Fitness World Health Club

I’m really torn as to my rating. I’ve been to some gyms that were totally awful, and some that were awesome. This gym is old… like from the 70s maybe? And it shows… not in the machines or in the cleanliness but in the layout. The group exercise room in the basement is carpeted. There’s also a room for weight lifting down there, and a «ladies only» room with one of each machine. Upstairs you’ll find the cardio equipment: treadmills, bikes, stair steppers, ellipticals. There are no spinning bikes. But, there is a 3-​lane pool (with cute murals on the walls). The equipment works (I saw people on all the machines). The guy at the front desk is friendly and seems to be a fitness person not a sales person. The locker rooms are large and clean, but they are in the basement too. I did not see an elevator. If you’re staying at the Hampton Inn, you’ll get a free pass to work out here. I’d say it’s worth your while, as it’s less than 5 minutes from the hotel and LOTS better than the little cardio room on-​site. If this gym was in a larger city, I would’ve rounded my 3.5 down. Since it’s in Jacksonville, Illinois, the rating rounds up. Many towns this size (my parents’ included) don’t have a gym at all. If you like group fitness classes, they are offered throughout the day… just call ahead to find out what is going on when. The times are displayed at the front desk too. There is no child care area so don’t plan to bring your kids please, unless they’re going to swim with you.

Considering this is in a small town and exercise is a foreign concept to many people in this region, finding this gym was a nice surprise. I was visiting family, so I got a week pass — it normally costs $ 20/​week or $ 7/​day, but the guy at the front desk waived the fee for me.
The locker room and showers were really clean, and all of the cardio equipment was in working order. It wasn’t too crowded, but I did try to go during non-​peak times.
Minus one star for how HOT it was inside this place — and I was there in early March when it was 10 degrees outside. I can only imagine the pressure cooker this gym must become in the summer.