Watauga Community Recreation Center 231 Complex Drive, Boone, NC 28607

"Extremely dissatisfied with the Watauga Community Recreation Center. The nice looking building, seemingly designed by an inexperienced architect, focuses more on aesthetics than practicality. Key areas like the spin room and weightlifting zone are poorly planned, leading to disruptive noise for weightlifters. The center suffers from a severe lack of equipment, the only three stationary bikes are often out of order for long periods of time. Also troubling is the frequent presence of unsupervised children, especially around dangerous equipment. The staff, while friendly, are largely confined to the front desk. The swimming pool is the center's only saving grace. Overall, a regrettable waste of taxpayer money."

"The Rec Center is a wonderful facility that has a lot to offer to all ages. I have been attending for well over a year now and will break down my thoughts into pros, cons, and recommendations. Pros: - This is a great place for families. The pool, gyms, childcare, and other facilities make it a great environment for all. - The cost is very reasonable at $35 a month for a single adult. - Everything is new and modern (built in 2020) and the staff are friendly and helpful. - While the weight area is a bit small, there's quite the diversity of equipment and an adequate amount of squat racks and free weights. - No other facility has the variety of workout options or is in as prime of a location. Cons: - It's often busy. In certain seasons, the place can feel a bit overrun. - The weight machines are powered by air resistance (compressed air), they're not actual weights. This seems like a good idea in theory and has some up-sides, but it is simply not the same as real weight. - The gym closes at 8:00pm. - While I noted the positives of the family atmosphere, the flip side is that this isn't the best place for a hardcore gym-goer. Recommendations: - Extend the open hours to 10:00pm. These are prime workout hours for a bunch of people and they're missing out on a huge slice of the market. - A facility of this caliber needs a steam room and sauna. These would be welcome additions. - The gym floors should to be swept (and mopped) more often, particularly in the winter time during youth basketball season. It's gotten so bad that at times basketball is unplayable. At the very least, there should be more tools available for members to do it themselves when they want to use the gym. - Have a check out system for certain equipment (good basketballs, jump ropes, etc.,) to ensure the integrity and availability of equipment. - Are the workout matts every washed? Regardless, I think one section of the workout area (either the balcony area over the first gym or the area behind the bleachers in the pool) should be converted to a rubber floor or something for workouts - people use those areas all the time and it makes sense for a softer impact floor. - I think more space and equipment is needed, particularly in the workout room. That area needs to be doubled in size but I frankly don't know if this will ever be possible. I hope some of these recommendations will be adopted in the coming years but regardless, the Rec Center is a great place and I will be coming here as long as I live in Boone!"

"Great gym, good vibe. Plenty of facilities for a wide range of workouts, fun, and games."

"This place is great. I wish they rented lockers and had more gym equipment. They need a steam room, sauna, and jacuzzi. The gym is always full and you have to wait on equipment. The locker room is clean. Most of the lifeguards are nice as well. Pools are clean too. The warm pool isn't always working, unfortunately."

"Reviewing based on concept, design, functionality, openness and pool(s). This was designed masterfully and with purpose. The center has a flow about it and is very spacious. Staff interactions were pleasant. Very well lit, clean and entirely free of clutter and/or debris."