Growing up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and later in Bainbridge, Georgia, Paul’s early life was steeped in the values of family, respect, and hard work, instilled by his father, a Southern Baptist pastor. While sports were a part of his high school experience, the world of rock climbing remained undiscovered. It wasn’t until college, while studying Psychology at Samford University in Birmingham, AL, that a chance encounter set him on a path he could never have imagined.
The pivotal moment arrived at a wedding where Paul met Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A. Invited to visit Cathy’s WinShape camp in North Georgia, Paul was introduced to the world of ropes courses and, more importantly, rock climbing. A promotional video showcasing kids climbing at Sandrock, Alabama, ignited a spark. Taking a summer job as a camp counselor, Paul experienced rock climbing firsthand, an experience he describes as “the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life.” Equipped with rudimentary harnesses and sneakers, he was captivated by the sport’s unique blend of physical and mental challenge.
This newfound passion led to further opportunities at WinShape. Offered a central staff position after graduating in 1991, Paul became the Adventure Coordinator, overseeing rock climbing, ropes courses, and canoe programs. This role provided invaluable training in setting up top rope systems and managing ropes courses, laying the foundation for his future endeavors.
It was during this time that Paul’s entrepreneurial spirit began to emerge. He envisioned combining rock climbing and ropes courses for corporate team building, recognizing a growing demand for experiential learning in the business world. Teaming up with his friend Luke, Paul developed a proposal to utilize the WinShape facilities year-round for corporate retreats. In a bold move, the pair, armed with ties and briefcases, pitched their idea to Dan Cathy at Chick-fil-A headquarters. Despite initially requesting salaries, Paul and Luke agreed to test their concept, leading to the creation of WinShape Wilderness, a program that still thrives today. This early venture, though under the umbrella of WinShape, provided Paul with his first taste of business development and client interaction.
However, as the seasons changed and the outdoor program slowed, Paul received an unexpected job offer from a TV advertising agency in San Antonio, TX. He transitioned to working for Kaleidoscope TV, a cable channel focused on the disabled community, an experience that broadened his perspective and introduced him to remarkable individuals like Donna, a former Miss Wheelchair America, and Kim Powers, a deaf-blind activist with her own TV show.
Despite finding fulfillment in this work, Paul’s entrepreneurial drive remained. He describes his early ventures, from mowing lawns to lemonade stands, as unconscious steps towards his true calling. His time at WinShape Wilderness, while valuable, lacked the personal investment he craved. “It was easy to pretend I was an entrepreneur but it was real easy to try to spend a billionaire’s money,” he reflects.
This realization prompted a significant shift. Paul moved to Fort Worth and enrolled in Southwestern Seminary with the intention of becoming a Christian counselor specializing in adventure-based therapy. To support himself, he worked as a hall director at TCU, managing a dormitory full of freshmen – an experience he jokingly compares to “fires, fire alarms, dumps in the hallway, and no sleep to say the least.” While at TCU, he was trained on a newly built ropes course by Adventure Experiences Inc. (AEI). This connection led to a summer job opportunity at AEI’s Colorado facility, nestled in the Taylor Park area near Gunnison and Crested Butte at a breathtaking 10,000 ft elevation. From 1993 to 1994, Paul immersed himself in the outdoor adventure world, guiding backpacking, climbing, white water rafting, fly fishing, ropes courses, and orienteering in a remote environment devoid of internet and with limited phone access.
During the summer of 1993, life took a poignant turn when Paul received news of his father’s cancer diagnosis. His father’s passing in the spring of 1994 led to a reconnection with Terri, his dad’s best friend’s niece. Having first met as children, their relationship blossomed through heartfelt letters exchanged during Paul’s time in Colorado. This long-distance courtship culminated in marriage in November 1994.
Rock climbing remained a constant in Paul’s life, and Terri embraced his passion. A cherished photograph captures them climbing Dome Driver at Enchanted Rock, a testament to their shared adventures. While Paul modestly describes himself as not the strongest climber, he found immense satisfaction in facilitating climbing experiences for others. His focus shifted from personal achievement to the transformative impact of climbing on individuals.
Working for AEI, Paul’s role as Assistant Director of Training involved extensive travel, training individuals across the country in ropes course management and adventure activities. It was during one of these training sessions that he met the assistant superintendent of Huntsville ISD, leading to a new chapter in his career.
In 1995, Paul accepted a teaching position at Huntsville ISD, working with at-risk youth at an alternative school. He also oversaw the school’s ropes course and developed the Huntsville Leadership Academy, a two-week program that combined team building, outdoor skills, and community engagement. This experience further solidified his belief in the power of experiential education and its ability to foster personal growth and leadership.
By 1997, the entrepreneurial itch returned, and Paul launched his own ropes course company, Team Synergy. Initially guiding Boy Scout climbing trips to Enchanted Rock, he soon realized the market was saturated and shifted his focus to ropes courses and training. A serendipitous call from a camp needing ropes course construction led him to learn the construction trade from a knowledgeable neighbor.
As Team Synergy grew, so did Paul’s family. In 1998, Terri became pregnant with their son Drew. Despite lacking formal construction experience, Paul found himself building increasingly complex ropes courses across multiple states. “Every time that phone needed to ring where I needed money, it always rang,” he recalls, attributing his success to “Divine Providence.” Locally, he built a climbing wall at the Fort Bend YMCA and expanded his reach to schools in Pennsylvania. Team Synergy, initially run from a spare bedroom, eventually necessitated selling their house to accommodate the growing business.
The concept for Inspire Rock emerged in 1999 when a Houston property owner contacted Paul about building and operating a rock gym at a facility near Mangum and 290. While leasing wasn’t Paul’s preferred model, the idea of running a rock gym took root. He embarked on a research mission, contacting gym owners nationwide to learn the intricacies of the business. Inspired by a gym owner who started with a portable rock wall, Paul sought a loan from his grandmother to purchase one. Securing the loan, he acquired a portable wall from Eldorado Climbing Walls in January 2000, driving to Colorado to pick it up – the first tangible step towards Inspire Rock.
The portable wall became the centerpiece of the Rock Solid Character Program, a mobile initiative Paul and his mother, Rebecca Short, developed to teach character education in schools. Using climbing handholds as metaphors, they taught children about “Seven Handholds for Success”: Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, Trustworthiness, Caring and Cooperation, Courage and Perseverance. Paul estimates reaching 400,000 students, parents, and teachers with this program, using the climbing wall to illustrate the connection between choices and consequences – “If you make good choices when climbing which way do you go? Up. If you make poor choices when climbing which way do you go? Down. And that principle is the same way in life.”
In 2004, Paul began formalizing his vision for a full-scale rock gym, engaging with Rockwerx for consulting and researching successful gym models. He sought property in Spring, TX in 2005 and began the arduous process of securing funding. Despite initial rejections from traditional investors, those who believed in his dream rallied to provide seed money. However, banks remained hesitant, viewing a climbing gym as a risky, single-use facility. Paul had to demonstrate the gym’s potential for broader appeal and long-term sustainability. Even with support from Lehman Brothers and the SBA, bank after bank declined his loan applications. One banker famously questioned, “I don’t get it why would I come to your place, I get it to come once but I climb all your walls why would I want to come back?” Paul patiently explained the dynamic nature of route setting and the ever-evolving climbing experience, but skepticism persisted.
The 2008 economic crash further compounded the challenges. Paul held onto the land, facing mounting interest and taxes, unable to build. Listing the property for sale, he felt like he was “swimming with a pair of cement shorts.” An offer finally materialized, but a tax discrepancy delayed the sale, ultimately leading to the hotel developers backing out.
By 2011 and 2012, Paul reached a breaking point. His dream of Inspire Rock seemed to be slipping away, causing him profound grief. Yet, in a moment of surrender, praying on his porch under the stars, a shift occurred. “God if you want me to go bankrupt, I guess I get to go bankrupt. If you’re big enough to handle that then I guess I need to be big enough to handle that too,” he prayed. Following this moment of acceptance, a private investor emerged, transforming the project from budget cuts to expansion.
Paul’s vision for Inspire Rock broadened. He brought on his brother-in-law Charlie to run a café, added a retail store, and included a childcare center, recognizing the needs of the climbing community. He hired professional climber Josh Haynes as head routesetter, ensuring a high-quality climbing experience.
Inspire Rock finally opened its doors in December 2013. For Paul, each day walking into the gym is a “gift,” witnessing people enjoying the space he painstakingly created. He remains deeply involved in all aspects of the gym’s operation, from maintenance to customer service.
The trials and tribulations of building Inspire Rock have equipped Paul and his team to navigate the ongoing challenges of running a successful gym. Staffing and communicating the realities of working in a climbing gym are key priorities. Paul emphasizes to potential staff that “Climbers love to climb but we don’t get paid to climb. We get paid to help others climb.” This service-oriented philosophy is central to Inspire Rock’s culture.
Paul values the dedication of his long-term staff, including Keith Vander Wall, Nicole Menasco, and Katie Hobson, who share his passion for helping others discover climbing. His “baby” analogy – “Welcome to Inspire. This is my baby. I love my baby but I can’t raise my baby by myself. I need your help” – underscores the sense of ownership and shared responsibility he fosters within his team. His unwavering goal is not just to be good, but to be great, a principle he applies to all aspects of his life.
Looking back, Paul views his entire journey with Inspire Rock as a success. His greatest achievement is “that other people love this place as much as I do.” He is particularly proud of Inspire Rock’s youth competitive climbing team, Team Orange Crush, and the incredible progress of young climbers. He marvels at the evolution of climbing and the supportive community it fosters.
“Climbing is an activity that rubs off on your personality,” Paul observes. He is inspired by the climbers he encounters, their passion, commitment, and willingness to support each other. He values the honest feedback from the climbing community, even the criticisms. He celebrates the growth of the Houston climbing scene, recognizing Inspire Rock’s role in fostering a more unified community.
Looking to the future, Paul is committed to maintaining Inspire Rock as a teaching gym, emphasizing safety and responsible climbing practices, especially amidst the growth of the sport. He is mindful of the liability concerns in the gym industry and prioritizes a strict safety policy.
Paul acknowledges the influence of John Muse from Stone Moves, whose support, particularly in hosting competitions and assisting the Inspire Rock climbing team, has been invaluable. He also recognizes Morgan Young’s pivotal role in the gym’s growth and appreciates the humility and inspiration of visiting professional climbers like Cody Roth. Above all, he expresses deep gratitude for his staff and his wife Terri, the “unsung hero” who has been his steadfast partner throughout the entire Inspire Rock journey.
From a hopeful post on climbing forums in 2007 to the bustling reality of Inspire Rock today, Paul Short’s story is a powerful reminder that inspiration, like rock climbing itself, is often found in the ascent, overcoming challenges, and reaching for new heights. Inspire Rock stands as a physical embodiment of this journey, inviting everyone to find their own inspiration within its walls.
