Is your gym hardcore? Take 2

[Kevin Cronin]

Guys, the "Is Your Gym Hardcore" thread was a great idea, but got a little cluttered up. It could be a much more valuable resource for people who are traveling/relocating, but all the extraneous crap made that harder. I think we can all agree that if you're searching a thread to see if there's a place you can catch a training session during that business trip, vacation to miserable family gathering, or desperate flight from the law, posts like "waah, waah, my gym is not hardcore! I'm SOOOO jealous of you guys" (along with videos, sarcastic remarks and snappy retorts to said sarcastic remarks) would be somewhat less than helpful. Rather than bother one of the mods to "clean up" the original thread, I took it upon myself to transfer the useful info here. "Thank you's" are accepted in the form of cash, check, money order or paypal, pm me for the address. Or maybe people think this is stupid, and overly anal, whichever. If this gets stickified however, and is able to help out a few travelers, that'd be cool. It would be great if posts in this thread are confined solely to listings and reviews of hardcore gyms, and personal chatter is kept to a minimum, ie ZERO. Any mistakes, I apologize in advance. Without further ado, alphabetized by state, a list of hardcore gyms around the country, and the world.

CA
- DIABLO BARBELL concord ca

-Powerhouse Gym Sacramento
11327 Folsom Blvd
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
(916) 853-5646

30,000 sq feet - HUGE!
Large room dedicated to SM/OL/PL
2 9' tall racks with band/chain pegs
competition bench
1 oly platform
1 solid rubber platform (for keg pressing or whatever - indestructible)
glute/ham
reverse hyper
4 way neck
seated gripper
adjustable stone platforms
indoor fingal finger (still in the works)
prowlers
farmers
yokes
lots of bumper and iron plates
and of course all the logs, axles, kegs, stones and stuff SM need. the "normal" gym part is really kick ass too. DB's up to 170 or maybe 200's (I think). Racks, benches, every type of machine you can think of, and lots and lots of gorgeous women training there!
-----------------------------

- ESOG Gym (aka Mick's house)
Galt, CA
Original home of Team Big Sac!
1.5hrs from San Fran, 30mins from Sacramento, 20mins from Stockton
Every thing you need for Strongman. EVERYTHING! Too much to list.
Very cool place to train hard and 1 very gorgeous Mick prancing about.

- World Gym-San Diego, Ca
monolift, reverse hyper, platform with bumpers, chains, bands, sleds, SSB, trap bar, texas power bar, thats about it...

CT
- Gold's Gym, Enfield, CT
Decent. The lifting area is downstairs and the staff is never
there. Several squat racks, a DL platform, DBs up to 140, and soon to have a 12" log.

- Southside Gym in Milford, CT
Heavy training friendly. Has a monolift and competition benches. They have a tire. I am going to bring an axle and the trap bar I have been using to do frame carry/farmers. You can bring stuff there. They are very accomodating.

- Retro Fitness - Waterbury
1074 Wolcott Road
(203) 753-5899

the gym has three squat racks, an Olympic platform, dumbells up to 130 and a handfull of 100 lb plates and bumper plates along with a huge assortment of regular weights, machines cardio equipment etc.... In the next few weeks we will have one of the sickest stone series in the world. The gym will have a 270, 300, 330, 360, 400, 420, 470 and 555 atlas stone! I also have on order two True Logs. One log will be a true 12" that will be plate loadable with an empty weight of about 140 lbs. The second log is going to be huge and will have an empty weight over 300 lbs and a diameter around 14" or so. We also have a Williams Strength Pro Yoke and some other odds and ends that I will be picking up along the way!

Just to add, the gym has a full resturant and bar inside with a full menu

FL
- Gainesville Gym - Gainesville
http://www.gainesvillegym.com/

This one is hands-down the best one for "us" in the area. I didn't make a complete inventory, but the rust-chrome ratio was high, the music was Jimi, and the guys working out were sweating and grunting. They have one-day free passes as well.

- Powerhouse Gym Tampa (http://www.powerhousegymtampa.com/)
13539 N Florida Ave, Tampa FL
I (Josh Davis) lifted here for about a year, and still would if the drive wasn't so bad. 4 squat racks, 1 power rack, big deadlift platform, and 24 hour access (for key members) $5 day pass IIRC.

- Tampa Barbell (http://www.tampabarbell.com/)
4350 West Waters Ave. Tampa FL
Tommy Fannon's place. Strictly a powerlifting gym. Two monolifts, two Forza benches, couple of machines (not many). You will see some massive (600+ benches, 900+ squats) lifts in this house. Invite only.

- Richey Racquet
8836 Us Highway 19, Port Richey FL
My old haunt until I (Josh Davis) got my home gym set. Two monolifts, squat stands on a lifting platform, tons of dumbbells, vintage nautilus machines (which I admittedly love), even a rock wall and 4 racquetball courts. Used to have a free week pass. Their normal rates are probably the cheapest in the area, two year membership will cost you approx $18/month in 6 installments (IIRC). This place is huge, but a total craphole cleanliness-wise... another reason why I love it.

GA

- Atlanta Metro Area (Marietta, just North)

A decent gym north of Atlanta in Marietta, GA is Coffee's Gym. He is a well known Oly trainer and the Kennesaw Barbell guys train at his gym a couple times a week. You can Google the gym and find some basic info. There is no website. Chalk is allowed. It is a small gym but has the essentials:
A couple logs of different diameter
Bumper Plates
A couple Commercial Benches
2 Squat areas
Miscellaneous other things

Address and Contact Information are:
1800 Lower Roswell Rd
Marietta, GA 30068-3344
(770) 321-6900

-Smyrna, GA (outside of Atlanta)

New training group just outside of Atlanta area. Myself and four other guys recently started training at a facility in Smyrna, GA. It is a crossfit gym where they let us keep our equipment and train. So far I have:
12" Log
Commercial Bench
Romanian Deadlift Platform
Dumbbells up to 100lbs

The gym owner has:
Bumper plates
2 Glute Ham Raises
4 Tires various weights
3 Squat areas
Numerous Crossfit Stations

You can find pics and info on the place here ..... http://www.flickr.com/photos/17337458@N07/

None of my group is in the pics but you get the general Idea. Contact me at cramsey1200@hotmail.com if you would like to come by and train.

ID
- Genesis Fitness, 16436 Franklin Blvd, Nampa, ID 83686

Full commercial gym uncluding:
5" thick rubber mat layered room
many, many, many stones
logs
kegs
axle
bumpers
OL racks
power cage
farmers
yoke
frame
car squat/dl apparatus
etc...

IL
- B+W Gym - Chicago, North side
underground dungeon, lots of strong people, not sure about SM equipment

- Quads Gym - North side (there's a south side location too)
Home of Ed Coan; tons of stuff (too much equipment, actually). Owner is PL and SM friendly and is trying to figure out a deal with the neighbors to let us have stones, tires, sled track. Inside, there's a 10" log, farmers handles, axles, SSB, tons of texas power bars, and some strong people. EliteFTS GHR and bench, reverse hyper, bumper plates, and one rack has nice eleiko kilo plates.

- Lance's Gym - Chicago, South side
Lance Karabel, the powerlifter, owns it. It's also underground and dungeon-y. He's got a yoke, log, kegs, axles, and sometimes farmers handles. And he's always there to help with deadlifting, squatting, etc.

Jakked Hardcore - Chicago, West suburbs
Just heard of this place, but they brought a bunch of people to CSM and apparently have everything, including stones.

-Mt Vernon Fitness, Mt Vernon
17000 sq ft fitness center

12 log
yoke
tires
stones
farmers
kegs

www.mtvernonfitness.com

IN
Powerhouse/24hr - Kokomo, IN 46902
3040 S Lafountain St

I believe this is the correct address. Right off of US31. It's Chad gym. Has everything you'd ever want.

Lynch's gym - South Bend
745 S. Walnut St.

old school gym, very small, OL dominant.

IA
- The Gym - Dubuque
http://www.thegymdubuque.com/

Don't let the website fool you, they are lifter friendly, have pleanty of plates, just got tires, sledge hammers, kettlebells.

KS
TITANS OF IRON - Topeka
(Jason Oyler’s Gym - PM him)

Tires- 400,600,800
Log- 12''
Squat Rack with lots of weight
Texas Power Bar
Bands
Chains
Deadlift Platform with band attachments
Kegs- 182, 262, 282, 315
Axle
DB'S
Farmers
Sleds
Yoke
60' Driveway
Lat Pull Down
Misc.


POST GOT TOO LONG TO EDIT. MARYLAND AND STATES FOLLOWING (ALPHABETICALLY) AS WELL AS CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND SINGAPORE, CAN BE FOUND ON THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 3 OF THIS THREAD, OR YOU CAN FOLLOW THIS LINK http://www.marunde-muscle.com/forum/...243#post232243

[Todd Malone]

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

Brickyard Gym:
http://www.brickyardgym.com/

The website doesn't really do it justice, but it's a good gym with a good mix of powerlifters and strongmen. In fact, every September, the owner puts on a non-sanctioned, low level strongman competition.

Animal House:
http://ahgym.com/

Only been here a couple of times, but I've heard it's very strength friendly.

[Lucjan Zolnierowski]

My Gym- chalk allowed (not technically)

NJ
Pyramid Club Fitness
732-381-3818
280 Saint Georges Ave
Rahway, NJ 07065, US

Or contact me through PM to train, we have:

700 Tire
Farmers
Chain Yoke
Axle
10" Log
300 lb Stone
Sled/Chain

[Zach Snyder]

I'll throw a few up here for indiana that i've trained at:

Powerhouse/24hr
3040 S Lafountain St
Kokomo, IN 46902
I believe this is the correct address. Right off of US31. It's Chad gym. Has everything you'd ever want.

Lynch's gym
745 S. Walnut St.
South Bend, IN
old school gym, very small, OL dominant.

[chrisklavette]

In Minnesota,
The Press Gym in the Metro

The house of Bad Ass.
Located in my garage. Most are welcome, just PM me if you want to stop by.

[Dave Bernreuther]

Since everyone's bound to get stuck overnight due to O'Hare sucking at one point in their life:


Chicago, IL

Very North side:

B+W Gym
underground dungeon, lots of strong people, not sure about SM equipment

North side:

Quads Gym (there's a south side location too)
Home of Ed Coan; tons of stuff (too much equipment, actually). Owner is PL and SM friendly and is trying to figure out a deal with the neighbors to let us have stones, tires, sled track. Inside, there's a 10" log, farmers handles, axles, SSB, tons of texas power bars, and some strong people. EliteFTS GHR and bench, reverse hyper, bumper plates, and one rack has nice eleiko kilo plates.

South side:

Lance's Gym
Lance Karabel, the powerlifter, owns it. It's also underground and dungeon-y. He's got a yoke, log, kegs, axles, and sometimes farmers handles. And he's always there to help with deadlifting, squatting, etc.


West Suburbs:

Jakked Hardcore- Just heard of this place, but they brought a bunch of people to CSM and apparently have everything, including stones.

Southwest Suburbs:

Dwyer's house - occasional group training.

South Suburbs:

Tony's house - long drive but worth it. Tony is a great coach and has stones and all the necessary stuff.

North Suburbs:

Who knows, but Milwaukee's only like an hour; go there.

[mark sams]

Originally Posted by chrisklavette

In Minnesota,
The Press Gym in the Metro

THIS^^^^

Awesome gym, I joined about 2 mo ago.

first off, the owner created ZUBAZ pants so it has to be added to the list just for that reason ha.

large gym TONS of plates, tons of equipment. over 20,000 lbs as stated on website.

power room with oly squat, bench, many racks.

2 platforms. chalk is provided in the chalk box.

plate loadable log

farmers walk box.

dumbbells to 180 lbs.

some very unique stuff, a verticle leg press among others.

kettle ball classes almost daily.

and they sell zubaz.

http://www.thepressgym.com/

[Jed Powell]

Originally Posted by Todd Malone

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

Brickyard Gym:
http://www.brickyardgym.com/

The website doesn't really do it justice, but it's a good gym with a good mix of powerlifters and strongmen. In fact, every September, the owner puts on a non-sanctioned, low level strongman competition.

Animal House:
http://ahgym.com/

Only been here a couple of times, but I've heard it's very strength friendly.

Nice. Always wanted to visit brickyard and I haven't heard of Animal House. I'll check 'em both out in the coming weeks.

[Mark Kimener]

Brute Strength Gym
Norfolk, VA
http://brutestrengthgym.com/

As hardcore as it gets.
"Tire flipping, keg tossing, stone or keg loading, power stairs, conan's wheel, log lifting... For powerlifters and strength athletes, the equipment is from Forza. You can use bands and chains if you want. The power platform has a hydraulic squat rack and the Mono-lift...you will not find a leg extension, leg curl, thigh squeeze machine, or a chest press machine. You will not find machines.
If you are offended by men and women lifting heavy weights, grunting, the noise of the weights hitting the ground, the smell of sweat and blood, don't come to Brute Strength Gym."

[Jason Oyler]

Topeka, KS

TITANS OF IRON (My Gym)

Tires- 400,600,800
Log- 12''
Squat Rack with lots of weight
Texas Power Bar
Bands
Chains
Deadlift Platform with band attachments
Kegs- 182, 262, 282, 315
Axle
DB'S
Farmers
Sleds
Yoke
60' Driveway
Lat Pull Down
Misc.