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Guys, let's build up a list of recommended gyms all in one thread - this one.

If not gay, at least gay-friendly.

I can seed it with a couple....and am requesting information for San Diego and Houston.

Palm Springs, CA - World Gym

Corte Madera, CA - World Gym (friendly)

Chicago, Illinois: Cheetah Gym

I've only ever been to one gym, my gym, except for the occasional hotel/resort. Do most gyms have guest policies? We have a local Y that I'd love to join because of the Olympic sized pool, but, one has to purchase a full memebership. Not worth it.

Minneapolis: gay friendly ... Los Campeones Gym

From what I've found, most indy gyms will be glad to issue a day pass for you, particularly if you call ahead by a couple of days and talk with the manager/owner. The Y, unfortunately, not so much.

Golds Gym, Oakland CA....friendly. Also, large space with redundant free weight and machine stations, and a separate floor for cardio/stretching rooms/gymnasim

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Ballys, Aurora (Denver), CO....I can't tell if this is got a large gay clientele. But if you are needing a workout by the Denver airport, this is the largest gym I have seen in my life. It's got an Olympic size pool, a hot tub, an indoor (200 meters) track, a gymnasium, a bottom floor about three times the size of a college basketball floor with machines/cardio, and two decent size rooms upstairs with free weights.

Also, if you stay at the La Quinta or the Best Western nearby you get free entry.

John

My place of work, Student Recreation Facility at the UIC campus.

Hit me up in private if you want to check the place out.

12th St Gym Philadelphia

bally's total fitness....Montebello,CA

Boston Sports Club - Harrison Ave(South End), Boston, MA

Boston Sports Club Copley- Boston, MA

San Francisco:

Gold's Brannan for the gay locals.

Gold's Castro if you're staying in the Castro and need a gym. Also super gay.

UCSF Bakar for the best outdoor, on-the-roof pool. Love it.

In New York, David Barton Chelsea is probably the gayest gym. They even have DJs spinning in the space. Equinox Fitness is extremely gay-friendly. Some of NYSC's locations are gay friendly.

Salt Lake City, UT - Sugarhouse 24 Hour Fitness
Phoenix, AZ - LA Fitness on Camelback

Bally Total Fitness in Cambridge MA has a lot of gay members and some gay trainers, though the clientele is predominantly straight.

I go to Planet Fitness (friendly) near Albany, NY, but they have locations throughout the US. They're very inexpensive, they're the "Judgment Free Zone", and it's a very nice place to go to in my experience.

Lifetime Fitness - San Antonio (1604 & 281).

I've got the 24 Hour Fitness Pearl near downtown Portland, as well as the 24 Hour in the Hollywood neighborhood in Portland to add here. Definitely gayfriendly.

How about Equinox, not up to date with equipment, and has odd names like Body Masters, and Cybex, equipment. Looking for Nike machines.

David Barton in Chelsea, NYC 8/10 Gayness factor

Equinox Fitness, Greenwich Avenue, NYC 7/10

** Sobe Sports Club - Alton Rd Miami Beach Gay Friendly

** Main Street Gym - Wilton Manors Rd Ft Lauderdale Way Gay

World Gym in downtown Columbus, Ohio & 24 Hour Fitness in downtown Dallas

Here in the throbbing gay metropolis of Fairfield, Iowa, the gym to go to is the Roosevelt Community Recreation Center.

An FYI to those heading to Albany or elsewhere. JRossi - I appreciate your post, but are you guys aware that Planet Fitness purchased the World Gym chain in November of 2006? Planet Fitness will throw you out if you grunt, lift agressively, drop weights, etc - because they want to be family friendly and a "judgement free" environment. If you're a bodybuilder, AVOID THEM. THEY DO NOT WANT YOU. If you're just going in for a light fitness workout, it shouldn't be a problem.

References: http://www.epinions.com/Planet_Fitness/display_~reviews

http://laurietobyedison.com/discuss/?p=316

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=107246.msg%25msg_id%25

Hey guys what about HOUSTON? LA fitness?

Houston: Club Houston or Midtown Spa two places you can work out and meet guys and have some fun and relaxation.

What about places other than bath houses?!

Personally I like the Planet Fitness Gym in Branford CT. I've been going there about 9 months now. I suppose its gay friendly since I've never seen or heard any homophobic comments or actions. Since I'm not there to cruise, that aspect isn't a perspective that I would or could address at that gym although I have a few gay friends who workout there. It's run by Mike Katz so there are plenty of huge BB guys there doing workouts I aspire to.

As for the no grunting rule, it's not an issue for me. They are more than fully equipt with all kinds of weights and cable machinery. No less than the Golds of my past.

I used to go to a Golds gym (when I lived in a different area) where there where a couple of guys (and not neccesarily body builders) who used to grunt so loudly it was startling. Kind of dangerous to me because I was startled when I was lowering a heavy weight. Additionally, back then I used to workout at the same time as a guy who was a national champion and he never grunted. He was quiet and concentrated.

If you need to grunt or scream, fine, go to a gym that allows it. I've never seen any correlation to grunting and success in bodybuilding. It seems to more often (not always though) be associated with macho posturing than with genuine concentration and/or dedication to the workout.

Just one man's opinion.

In Philadelphia:

12th St Gym
Sweat(Fitler Square/Queen Village/Broad St)
LA Fitness City Line Avenue
Philadelphia Sports Clubs (Most Locations in city limits)

BG, while I completely agree with you that lots of loud noise and drama is more macho bullshit than good lifting technique, the way the rule seems to be implemented at Planet Fitness is subject to the whim of local management. Heavy breathing can be enough to set them off... I've also heard rumors to the effect that the heavier dumbbells have been removed from some Planet Fitness gyms - can you verify that?

Some of us need heavy weights to do our workouts. I'm not the strongest guy in our gym by any means, but 120# db's are part of my program. Can you tell me what your gym goes up to?

Like I said - if you're looking for a general fitness workout, PF is probably fine.

Joey,

I guess we're lucky at our gym. There's no weight restrictions anywhere, and I've seen guys using massive and impressive amounts of weight without scrutiny. The rules that you talk about are posted but I've always thought that it had to do with infringing on the workouts of others, or safety. Since the [local] gym is owned by Mike Katz and managed by him and his son, the idea of doing things that would discourage 'major' bodybuilders is not there.

There are also decline benches there. I've been in enough situations where people take rules that have one intent and blindly apply them to all.

As to the highest DB, since I've not used one yet higher than 70# (look at me compared to you and you'll see why - I'd love to have your mass but I know there's a lot of time and effort needed for that and I'm working at it patiently and progresively). I know there are plenty higher, but I've never noticed the top limit. In the free weight area, there are a lot of machines/bars that allow you to put the weights to whatever level you need and aren't limited the way a cable machine might be.

Does anyone know of some good gay friendly gyms in Tampa Florida

The list of recommended gyms grew nicely for a while - but it's geting quiet!

Come on, Guys - I know there are more gyms worth mentioning out there - we've got requests on the table for:

San Diego
Houston
Tampa

UrbanBody Gym & Juicebar in North Park (San Diego), CA.

It's a little more expensive than some of the other gyms but I like it because it's never crowded, the guys that work there are cool. The music is always loud and the lights aren't bright like at some gyms where you go and feel like there's a spotlight above your head.

My very favorite gym in Phoenix is Gold's Gym in Ahwatukee (a suburb in the southernmost part of Phoenix, AZ). My favorite thing about this gym is that I almost never have to wait to use equiptment when I'm there (then again, I go kind of late). When I did go durning the day, there were always enough plates and dumbells (spelling?). If you're a mostly into lifting, this is a great place, no matter what your level. There is no pool, but they do have quite a bit of group classes. The other thing I REALLY like is there aren't many women there (no offense to women), so you're not getting stuck waiting behind some guy who is spending more of his time chatting chatting boobzilla than working out.
On the gay friendly part, I've been working out there for about 5-6 years and have never had any kind of issues with harassment. I would also say that there are quite a few of gay men that workout there (but you wouldn't know it half the time), but it isn't cruisy.

Hi guys -

I travel a lot in the midwest and have found these gyms fun. I like it when they have at least a steam room in locker room (a tub and sauna are even better). Naked with other dudes - FUN! Most of these have day passes. At home, I belong to the Y so I can always have somewhere to work out.

Also, many fitness clubs are part of IHRSA where you can work out if your club is also a member. To find the list of clubs, go to www.healthclubs.com

I will list the clubs I know on another post

Omaha - Y Downtown, 24 hour fitness in West Omaha

Lincoln - Prairie Life Center

Wichita - Genesis on Central

Tulsa - Y Downtown

OK City -Lighthouse fitness

Dallas - the gym at the Galleria - can't remember the name, Lifetime

Little Rock - Little Rock Athletic Club

Fayetteville, AR - Fayetteville Athletic Club

St. Louis - Y in Clayton, Y in Chesterfield

Kansas City - Y Downtown, Praire Life Fitness - Overland Park, Golds - Overland Park

Chicago - Lakeshore Athletic Club - downtown

Springfield, MO - Y off of S. BAttlefield

Okay let's see if I can get to ten:

San Francisco: Gold's Gym at Brannan St.
San Francisco: Gold's Gym on Castro
Palm Springs: World Gym
Washington DC: Results on U St.
LA/West Hollywood: Crunch on Sunset (a little young and pretty for my taste)
LA/West Hollywood: Gold's on Cole Ave. (great guys , serious lifters but way too busy from 4-8 PM)
Philadelphia: 12th St. Gym (It's a rabbit warren but friendly guys, enormous space and decent equipment).
Vancouver (Canada): Denman Fitness
UPDATE: Went to Denman last week and it is *Really* rundown
Boston: Metropolitan Health Club (South End, on Columbus)
Chicago: The Sweat Shop on Broadway

I just worked out at the 24 Hour Fitness at Sugarhouse in Salt Lake City . . . mixed crowd (which was nice) and OK equipment. As you have probably figured out by now I travel too much!!

DAVID BARTON GYM IN CHELSEA,NYC

Indianapolis: Downtown YMCA. It's in a great old German building. Small, but a nice setting and decent equipment.

fit athletic houston is gay-friendly (I think it is more than that haha but I am not an expert in that matter)

Any LIFETIME FITNESS, THE BEST! They are so big you can get lost in them, yeah!

San Diego - Frogs near Hillcrest/Mission Valley and Bally's Mission Valley.

Metro Detroit: World Gym, downtown Royal Oak. (The owner is a very hot but str8, 28 yr old Italian guy who even competed in the "hot body contest" at a local club this past year. Didn't win tho, sadly, but he and his fellow managers at the gym are all super friendly and hang out with the homos all the time.)

Louisville, KY: Urban Active (Formerly Gold's Gym)
I have 4 to choose from. Urban Active Taylorsville and Urban Active Shelbyville are the friendliest!

The gym I'm with is really nice. It's a chain called Anytime Fitness and there are gyms all over and members can use any of them.

Houston:

1. Fitness Exchange used to be an openly gay gym, but they began the process of moving and changing their name. That was last July, God knows if they will ever re open.

2. Houston Gym - never been there, but a mixed gay and straight crowd, gets good reviews.

3. Bally Total Fitness - I go to the one on North Shepherd, mixed crowd. The one in the West U/Rice Village area gets so nasty at times the cops have to have undercover stings in the steam room.

4. Assorted others, like 24 Hour Fitness and now LA Fitness is moving to town.

5. Downtown YMCA to some extent.

HOUSTON: the University of Houston has a really nice rec center, I think it's $10/day for a general pass

CHARLESTON: EcoFitness
843.723.4995
69 Wentworth Street
Charleston SC 29401

atlanta has several gay gyms-
fitness factory
urban body
gravity
i like la fitness (though i prefer to support independents because of pools at several locations. i actually avoid the mostly gay location except for a yoga class because it is not as well maintained and has no pool. too much chatting on equipment there!

You'll think this kind of odd as I havent been there but

JP Fitness in Little Rock Arkansas. If you are serious about training Jean Paul is your man. I can assure you though he is the most tolerant guy I know and he would suffer any kind of discrimination whatsoever.

Incredibly equiped gym, and their annual summits are a must for beginners to the most experienced trainers or other gym owners as you will meet the best and get support from the best in the US, and he even gets some surprise over seas guests some times.

I heart JP, and god is he lovely he he he but so is his wife he he he he

sweet

San Diego: 24 Hour in Hillcrest is very gay, but it's compact, dirty and not any fun at all. Frog's in Mission Valley is a better alternative.

University of Missouri recreation facility www.mizzourec.com

Ranked #1 by Sports Illustrated 2005/2006.

I go there and love it.

I just joined David Barton Gym in NYC (23rd St.) - good gym, great staff, some really good classes and tons of hot guys between the ages of about 25 and 50, some of whom are even friendly.

McGay saidI've only ever been to one gym, my gym, except for the occasional hotel/resort. Do most gyms have guest policies? We have a local Y that I'd love to join because of the Olympic sized pool, but, one has to purchase a full memebership. Not worth it.

Hi try this site as they list temporary membership rates
www.gymvisit.com

Houston suggestions would be:

24-Hour Fitness Midtown: new and with lots of gay members

Fit Athletic: cool atmosphere, hot crowd but nobody talks to anybody

Crew Fitness: successor to all-gay Fitness Exchange but more str8 than it used to be

Houston Gym: some gay members but lots of muscleheads