University of Iowa Campus Recreation and Wellness Center

Pros:
1. Large, spacious, and great atmosphere.
2. The pools are great, how many have a lazy river, lap swim, and a climbing wall in a single pool? Likely none, check it out.
3. Most classes are free with a membership.
4. Open to anyone. Walk by and you feel guilty about not working out, just bop in!
5. I’m vertically frightened (aka afraid of heights), but to those interested there is a 40 to 50 foot climbing wall! Go get your climb on.
6. Large indoor track for walking or running.
Cons:
1. My largest complaint are that lockers are extra and are not like some gyms where they are free and used on a first come basis. They have lockers that cost a quarter though for walk ins or those who don’t pay for the service.

I am not sure why this facility does not have more reviews, but today we are definitely going to change that.
First off, let me tell you that this facility is by far the newest, nicest, best facility I have seen and I have seen quite a few. It was built in 2010 (i believe) so when you walk in, everything is shiny, squeaky clean and still smells like new. They offer a ton of free classes for students, the only downside is that (so far) you cannot sign up online, you need to go there in person and sometimes even a few hours before classes start for some of them fill up quickly. They assured me that they will have an online sign up sheet soon, though.
Honestly, you should see the pool facilities: they have a huge one for performance training and an acqua park! Read that again, folks: acqua park! In a University gym! That tops it all. However, because of the acqua park some of the space that could be used for weigh lifting is lost, so it is not always easy to find a spot.
The instructors I have had vary their exercises often and they definitely give good guidance. Thumbs up Iowa City!

Can’t beat free for students, the classes are usually good, the only down side is the times some of the classes are offered.

For all the local taxpayers, tuition hikes, and expensive textbooks this place better be amazing. Iowa finally has a recreation center worthy for a University of this size. So many things to do here; take a class, work out, swim, rock climb, run on the track, basketball it up and much more! The place is huge, the biggest recreation center I’ve been in, as it should be. The only hangup I have is that the free weights section (big boy section) has about 5 – 6 benches and is too tight. They should really move some of the treadmills and expand their offering for all of us «bro’s.»