Please clean the cockroaches out of the Sauna and lockers, would be nice gym if it was clean

Iam going to drop my review to three mainly bc finding any assistance here in the free weight areas is like a childish easter egg hunt. This location prides themselves for being an "adult gym" yet they hire young adults that aren't quite there mentally with service and knowledge of the facilities. Also , you are not just an adult Gym, there are families that come here that have children , which is why there is a child care facility on site . No one explained to us a reservation was needed for the child care facility, and Where's your cleaning staff, every gender neutral restroom had pee on the toilets, really adult. Do better , please. Also, can there be a rule for one person not to take 4 different sets of dumbbells to themselves so others can have the option to use them , why do you need 15', 20s, 30s , and 40s at your bench at the same time sitting there on your phone for 30+ minutes. This gym is like a mini circus, no rules people . Come one come all. Enjoy the show. read more

If I could give 0 stars I would. The saunas never go above 155 which is baffling to me. The point of a sauna is to be hot. Crowded gym, lack of parking and rude staff and members. Overall this is the worst gym I have ever been to. On top of that you have to give a 30 day notice to cancel a month to month membership. read more

Make it impossible to just cancel my membership. Need a 30 day notice to cancel a month by month membership. Always packed. Equipment is average. It's $80 dollars!?!? read more

In terms of equipment, cleanliness, and staff, this is an awesome gym. Has essentially every machine or tool you could ever need for your workouts and even has really nice basketball courts, pool, racquetball, cycling, and cross-fit. It's a bit expensive, but it has everything you need! However, I had to take a couple of stars off my rating because this gym is simply too crowded. I joined back in May and definitely noticed how crowded it was right off the bat. So as a solution, I was able to use my flexible work schedule to go at odd times like 10am and 2pm. That worked for a while, but by October it just became way too crowded no matter what time of day you went. When I first joined, I would often show up to the gym with a planned set of exercises and if the equipment I needed wasn't available I could always change up my workout and go to my 2nd or 3rd option and change up the order of my exercises. Which was totally fine with me. However, by the end of the year, I would show up to the gym and the equipment for every one of my exercises would be in use and usually already had someone else waiting to use it as well. Maybe for very creative people who can come up with another exercise on the fly, this is not an issue. But it definitely was an issue for me. I stopped my membership in November because I simply wasn't getting a good workout anymore. So overall....great facility, too crowded. read more

For a YMCA, the Dowd is an awesome gym. I mostly do classes when I go to this location, as they have a great mix of options. The athletic conditioning class is no joke! It's super intense and a great class that everyone will sweat their butts off in. You will 100% be sore the next day. I also go to the morning Spin classes. The instructors vary by day, but there's a great mix. Before going to the Y spin classes I use to attend a spin studio, and some of the Y instructors are just as great as private instructors that you would get from a studio. I reco trying a few different classes out, and finding the instructors that best fit your style- they are all different. In addition, this year they did a million dollar reno. Their is a new weight lifting area, cross-fit style gym, yoga/barre studio and a rooftop track that has an awesome view of the city. In addition, they plan to open a new Cycle Bar inspired spin studio by the end of the year! Overall you can't go wrong with this gym- they have a little bit of everything for everyone, including two indoor pools. And once the reno is 100% complete it will be really awesome! read more

I wholeheartedly agree with Mike K. - for your money, this is a great deal in Charlotte. The Dowd Y is a very nice gym that offers a bevy of group fitness classes, up to date (and always functioning) equipment and a super clean atmosphere. Why I love this Y in particular...the machines are always in service (and I've head that techs are out fixing them weekly if need be). They also do not allow any children under the age of 16 in the workout areas. Now, don't get me wrong, I love kids, just not when I'm trying to get my sweat on. As mentioned before, this Y offers so many great group classes. I'm a big fan of Total Strength, Pilates Mat and Kickboxing. I've also heard the Spin classes are great. I've tried Athletic Conditioning, and while it certainly is an awesome workout, make sure you're at least in decent shape before you partake in that class! It's a rough one. As other reviewers have noted, this gym can get packed especially after 5 pm during the weekdays. So be patient while parking. Some classes can get a bit crowded too, so keep that in mind when you're sprawling out your mat or equipment. I haven't had any issues with theft in the locker room, but I'm a big proponent of a big papa lock on my locker. For the money and the friendly service, the Dowd YMCA is a great deal for anyone looking to slim down or tone up. read more

The Y is very expensive so if you are not going 3 times per week then don't sign up. The staff is pitiful. They are only interested in each other or their stupid phones. They won't come around and keep folks off their phones. The customers stay on the equipment and stare at their phones and the employees hide out and do the same thing. Is looking at your phone considered exercise? Duh it must be because at lease 50% of the time that's what everyone goes there to do. This place must be a pickup joint because some folks come to strut. There are about 20% of the customers who come work out and go. If I could play basketball there would be no room because the gyms are all hogged up by folks who must not work because it seems they are there all the time playing basketball. Please get the folks out of the exercise rooms and at least not talking on their phones while riding bikes or on treadmills. This is so annoying but the Y members have no interest in stopping it. This goes for basically every Y in Charlotte for the low price of $114.00 per month you can be stressed and annoyed too. read more

Definitely worth the membership because of all the classes and facilities that this place offers. I typically go during the daytime since I don't have a 9-5 job. This saves me from the busy crowds so I'm perfectly content with that. I love the spacious floors that this YMCA allows. I don't feel like anyone was judging me as I worked out. But then again I focus on myself and less with what's around me. But I would suggest you to avoid the bottom floor where all the intense weight training machines/weights are located. It's where all the meat heads are located. If you're a female all they do is STARE. read more

The Dowd YMCA is the Big Daddy of Charlotte gyms. It's got everything: a huge basketball court (great for lunctime and post-work pick-up games, as well as league games at night), a huge pool, an enormous weightroom, a large cardio room, two or three large spaces for workout classes, and an indoor track. Where to begin? The hoops games are super competitive and fun. The classes range from kickboxing to Pilates to intense cardio drills--and there are different options depending on the hour and the day. Great staff (tons of them) patrol the grounds, and you can get an answer to any question you have instantly. The facilities are clean and more or less state-of-the art. Also, if you like going to the gym to mingle and meet, this is your place. Everyone and their mother can be seen at the Dowd after work; it's a veritable meat-market, if you want it to be. And the eye-candy is choice. The parking lot is huge but even that gets filled up during busy hours, so parking can be a hassle at times. Also, security at the Y can be iffy: there have been numerous car thefts/break-ins etc. But it's still the best gym in town. By far. read more

Dowd Branch YMCA - Gyms Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Pre-COVID, my goto YMCA was Childress Klein because the DOWD was always packed after work but since they're not open and the DOWD is, I started coming here. I was a little hesitant at first but have grown to love it. There is always plenty of parking and I see staff constantly walking around and cleaning equipment, doing temperature checks when you walk in, and stocking up on the sanitizing wipes and spray bottles with disposable paper towels. I feel pretty safe and the equipment I use always look clean and relatively new. I always wipe and spray before and after I use everything. People are wearing masks in common areas and some at their stations. There is plenty of equipment and the rooftop track is beautiful. I believe the locker rooms are still closed but I usually use the bathrooms by the exit and it is always empty and clean. Overall, I'm glad this gym is open and it's the only time during the weekdays where I can zone out, turn off my brain and listen to my music :) read more

Great place to workout and hoop, just need to get here early to get good runs on the court and for parking. As far as working out it's a great place for crossfit, conventional workouts, racket ball and more. read more

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I'm a boxer and loved that they had open equipment early last year. Tore it down end of summer (August/September) during their remodel, which I understand, but then after that nobody knew when the new equipment would be back up. I asked in Oct, Nov, and December and no one was on the same page. "In a month" or "early next year". I just called now, March 29th, 2019 and STILL nobody knows when the boxing equipment is going back up. Absolutely crazy. Would be a perfect gym if they could speak honestly to their members. read more

This gym is the holy grail of YMCAs. Coming from Cleveland, Ohio- I didn't even know it was possible for YMCAs to look like this one. I lived in Charlotte a few months for work and I'm honestly not sure if I miss the city or this gym more. Probably a good thing I left Charlotte and this YMCA as I'm almost positive my friends were very over me spamming them with boomerangs and IG stories of Charlotte's skyline from the rooftop track. To touch on the basics: updated equipment, beautiful aesthetic, quality classes, lots of space/floors/rooms. Did I mention I'm obsessed with this gym? read more

Love the new updated building. I used to work there years ago and this new set up is awesome. The free weights area is massive now. I love that they have so many studios now for yoga and barre. Can't wait for them to be finish with all of the renovations. read more

Been meaning to write an update for the Dowd for the longest time, but today I got a little extra motivation to do it. Not only has the Dowd provided a great place to work out, but it has given me some consistency (which is nice). Yes, it tends to be crowded, but if you play around with the times you come in, I'm sure you can find a great time without having to fight the crowds. For me, it's early in the morning. The trade off of sleeping in, versus being miserable and waiting for machines is worth it to me and it is a great way to start the day! Location, location, location!... I have recently been doing a lot of running and the Dowd provides a great starting place. Run down Morehead.... (careful of the uphill coming back to the gym) I've run up to Tryon and through downtown... but either route you take, its nice to come back to the gym... grab a couple minutes in the steam room... grab a shower and be on your way. There's been a change in some of the spin instructors so I haven't been able to find a great combination of music/instructor, but I haven't been trying too hard. Oh yeah!, the reason for my update.... I was leaving this morning after a brutal 3 mile run I decided to do in the dark, misty/rainy weather.... and I caught a glimpse of a sign. They must have just put it up for 2012, but it reads "This is your year!" which is great motivation every time you leave the gym! I am hoping 2012 will be MY year and the Dowd will help me (in the words of my favorite Star Trek Captain) "Make it so".... read more

After being a member for 13 years, I finally decided to cancel my membership and join another gym. It was a long time coming and well overdue. On top of alway being dirty and ridiculous overcrowded all the time, the dowd staff is absolutely awful. My below experience with the staff about a month ago is what finally convinced me to cancel my membership. I called the dowd to inquire about something and spoke with Devin (or Devon). He was incredibly short with his responses and provided conflicting information. When I tried to clarify his answer, he became noticeably irritated and very rude. I could tell this was going to nowhere and figured I'd just ask in-person next time I'm there, so I simply said "ok, thanks" and then heard a click. He had hung up on me! So, I go into the dowd that next Saturday and inquire again. Lo and behold, I get Devin (or Devon) at the front desk, and I get the exact same attitude he gave me on the phone despite me never mentioning our last conversation. When I tell him that he doesn't need to give me attitude, he response with a sarcastic thumbs-up and a very condescending "go have a great day". I leave without saying a word and then walk into the office off the main lobby to speak with the 2 women in there that I presumed were in some type of management/supervisory role. I explain my interaction with Devon as they stared at me with utter disinterest. Neither of them could muster the energy to turn their bodies to face me while talking...just turned their heads and looked at me out of the corner of their eyes. It became very clear that this is just the general attitude and approach toward guests by most of the staff, and it's the culture being set by management. So I'm happy to say I finally quit the Y and joined Planet Fitness, which is significantly cleaner, less crowded, has nicer amenities and is 1/3 the cost of the Y's wildly overpriced membership. They also don't allow guest to set up cameras and create videos/TikToks, which seems to be prevalent at the dowd and monopolizes equipment. I can only hope others realize the same and also decide to leave this dumb. There are way better options out there. read more

Normally I enjoy visiting this YMCA. I would call my normal experience 3-4 stars. The facility is decent and the staff is generally very nice; the front desk especially. Last night while playing basketball with a group of friends we couldn't hear the announcement over the PA that the gym was closing. Not knowing it was 10:02 we kept playing. A security person ran onto the court and said "you guys got to get out of here" in the most condescending tone ever. I asked him what he was talking about not realizing the time and he squared up like he wanted to fight me while continuing to yell in my face about leaving. This was so utterly uncalled for. I reminded him I was just a patron enjoying myself at a facility I pay to be at and expect to have better treatment when we can't hear a PA due to construction changes. He said "that is not my fault, get out of here." I could have handled the direct communication but when a person makes threatening body language complete with clinched fists that is something I will not tolerate. You guys need to teach your security personnel people skills. If they act like street thugs and try to fight people as a normal course of doing business you will soon loose additional membership and face litigations. The other thing to keep in mind is people listen when you treat them like people. I'm a 34 year old charismatic man and I treat people with respect. I expect to be treated with respect because I treat people with respect. I don't want to be harassed or insulted by a security guard who dislikes his hours and job. read more

Way too many people. Can barely move. They need to up their membership fees, my gosh.

Dowd was a great place until they got cheap. Shorted hours of operation, reduced yoga classes, and completely eliminated their best offering: towel service. While of course keeping membership prices the same as before. Where is the logic in that? read more

I absolutely love this YMCA!! A great selection of group classes from Barre and Zumba to Water Cardio. There are even group classes on Sunday! For women there's a sauna, indoor jacuzzi and women's only section for working out as well. They only accept the Metro or multiple branches YMCA Membership, if you're a student there's a great discount. There's plenty of parking if not in the parking lot right outside, there's a parking structure diagonal to the building. You just grab a parking ticket from the machine and you're good for 2 hours. If you stay longer you can validate the parking pass at the front desk. You can also visit other YMCA's in the county and YMCA's in other cities on the AWAY program. Last but not least you may bring a visiting friend for free I believe up to 4 times a year. For the city of Charlotte at least, the YMCA is the way to go for Gyms. read more

I was at the Dowd YMCA today February 8th. I was looking for a medicine ball to use during my workout. I walked in the glass office ask a fitness staff member, I believe her name is Alex (younger white girl brown hair). I assumed that she was a manager there since she was sitting at the desk using the computer. I asked where the medicine balls were and her response to me was, "they are where they always are" I then responded they are not there, she followed up my response with, "well you need to ask a fitness staff where they are". I still can't believe that was her response. Is she not fitness staff? None the less, it was a shocking response and I can't believe someone in a manager position would say that. I don't need a phone call or email I am just hoping that it gets addressed. read more

They have so much to offer in the way of classes, swimming pool, parking deck and weight room.

The original! Going through renovations, but mostly everything is still available. I usually do fitness classes here. I would like to see newer dumbbells and mats for classes as well as wipes. The women's locker room is gigantic. read more

Solid gym with a helpful staff. 2¢ for someone just walking in Free weights = ground level floor, expect crowds between 5:30&7:30 weeknights Lounge/kitchen= entrance level Machines/gyms/exercise classes = up the stairs Pro tip- trying to get a parking spot is going to be near impossible head to the garage or walk if it's an option read more

I can see how parking is a nightmare here but, this is why I go during off times while everyone else is at work. Everyone here is friendly and facilities are very clean. They basically have everything you need to workout here.. machines, courts, various exercise classes, sauna, pool... I doubt you'd get bored working out here. I really like the fact that they have a mini workout area inside the ladies locker room, just in case you are feeling self concious. I docked a star because the online group exercise schedule is not accurate at all. I always have to take pics of the printed schedules posted onsite to make sure I make it to the classes I want to attend. Just FYI! read more

The best YMCA around!!! Really great classes! Fabulous instructors! Fantastic facility!! They have two indoor swimming pools. One cold pool mainly used for laps & the warm pool is mainly used for laps and the other half for aqua size or to rehab your body. They have wonderful locker rooms that you practically never have to leave if you want to do your own workout separate from the rest of the facility. In the ladies room they have weights, machines, fit balls, exercise mats, straps and much more. They also have a fabulous sauna both dry and wet. They even have a Jacuzzi for your enjoyment. They have a few rows of showers and an exit directly to the pool. One of greatest things that is cherished by many guests are the laundered towels. You can enjoy as many as you like during your visit. Forget something? No problem - Your in luck!! They have a store that practically has everything you could dream of wanting. Hungry? They have that taken care of too! Smoothies, hot cooked meals, quick on the go grab food. Pretty Awesome, Now come find out for yourself!! Possible classes to enjoy: ·Yoga ·Zumba ·Cardio Fitness ·Pilates ·Barre ·Cycle ·Abs ·Defend Together ·Cardio Funk ·Water Fitness ·Deep Stretch ·Foam Rolling ·Tread class ·Ultimate conditioning ·Group basketball class ·Hip hop ·Brewery Boot camp ·Roc it ·Cardio dance read more

I visited the Dowd YMCA for the first time last night for a workout and a session in their steam room. Normally I'm a regular at the south Charlotte Y's (Morrison, Harris & Siskey) but since it's a new year, I figured I'd try my hand at visiting this Y after work, since it's only about 1.5 miles from my office. The reviews here helped to convince me to give it a try, so I figured I'd write my own review as well to add to the information. I showed up around 4:45 and managed to find a spot. As soon as I walked through the turnstile I went to the guest relations desk and asked the woman behind the counter if she could direct me to the women's locker rooms. She offered right there to give me a full tour, so I took her up on the offer. The facility is large, and as others have remarked, bustling. There were multiple basketball courts, two sets of lap lanes in the swimming pool (one warm, one cold), and all the other features you'd expect at a gym: spin room, tons of cardio machines just about everywhere you turned, machined weights and free weights. They had several stretch assisting machines and devices throughout the main gym area as well. The women's locker room is indeed huge, and it's overwhelming at first. Lockers abound (I think there are almost too many, there's no way these fill up at 100%). I only found two toilet stalls in the women's locker room, but I'm pretty sure I must have missed another set somewhere. One thing to note: You need a full-sized padlock for these lockers. I have used a small luggage style combo lock at the Harris for a long time, but it doesn't fit the lockers at the Dowd. Fortunately, they'll let you borrow a keyed lock with a driver's license. There are a limited number of machines (perhaps a dozen or two, treadmills, ellipticals, stair steppers, recumbent bikes and rowing machines) and free weights in the women's locker room, and most of them were in use. I opted to climb onto one of the stair stepping machines for 20 minutes to start. After that I wandered the rest of the gym and hopped on a treadmill for a few more minutes. The stair stepper action (it's been awhile since I've used a stair stepper) caused my calf to tighten up uncomfortably, so I only spent another 20 minutes on the treadmill. It's January and as you can imagine, the place is packed to the gills. I decided to ease off and hit the steam room, which let's face it, is the real reason I go to the Y (well, this one and Harris, at least). I just force myself to exercise before I get to the "reward". And this is where the Dowd Y fell short for me. The steam room was the driest steam room I've used, and the full, bright lighting made it less relaxing than the one at the Harris. It's not serene and quiet, people chat and talk loudly in this steam room. Both the Dowd & the Harris Y have spray bottles of eucalyptus from a "Club Aroma" spa supply place. The eucalyptus bottle at the Harris Y is occasionally running on empty, but when it's filled it is good stuff. The "eucalyptus" at the Dowd was non-existent. They're cutting it so much with water (I presume) that it smells like nothing. The eucalyptus not only helps with opening nasal passages, it also makes the steam rooms smell nice, and this one - since there's no real eucalyptus to spray - smelled decidedly NOT nice. Finally, there's something else others have touched on a bit: the rampant nudity in the locker rooms. Here's the thing - I'm a bit of a prude about nakedness, being as I was raised in the south and taught the naked human form was an evil tool of the devil and all. But in a locker room, I realize that's mostly MY problem, and that the occasional flash of full frontal or a butt is the price you pay for dressing and undressing around other women. There's a difference between flashes of nudity, and the women walking around the Dowd Y locker room for two hours, acting like they're in a nudist colony. Seriously, not a stitch on one particular older woman for two hours, as she stretched, dried her hair, lounged in chairs, and rubbed lotion on her face. I'm real glad for her that she's comfortable with the body she's got, but *I'M* not comfortable with it, and seeing her with her legs kicked up on the chair outside the steam room every time I entered it, just letting it all hang out, was disturbing. And it's not just about looks, I don't care how aesthetically pleasing your naked form might be, at least show a little courtesy and a slight amount of modesty. I didn't find the steam room or the locker room relaxing after my workout at all last night. I saw things no human should have to see, frankly. I appreciate it's close to my office, but I've heard Childress-Klein is too, and a little better about these sorts of things. I'd recommend the Dowd Y, but only to people who really honestly don't care about having strange women exhibitionists waving stuff around in their faces while in the locker room. As for me - I care - probably too much to return. read more

The Dowd has great facilities, large locker rooms complete with Steam and Sauna facilities, every fitness class you can think of, basketball courts, a pool... It's the ideal place to go to stay fit. The one drawback is that it's not without some sketchy activity. Recently, I was changing after a workout, and I saw these two guys walking around the locker room. I didn't think much of it, but someone who was changing beside me said, "Hey - what are you two doing?" "Nothin man, we're waitin for ****" "I see you casin' the place, I left for a shower you were walkin around, I get back from my shower, you still walkin around" "No man, we're just waitin for ****" So the guy who is calling these two sketchy dudes out walks over to the emergency phone, picks it up and calls the front desk. The two sketchy dudes, are acting all tough and cool about it, but literally proceed to walk out of the locker room, up the stairs and out of the building. I happened to finish up around that same time, and walked out about a minute after them. I saw them get into their car and drive off - so much for waiting for their "friend"! As I'm watching them leave, another guy who left at the same time as me and was headed home or to work or something says to me, "I can't believe it - they were definitely here looking to get into people's lockers" "Yea, definitely, I'm surprised", I reply The guy says to me "I actually had my locker broken into here not too long ago, my wallet was stolen..." The moral of the story is this - either bring a freakin masterlock with you, or don't change at the gym and just enjoy the facilities! Oh and one more thing - for the money? the Y charges you based on your income, so if you make decent money, you'll spend $100 a month for 2 people. That to me is a bit on the pricey side... read more

This place charges an arm and a leg, but for what? There is a wait list for cycle, yet do they tell you on the schedule that you have to sign up, otherwise you will he turned away? No, they don't. I pay $50 a month to come to a gym to be turned away. I hate this place. Save yourself the headache and join a real gym. read more

Still favorite Y in area. Convenient location, but parking can be a bear. LOTS of different workout programs available. Friendly, professional and caring staff. DIG that they still provide towels. Great assortment of daily workout types, where seeing 80 year old mixing it up with Millennial Hipster is not unusual. Fit or flabby, young or young at heart, come all and get healthy! read more

I haven't been a member of this gym for very long, but, I have been a member of several gyms and this so far tops them all by miles. Other than the crowd at peak hours, which of course is usually the only time I'm able to work out, you really couldn't ask for much more out of a gym. The women's locker room alone is enough to rant and rave about! With tons of room, a separate work out area, and spa you don't even have to leave the locker room to have a good experience at this gym. I like it because I am able to stretch and warm up before I go out onto the main floor. My only complaint about the locker room is that some women are a little too comfortable there. If you want to sit around naked reading a book or magazine please do that at home! I guess that's what happens when the locker room is a "cozy" environment. To add, the free weight area is HUGE and I love the hybrid machines, as well as the nautilus section. I hardly ever see broken down equipment and besides the occasional wait for a machine, you really couldn't ask for much more! My favorite thing about this gym is the classes. I am the type of person that is much more motivated in a class setting and I love the atmosphere and extra push. They have so much variety, and many times to pick from which is very helpful! My favorite class is spin, followed by Athletic Conditioning which both leave me feeling "cleansed" and soaked in sweat. All in all I am very pleased with this gym, and would recommend anyone to go there! :) read more

I love this Y so much! I have developed a soft-spot for it in the short 6 months I've been going to it. My work situation had recently changed, making the Dowd a less convenient option for me, but I've decided to keep my membership just so I can go whenever I can. The facility is full-service, and it has just about everything I need. Everyone who works there is very nice and helpful. I still have to wait for a machine every once in a while, but that's to be expected at such a popular place. I love that the Dowd isn't overrun with kids like Harris is. Dowd still has a child care center and kid-centered activities, but I can go to this Y, be an adult, and not have to dodge 500 kids in the hallway. The women's locker room is huge. I don't lounge around in the buff like some other members do, but I appreciate the shame-free environment. At Harris, I feel like I have to constantly cover up and worry about offending people. At Dowd, I can change my clothes without acting like I'm rushing to go on stage in 30 seconds. I'm constantly on a search for nice steam rooms, and Dowd's is very good. It's large and the cleanest one I've seen so far. It's a tad too hot for me, but not a huge issue. The showers are kept very clean, and I appreciate that. I am always recommending the Dowd to friends and family. It's a great place, and I'm thankful that it is in Charlotte. read more

So I've been going a little longer now and have some updated info... I started to notice that the swim classes were not consistent and not really a challenge so unfortunately I had to give those up. But fear not! I found a couple of great classes- my favorite easily being turbo kick (Meredith C and Anna K are such great motivators- and they will leave you with a killer workout!). I also really like total strength and cardio strength. Recently I tried rock-it-cardio strength which left me very sore and thus I will probably add that one to my repertoire as well. Classes that are iffy include Wednesdays Athletic Conditioning which in itself is difficult but a particular female instructor Becky, is a screamer (in an echo-y gym) and doesn't explain directions well so my first class had to be my last...I left with a big headache! The other iffy one is zumba which I feel focuses too much on the dance aspect and not enough cardio itself - thus it's hard to follow along with the hand gestures but doesn't really give me as intense of a work out as turbo-kick. It took me a few months to figure out I could park in the church lot (and walk in the back area near the pool) but since then I haven't had an hassles in the parking lot as there are almost always spots there. Temp-wise the gym is a little stuffy and gets really crowded. I also wish they capped some of the classes...and specifically offered the weight classes in a room with mirrors (at least the beginner classes) - it makes it easier to keep a flat back and watch your positioning. Finally if any ladies are reading this - the locker room is just downright uncomfortable at times. Shower curtains are there for a reason and no, I don't want to sit in the hot-tub with you while you're naked after you worked out-gross! I understand a certain amount of undress is expected but some people (generally the older crowd I might add) take it to an extreme. read more

I still love this place, but the hours aren't great on the weekend. Also, the music they play in the main weight room sounds like the Disney Channel and Taylor Swift had an illegitimate child after many nights of sordid rendezvous. I don't wanna listen to that shit while I'm lifting; I wanna get pumped up! They could take a hint from 24 Hour Fitness (which usually plays some pretty bad-ass house music)... or even the music their own group exercise classes play upstairs. read more

Run. Lift. Hoop. Spike. Cycle. Row. Swim. Swing. Whatever way you get your fitness in, you can get it done at the Dowd YMCA. Parking is a bit tight sometimes but there's a pretty substantial construction taking place to address that. This is one of the larger YMCA facilities in the metro Charlotte area yet during peak times, it can get pretty crowded. The facility is well maintained and staff are active in making sure things are tidy. Here's a more in-depth run down of the fitness options available that I mention above: * RUN - A good amount treadmills, stair-masters and elliptical machines. Most have their own TV's so you aren't stuck watching the large televisions. There's several rooms with treadmills. The cycle and row machines now too. * LIFT - Full weight room on the lower floor. There's more lifting equipment on the 2nd floor and some dumbbells. There's also some a lifting room in the men's locker room. Can't verify if there's one in the ladies locker room. * HOOP - 2 full size courts (sometimes dedicated to rec league games). 2 medium size courts. * SPIKE - Open-invite Volleyball on certain weeknights * SWIM - Large Olympic size pool. Pools even possibly. I've never used it but it's there. * SWING - There's several racquetball courts and I'm currently looking for people to play with so yeah, reach out and bring your A-game!!! read more

Love the Uptown area Y's...especially the Dowd. Very big, with lots of equipment on multiple levels. Even when it's busy, it's not that much of a headache to find an open machine. Every now and then, the basketball games get a little intense and the sound carries into the fitness area. Locker room is large and offers dry cleaning AND shoe shining, which I like. Of the YMCA's near Uptown, this is definitely the best and the largest. Also has the most parking available too. Very welcoming, very clean and and great place to get your sweat on! read more

This is hands down the best gym in Charlotte (sans the parking lot, of course!). I could repeat what all other Yelpers have said about the amenities, classes, amount of weights/equipment, but I think the best part about this YMCA is the staff. Always cheerful and attentive, they really make you feel comfortable and encouraged when you walk through the doors. That's something that a person like me (aka I will NEVER EVER EVER love going to the gym) really appreciates and finds helpful in sticking to my 4 days a week program! Another plus is no kids - after coming from the Morrison YMCA in Ballantyne, it's really nice not to have to dodge screaming little ones in the hall or wait for some 14 year old who improperly uses equipment to get done so I can work out! Price wise it's higher than other gyms, but you always get what you pay for and they offer Financial Aid to those who need it! read more

I was a member of the Dowd Y for about 3 years and then bowed out to move south to the lands of suburban Charlotte. Where Target and soccer fields reign supreme. Well, no longer! I'm back to the Dowd, and boy, oh boy, does it feel good. I love this facility. Easy to access all of the equipment you need. Swimming, cardio equipment, weights, basketball courts...just the works. I've been a racquetball player most of my life and the courts here are fantastic. The crowd that shows up is challenging, lively, and exudes a great deal of sportsmanship. The Y really does formulate a great deal of community. Biggest gripe, as many would agree, is the parking situation. Ha! Good luck finding a space at 5pm on a weekday. You'll circle that old building for half an hour before landing a space! I recommend biking if possible. Much less of a headache. The staff at the front desk and the pro shop are great people, too. Very nice, helpful, and no-frills. They just do what you need and that's all. I also love the baskets of bible verses near the entrances/exits. It's a nice touch. Glad to see this organization is focused on the needs of spirituality as well. Love the Dowd. Love being a member here. That is all. read more

10/10/13 Original and first impression: I've been an athlete my whole life and in my 20+ yrs of training all over the world there are not that many chain gyms in US I haven't been to. With that being said I give this Y a firm 5 stars!!! I'm new to the area and was shopping around bs spent a lot of time at they gym ( it takes less time for me to pick out a car then a gym! Lol ). Anyhow, being up early and at the gym by 6sh am I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted w a smile by Dion and Dana. Lets face it, it's not just the gym but the people who work their matter! This Ys team is wonderful and is working w me to figure out best payment option ( I have a startup and new Ys payment system is customizable ). Friendly and helpful staff! As for the gym itself: it's absolutely fantastic! 5 stories of clean, new equipment, 2 swimming pools, plenty if towels.... What more can one want from a work out facility??? W hundreds of people training at all times I've never felt crowded ( note: definitely ask for a trial pass to decide for urself! ) or had to wait for a piece of equipment! Absolutely love it!!! FYI: it's definitely worth looking for a parking spot! read more