Two avid rock climbers have high hopes for the idle grain silos visible near the junction of Interstates 80 and 480.
Rick Brock and Ron Safarik plan to transform the former Farmland Foods property near 34th and Vinton Streets into Silo Extreme Outdoor Adventures, using some of the 62 silos as climbing walls.
It's unlikely that Interstate drivers will see climbers on the sides of the 180-foot high silos, though.
As part of their efforts to obtain a special-use permit, Brock and Safarik said they likely will agree not to use the silos closest to the interstate for climbing. Some city officials have expressed concerns that Interstate drivers would be distracted by the climbers, Brock said.
"We don't have to use those silos near the Interstate," he said. "I'm willing to work with them."
The Omaha Planning Board was expected to consider the request at this afternoon's meeting.
The City Council would have the final say.
"I hope everything falls into place," said Brock, 44, of Omaha. "It's a neat deal to be climbing in Nebraska."
The facility would be open to the public and cater to groups and organizations for work outings or team-building activities. Brock said he also plans to have a 30- to 40-foot-high rope obstacle course, an ice-climbing wall, an indoor bouldering gym and a picnic area.
Brock and Safarik said they're confident the project will attract a following among avid climbers in search of a tall outdoor space.
"There's nothing in Nebraska to climb," Brock said. "I've climbed mountains, and when I climb the silos, you get that same feeling. It's an adrenaline rush."
Omahan Gabe Kenne said he's been into rock climbing for a couple of years and has been unable to find an outdoor climbing spot in the Omaha area. He's watching the silo project.
"If it goes up, I'll definitely spend a lot of time there," said Kenne, who works at Backwoods.
Indoor climbing facilities are available at the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Health, Physical Education and Recreation facility and several fitness clubs, including Life Time Fitness and the Southwest YMCA.
Brock and Safarik, who are longtime friends and former neighbors in Omaha, got into the sport about four years ago when they decided to try a rock-climbing wall at Dick's Sporting Goods that since has been closed.
Money for the silo project, which will cost $150,000 to $200,000, will come from private investors, Brock said. Olsson Associates is handling the design work and site layout plans.
"I think it's a good project," said City Councilman Garry Gernandt, whose district includes the property. "So far, (Brock) seems to be a good neighbor. He keeps neighbors informed on what he's doing, and that's a good thing."
Gernandt said he hasn't heard any negative comments about the project from residents of the neighborhood.
Bill Sole Sr., whose backyard backs to the silos, said he has been pleased with the progress of cleanup work on the property. He said he's looking forward to the property's being secure. For several years, he said, he has had to run kids off the property.
Across the street from Sole, Linda Foreman said that although she would rather see the entire structure torn down so she could see the sun rise, she's glad it might get a makeover.
"I'm excited to see someone get in there and do something with it," said Foreman, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1962.
"This is a way to give back to the community," said Safarik, 47, of Austin, Texas. "This is a great way to get youth involved in a great sport that's not only physical but a confidence-builder as well."
The concept has worked in other cities, including Oklahoma City and Dallas.
At Upper Limits in Bloomington, Ill., adventure seekers climb beginning to advanced routes on four 65-foot silos.
"We have been in business for almost 15 years," said Dan Evans, Upper Limits' assistant manager. "It is really big, especially for Boy Scouts. For a lot of people, I think it's the novelty of it. The fact that Illinois is so flat but there's still the opportunity to climb is what makes it so popular."
Brock and Safarik created their business concept about three years ago and started looking for an Omaha elevator to buy. There weren't many options.
The former Scoular grain elevator east of Interstate 480 wasn't for sale, and the former Farmland elevator had been purchased by someone else who was working on a similar concept.
John Buckley bought the Farmland elevator in 2004 with hopes of turning it into a climbing-wall complex. He and a few fellow business students from the University of Nebraska at Omaha won an entrepreneurship competition and $2,500 for their plan, which called mostly for climbing activities on the inside.
Buckley said Planning Department restrictions made it difficult to do anything inside the buildings, and he wasn't able to move forward.
In September, Buckley sold the property to Brock.
Brock said he plans to first offer only outdoor climbing on six to eight silos. Eventually he will provide indoor space suitable for climbing and a boulder-climbing area.
Buckley, 29, said he's excited to see Brock's plan progressing.
"We think it will be awesome," said Buckley, who has been a climber for about seven years.
"He has done a great job so far. We plan on climbing there when he opens."
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