This is an honest and unbiased review, please take a moment to read this for your safety…read more Personally I am a bodybuilder and very well versed in the fitness world. I have been to gyms all over the world, this one is lacking in many aspects from management to equipment. Bottom line: I would ABSOLUTELY NOT recommend this place to a friend! I was excited to see this gym coming in, I even helped them unload their semi-trailers and set up. Upon working out in this gym, I have noticed that something was seriously missing. First off, this gym is not ran or managed by anyone that has the first clue of what a gym should be. They are missing equipment, to name a couple items I have noticed: 1 flat bench, which will impede multiple customers trying to do chest exercises, they do not have an overhead press, no hack squat machine, no decent accessories for the cables, they have no dead lift area or bump weights, etc. Upon discovery of this, I had to cancel my membership. They REFUSED TO REFUND ME!! They were mad that I went back to the Zone and told me "You blew your chance, now leave!" Total RIP OFF! Yes, if you want a half way workout you could "make it work" in this gym but they will never give your money back. But it's not just missing equipment. Several of my friends and I notice that their machines do not function properly. You cannot achieve a full range of motion in your workouts. The reason for this, they took the cheapest route and got the bottom of the barrel equipment. I believe they wasted money on those ridiculous "rock walls" and didn't put it in to where it has to go. I'm sure someone will play with the rock walls, but it's not for Effingham and certainly screwed up they took away from the fitness aspect!! Sure it looks all new and nice, but this stuff is all junk! I was let down really bad here. Also, the people they have already as members are super sensitive and are always on their phones and in the way. This place is just a horrible gym. I have been to some crappy gyms, especially overseas, and this one takes the bottom of the barrel award.
For management, it is severely lacking in professionalism. Like I said, they wouldn't refund me as they said they would. Complete liars! The lady that is supposed to run this place, has to ask her father about everything. He has no clue either. Their entire family, including children, sit behind the front desk and just eat McDonalds and make fools of themselves. Gym owners should not eat McDonalds!!! It is like the Honey Boo Boo family is in charge of the place. Also, I must note, I have made several recommendations on what they need to add and what to improve; THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! In fact, they get really upset with anyone that tries to tell them what they need! They seriously think they know it all. I saw the stuff unloaded from the semi-trailer, they went on "usedgymequipment.com" and followed a cheap layout of a gym from google. They followed it to the last detail. Problem with this, the gym is not set up properly! You can't tell them anything though, no matter how much you know about a gym. Every single member of this shanty family is completely thick headed, opinionated, and very rude. Furthermore, as a veteran of the USMC, and five combat tours, I am completely sickened by the fact that the father, MIKE BROWN, says he was Special Forces. Stolen valor for sure. Let me explain: Special Forces guys are gym rats! He had no idea what a MILITARY press was, along with other equipment. I asked him how Special Forces compare to Green Berets, he couldn't answer. But anyone can go on Wikipedia and see that Special Forces ARE Green Berets. He absolutely doesn't pass the sniff check. Anyone special forces has an upbeat attitude, alpha mentality, pride, and not cowardly at all; I cannot attribute any of these personality traits to this guy. I would love to meet another veteran that was a cook or something. Everyone always lies like this and says they were a sniper, tunnel rat, Special Forces, James Bond, etc. This guy also parks in the handicapped spot all the time, he walks fine but I have a friend that is paralyzed! It sickens me that he is taking that spot just because he is lazy. He may be technically "handicapped" to get the parking pass, but he is really "HANDI-LAZY". So there it is, they couldn't manage a one flavored taco stand, let alone a gym. None of them are in shape! They are unprofessional and judgmental. I am actually nervous to the fact that they have my debit card information, thank God for lifelock! I'm watching my account like a hawk! I do not trust these people, neither should you. I would feel safer with giving my stuff to a random person in a trailer park. No joke. Don't waste your money or time here!
Bottom line: NOT RECOMMENDED!!! But it's America, you can join here if you want. You may enjoy the place if you have no clue how a gym should feel, and like scams.
