The BRRP

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In January of 2017, the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition (RRGCC) and Access Fund, with assistance from Trango Climbing Gear, announced the purchase of the Bald Rock Recreational Preserve in the Red River Gorge of Kentucky. The acquisition secured access to a popular set of world-renowned climbing areas—including the Motherlode, the Chocolate Factory, the Bear’s Den, the Unlode, & more. The 102-acre acquisition solidified access to these areas for climbing and land conservation.

Climbers discovered the Motherlode over 25 years ago, developing some of the stiffest and steepest lines in the Red River Gorge, capable of testing the sport’s elite. Today, the Motherlode and adjoining areas offer routes that climbers of all abilities enjoy. The acquisition of this property secured access to 226 routes ranging from 5.2 to 5.14c.

In early July of 2016, the private landowners (who historically allowed climbing access) decided to sell the property, putting access to the Motherlode and surrounding crags at risk of indefinite closure. The RRGCC approached the landowners and began negotiations to purchase the property to prevent it from falling into non-climbing friendly hands. The RRGCC approached Access Fund for a loan of $225,000 to cover the majority of the $235,000 purchase price. In 2011, the Ventura Family (owners of Miguel’s Pizza) purchased the land above the cliff line, and now the RRGCC’s purchase of the land beneath the cliff line and the surrounding areas ensures that these iconic crags are climber-owned.

“I think we’ve all woken up before and had things taken away from us,” says Paul Vidal of the RRGCC. “And for us to be able to secure and know tomorrow morning that we’ll be able to go climb at the Motherlode and Chocolate Factory—that is arguably one of the most important things we can do here in the Red River Gorge.”

Access Fund provided the RRGCC with transaction expertise and financing through its Climbing Conservation Loan Program. “It’s always an honor to work with the RRGCC,” says Access Fund Access Director Joe Sambataro. “We are thrilled to have helped secure access to climbing at one of the country’s most iconic crags.”

At Rocktoberfest in 2021, the RRGCC announced the final mortgage payment on Bald Rock Recreational Preserve and it is now perpetually secured for climbing and conservation of the lands we recreate on. “It’s too much of a risk to leave routes this beautiful and this popular up in the air and not in climber hands,” said former RRGCC President Yasmeen Fowler. “If you love these areas as much as we do...please [support the RRGCC] today.”