Lohse Family YMCA

It has its pros and cons. It's a very large, sprawling, well-maintained facility, and there's a pool. If you are coming for certain machines or classes or the pool and are already experienced with them, it's good. If you have young kids and need care or are looking for activities for kids or families, it could be a good choice. If you don't want to be crowded or surrounded by gym bros and half naked girls with full faces of makeup taking selfies, it's good in most areas. The weight area can be iffy with the gym bros hogging equipment and giving weird looks to anyone who's not a male under 25 at certain times of day, but for the most part, it's not an issue. There's definitely more diversity with ages and sizes than a lot of gyms I've been to, which could make it a really good fit for all people who avoid the gym because they're self-conscious or get treated like crap at other gyms. The staff at the front desk is friendly, but so far I'm not sure I've ever seen staff anywhere other than the front desk. The fees are quite a bit more than the chain gyms I've been to, and if you're driving, you need to factor in potential parking costs on top of the actual membership for this location. Some days there are ways to get around it if you're not staying over an hour at a time and you time it just right. The large, sprawling layout can be frustrating if you're trying to find anything other than the main area, as there are no maps, little-to-no signage, and the names of several of the studios don't match the names on the app to sign up for group classes. You just have to allow extra time and make a point of asking at the front desk if you want to find anything. The group class schedule is primarily during the day and seems to change fairly frequently, but there are a few evening or early morning classes if you work an 8-5 job. If you're not already experienced with the classes or equipment, it can also be frustrating and discouraging, and you just have to kind of stumble through and try to figure things out on your own and hope you're not going to injure yourself or get an insufficient workout. If you're going to a group class, just again allow for extra time and make a point of asking instructors to explain what you need, where to get it, etc. if you want to be able to participate or have your presence be acknowledged. Otherwise, you may just end up paying significantly more to use basic equipment like ellipticals, treadmills, stationary bikes that you could use for a lot less somewhere else....or getting frustrated, giving up, and hiding in the airnasium and basically paying to walk outside, which is what I end up doing sometimes lol If you're very experienced and/or very proactive and/or very confident already about going to the gym and cost isn't a concern, this is probably a good choice. If you try the 7-day trial and love everything, it should work for you long-term (with the exception of making the choice based on certain classes at certain times, as they're likely to get cancelled or change). If everything isn't great during the trial, I would look for somewhere else, as most suggestions and requests for support will fall on deaf ears (though they do have personal trainers you can pay additional money to potentially get further help from). It's a very nice facility with a lot of good qualities (not crowded, inclusive, well-maintained, pool), but there are also cons (I would say the biggest being cost and parking) and areas for improvement that seem unlikely to ever be improved based on the responses I've gotten.

2 weeks ago

I've been a member for one year and am very happy to have joined the Lohse Family YMCA. The facility and equipment are maintained well and it's always clean. Additionally it seems to be a good "melting pot" of its environment. Keep up the good works!

7 months ago

Great gym. My son and I were visiting and did a day pass. Tons of equipment- great free weight room.

4 months ago

The Lohse Family YMCA is hands down the best in the city. The staff there is absolutely incredible - they go above and beyond to make you feel welcome. The new equipment - it's top-notch. You won't find a friendlier bunch of people anywhere else. l've been a member for 19 years and would never even consider going anywhere else. Seriously, I love this place. Trust me, you need to check it out. R.Garcia

2 years ago

We've been coming here for 10 years and love this place. The staff is super friendly, the facility is nice and the upgrades they just made are fantastic. My favorite new addition is the bike rack they installed just inside the entrance, it makes it extremely convenient to ride our bikes to and from each morning.

2 years ago