January, 2024

VOLUNTEER