YMCA of the Wabash Valley — Attraction in Terre Haute

Recently moved to the area and was looking for a gym and came to the YMCA because it had a pool. I had / have very limited time to work out so my son (home on leave from the Navy) and I jumped on and opportunity to check it out. When we arrived the first thing I asked about was the pool and they told me it was open. The facility is definitely dated, but the gym has most of the necessary equipment for a serious work out. My problems started at the pool.

After a work out we changed and went to cool off and enjoy a swim for cardio, when we went into the pool area they were having a water aerobic class with maybe ten people taking up less than half the pool maybe a quarter. so we went towards the other end (empty end) to swim cross laps on the end, We were told by the life guard that we had to leave because the pool was closed to everyone except the aerobics class. I pointed out that there was 3/4th of a pool empty and we would never bother the class on the far other end of their large pool. He stated it was new rules and we had to leave or wait twenty some more minutes (that we did not have), then there was lap time and then after that was free swim. This is the most poorly managed facility I have ever been at.

I went to see the pool manager to see the sanity of such poor resource management and was told by someone sitting in his office that he went home early. She said so sorry nothing to do and goodbye. I asked for Hecktors (pool managers) card to call and leave him a voice mail about the system and treatment (rude).

I was so upset about the treatment and loss of time that I called from the parking lot to leave a message, it went to the front deck and they again stated he had left early and they directed me to the facility manager. I told here the situation and voiced my complaint of rudeness and poor resource allocation and she asked me to come back in. Against my better judgment I did.

I informed her I was on a strict schedule and had but a few minutes (after the time getting run out of the pool). She had us wait at the front desk and left saying she would see what was what. We waited 5-10 min until it was time I had to go and then she come back I we were getting up to leave. She stated the same thing as the others: pool managers gone home early, yes 3/4th empty pool closed for duration of aerobics class, sorry our lifeguards were rude, but they were right.

As a very busy professional (who owns and manages my own companies) I abhor poor management, poor customer service and poor resource allocation. Make lanes for laps on one half, quarter off the other half for free swim on one side and aerobics on the other, so that all paying clients have the same access for which they all equally pay. This seems simple enough and don't let 3/4th a pool go vacant and clients go unserved for a small percentage of your market share.

Cant believe I have wasted even more of my time to write this post. But my advice (beside new management) would be to go anywhere else, IU, anytime fitness, Stans, or...

I recently wrote a review that I need to withdraw. Looking back I realize that I acted childishly because I was being selfish. I had expected the staff to make accommodations for me at the expense of others. I wanted them to open lanes for swimming that went against their posted swim schedule. I look back and am embarrassed for how I behaved. The staff AND management was professional, polite, and very courteous to me even though I was being unreasonable to them. Please accept my apologies for my behavior. I would like to change my review to 5 stars just for putting up with me. I can't imagine how many times a day they have to deal with people like me and still maintain their smiles. Kudos...

Overall a solid facility with decent programing. The staff I have met are very kind, and knowledgeable, and they have free towel service. Though there is only 1 "new machine" (Jacobs ladder) I have never seen the machines overly crowded. They are EXTREMELY short on space, there are never enough benches or any area for standing free weights. Oh, and currently there is no internet/wifi so watch either news or sports. For what they have they do well. If I had known I would have chosen...