The first time Marissa Lee walked into State Climb, she wasn’t the director. She wasn’t even a climber. It was February 2020, and Marissa was trying indoor rock climbing for the very first time. Little did she know that first visit would turn into something much bigger and eventually lead her to become Director of the very place where she first caught the climbing bug.
Today, Marissa is helping State Climb create a space where everyone has a chance to climb, challenge themselves, and find their community. For Marissa, climbing has never been just about reaching the top of the wall. It’s about what happens along the way. Climbing challenges you physically, pushes you mentally beyond your comfort zone, and creates opportunities to connect with the people around you. That’s why making climbing accessible is so important to her.
State Climb welcomes people of all ages, incomes, and experience levels, believing that everyone should have access to the benefits of trying something new and challenging themselves. Whether you’re looking for a new way to stay active, planning a fun family outing, searching for your next challenge, or simply looking for a place to connect with others, there’s room for you at State Climb.
And when you walk through the doors, Marissa hopes you feel it right away: welcome, supported, and ready to challenge yourself.
That same sense of community is something Marissa appreciates about Culpeper Downtown. She loves the energy of downtown; the variety of locally owned restaurants and cafés, the shops, and all the little places that make spending a day downtown feel special. With a two-year-old, Wear It Again has become one of her regular stops. When she wants to treat herself, she heads to Fulton Found for a high-quality garment, and a massage from Collage Spa is always a welcomed birthday treat. As a perk for State Climb employees, the team gets what they affectionately call a “shifty”—a free drink from Fulton Moto. And according to Marissa, it’s a perk the team is more than happy to use because the coffee is amazing!
It’s easy to see why Marissa feels at home downtown. Her story is one of those that makes a community feel connected: she discovered something new here, found a place where she belonged, and now helps create that same experience for others.
So, whether you’re an experienced climber or someone who has never touched a climbing wall, Marissa has a simple invitation: come give it a try. You might just catch the climbing bug, too.
Ready to give indoor rock climbing a try? Visit State Climb at 115 E. Locust Street! They’re open Monday through Friday from 3pm-10pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am-8pm. Stop by, challenge yourself, and see what all the climbing buzz is about!