THE HOLY BOULDERS
HISTORY
The story of the Holy Boulders is one of urgency, community, and a shared belief that some places are simply too special to lose. In 2012, when a quiet 80-acre farmstead in Southern Illinois went up for sale, the future of one of the Midwest’s most beloved climbing areas suddenly hung in the balance. Beneath overgrown brush and storm-felled trees lay a landscape of striking sandstone boulders—an irreplaceable resource that climbers knew deserved protection.
Recognizing what was at stake, Access Fund moved quickly. Using more than $300,000 from its Climbing Conservation Loan Program (CCLP), the organization purchased the property to prevent it from being lost to private development. What could have been the end of access instead became the beginning of a long-term conservation effort rooted in partnership and vision.
Even in its rough condition, the Holy Boulders revealed its magic.
The sandstone formations, often compared to those of Fontainebleau, offered perfect friction and elegant, sculpted lines. Word spread quickly. From elite climbers to weekend visitors, people traveled from across the country to experience the area’s now more than 350 established problems, each one adding to the growing reputation of this hidden gem.
After acquiring the land, Access Fund began the careful work of making the project sustainable. Portions of the surrounding farm were subdivided and sold, reducing the original loan by over $100,000. At the same time, the local climbing community — organized through the ICA — stepped forward in a major way, raising more than $100,000 through grassroots efforts, competitions, and grants, including support from the Conservation Alliance.
The land itself also began to transform. With help from the Access Fund-Jeep Conservation Team, volunteers improved trails and restored access throughout the property. What was once overgrown became a welcoming and sustainable climbing environment, shaped by countless hours of hands-on stewardship.
In 2016, a major milestone was reached. Ownership of the remaining 46 acres was transferred to the ICA, marking a shift from rescue to long-term care. With that transfer came responsibility—the ICA assumed the remaining loan balance and committed to managing the land as a permanent resource for climbers and the broader community.
As the years passed, the finish line came into view. In 2019, the ICA launched its final fundraising campaign, “Written In Stone,” inviting supporters to leave a lasting mark by contributing to the final payment. The response was overwhelming. Combined with proceeds from the Final Testament bouldering competition, the community raised enough to pay off the loan a full year early.
On November 2, 2019, during the Final Testament event, the last payment was made. With that, the Holy Boulders were secured forever—fully owned and protected by the climbing community that had fought to save them. It was a moment that marked not just the end of a loan, but the culmination of years of dedication, collaboration, and belief.
Today, the Holy Boulders stand as a testament to what can happen when a community comes together with purpose. With a permanent conservation easement held by Access Fund and ongoing stewardship led by the ICA, the land is protected for future generations. And as funds from the repaid loan return to the CCLP, the impact continues—helping to save the next threatened climbing area, and the next story waiting to be written.
ACCESS DETAILS
The existing parking area and approach off Macedonia Road remains the current point of access for the Holy Boulders. Please remember that parking and the initial approach are on Shawnee National Forest.
We encourage leave no trace practices at all of our properties.
Without the local expertise, passion, and dedication of climbers Matt Bliss, Phillip Carrier, Dave Chancellor, Leif Faber, Jim Thurmond, Jason Kehl and many others, this victory for the climbing community would not have been possible. Click the button below to see all who are written in stone at the Holy Boulders.