YMCA Wheeler Regional Family Branch

I’ve been going for 10 years. Equipment always up-​to-​date, friendly staff, sauna, and they will work with you to make membership possible.
Spin-​a-​thon in May is great fundraiser for cancer survivors btw

My favorite exercise place!
I pay $ 32 monthly membership, which is GREAT in comparison to other places! This place has two pools (one is a children’s heated pool while another is a spacious lap pool), a hot tub, basketball court, two sauna rooms (one plastic and another wood), game room, a gym with great variety of machines and alternative exercise equipment, rock-​climbing, zumba, cycling, wonderful daycare AND SO MUCH MORE!
There’s a subway inside as well where the staff are mostly friendly.
Will always return, unless I move somewhere far away! Haha

I love the Wheeler YMCA because it has a pool. This Y is very spacious compared to others. I love that it has a Subway inside for a post-​workout meal. They have a nice childcare area as well as 2 basketball courts. The pool is 5 lanes and wide enough for a circle swim. There is plenty of parking (though it may be tough on weekends). I love that the weight area has a staff person at the desk if you need anything. I usually leave my bag with them if I forget my lock. A big plus for the cool programs they have like the triathlon club/​program run by Stacia.

Used to be in some of the programs here as a kid, way before the renovations ever happened. Used to be rather crummy, but it’s a beautiful facility now. I have recently rejoined for the gym and have been very happy there. Only thing that ever got my goat was that I politely asked one of the older front desk ladies if someone could tune the scale in the ladies’ locker room so that it was balanced, and she gave me the dirtiest look, like I’d asked her to clean the shower stalls with her tongue. Other than that, I do find it a little weird that there’s a full-​service Subway in there, but I guess it’s to capitalize on busy parents who can afford to put their kids into childcare there.

Membership if you get the family plan it includes child care, need I say more. lol I have been to some nasty Y’s but this place is very nice. Wishing the gym was a bit bigger, but I always find an open machine. Nice pool, great for little kids. Has a rock climbing area, been to a few classes and it was fine. They have lots of great activities for kids in the summer. What more can you ask for.

Its got a pool and indoor basketball courts. This gym is packed with all sorts of activities. I only go to use the fitness room and their weight selection is subpar, not enough equipment and not the ones bodybuilders really need. No towel service… this is only a 4 star spot. See the Downtown Y for a truly better experience.

We’ve been members of the Wheeler YMCA branch for almost 3 years now. The facilities we belonged to prior to starting at Wheeler were a local Planet Fitness and the Northern Middlesex YMCA in Middletown, CT and Wheeler blows both gyms out of the water — there’s just no comparison.
Facility overall: This is a lovely YMCA with many amenities. It’s spacious with a gymnasium, several class rooms including one for spinning, a rock climbing wall, and two pools. There is a Child Watch babysitting program as well as an Amazing Kids program for school age kids, and those programs are included in the cost of facility membership (we have never used Child Watch). There is a Subway franchise located in the lobby area.
Locker rooms: There is a special needs locker room which seems to be mainly used by families with very young children. There are male and female family locker rooms for use by the respective genders under the age of 18, and male and female adult locker rooms which are supposed to be 18+. I’ve encountered teens in the female adult locker room, but it’s not common. The spacious adult locker rooms have lovely wood-​look lockers and are kept quite clean.
Fitness: The fitness center is a nice size with large windows (overlooking the parking lot — still nice to have natural light). There are ample numbers of treadmills and elliptical trainers, and I’ve never been unable to find an open treadmill when I’ve gone in. There is a free weight area with many mirrors as well as weight machines. A staffer is always on duty in the fitness center.
Pools: I have used the lap pool for swimming laps and the all-​purpose pool for swimming fun with our daughter. The lap pool is a pretty typical lap pool but is only four lanes (as a former competitive swimmer I prefer at least 6 – 8 so swimmers can spread out — I hate trying to swim laps with someone who can barely doggie paddle and is unaware of lap swim etiquette). The all-​purpose pool has a sloped ramp entry which is great with small children. Unfortunately I feel that the all-​purpose pool water temperature is being kept a bit on the low side for a young child; our daughter is inevitably shivering by the end of a 30 minute swim lesson. There is a hot tub as well, which I’ve never used.
Classes: The only classes we’ve taken have been parent-​child lessons with our toddler. For the most part the swim teachers have been friendly and engaging. Cost is a bit steep — $ 42 for a six week session for facility members who already pay close to $ 100/​month for a family membership — but probably reasonable compared to other options for swim lessons in the area.
Staff: Staff are mostly friendly and helpful. Several of the front desk folks make it a point to wish you a good day when you’re on the way out.
Parking: Parking is OK, but on a Saturday morning you’ll have to park at the outer part of the lot since the facility is so busy.
Price: Unless you have financial need, this is probably the most expensive gym facility around. We pay $ 94/​month for a family facility membership since we’re nowhere near qualifying for membership subsidies. At the time we joined, there was no joining fee and the membership is month-​to-​month, unlike at many commercial gyms. Both my husband and I are there to work out 3 – 4 times a week so it’s worth it to us, we enjoy swim lessons with our daughter, and as our kid (s) get older there will be many more activities and classes which membership gives access to. However, if cost is your primary concern, Wheeler may not be the place for you.

I was a member of this gym my first two years of graduate school even though I lived in West Hartford (still do) mainly because the I got a ridiculously good monthly rate. Membership fees are based off income and as a student without a paid position I had no income so I paid somewhere around $ 8 a month. RIDONK! Makes me almost feel bad for the twenty-​five bones I shell out monthly where I am currently loving sweat.
WIth a new membership you get a free personal training lesson with April. I learned a lot from her and felt really comfortable with her, which was important because the weight machines used to really intimidate me. A decent amount of equipment including the standard ellipticals, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, rowers, even a weird ski contraption that supposedly burns the most calories of all the cardio machines. My only gripe was that they only have two of my preferred machines so during busy hours (mornings and after work) they would be unavailable.
I’ve only ever taken one class there and it was a yoga class that wasn’t very good. Zumba always looked fun but I never got a chance to try it due to my schedule. Group classes are included in membership fee and schedules are available at the front desk. A fairly good amount and variety of classes were offered when I was there. There’s also a rock wall I’ve climbed a few times and a couple pools for swimmers.
This is a good-​sized, well-​maintained, and clean YMCA that is a good option if you live in the area. With my membership I had gone to a few others in the state (New Britain being one) and this has been the best. Front desk staff, especially Marianne, are great. There’s childcare on the premises and a Subway for a post-​workout meal. Parking lot is nice and big. This gym is not ideal for me anymore, but it could be for you! Worth a look if you live in the Plainville area and you’re looking for a gym to join.
3.5*‘s