Dowd YMCA

Good gym. They have a nice mix of offerings: multiple nautilus circuits, cardio machine w/​tv, full pool, full steam and sauna, full court BBall, racketball, and plenty of classes + mini rest. open 5am — 2pm. Staff and members are good deal with. It does stay super busy from 5am-​9pm. Parking is an issue, but the staff can show where there is extra parking that belongs to the next door church but is available on most day (no WED or SUN). It’s nice place to run from as it’s close to some of the nice old neighborhoods of CLT.

This gym is very nice. The women’s locker room is huge but during peak times, you will NOT find parking. Saturday mornings is one of the worst times to go, even if you get there by 7:45 am. But I love, love the classes. I think I’m getting a really good workout. I joined because I literally pass the gym on my way home. But I hate that’s it based on income. I pay a pretty penny and I’m thinking of cancelling because of that. It’s like your punished for having a decent income, not taking all the other things you have to pay each month. But I love they have TV’S on the machines, with really good channels. I love the wet steam room and there’s even machines in the women’s locker room, that’s how big it is. And there’s a third floor with more machines. But class schedule is super nice and plenty of variety.

It’s a decent gym but the parking situation is horrible, and has been for months. It will take on average 20 minutes to find parking in the 5:30−7 pm timeframe. The gym suggested you avoid peak hours (before work and after work) but that is difficult because, like most people, I work during business hours. Unless you qualify for a reduced rate based on your income, it is hardly inexpensive. I’m glad they’re doing something to fix the parking now, but the reality is it should have been fixed years ago.

Let me start off by saying Josh at the front desk is THE BOMB. From the moment my husband and I walked through the door on our first day he made us feel like we were the only people in the gym. On my third day, I forgot my headphones. Josh let me borrow his Beats. LIKE, WHAT?! I’ve lived in Charlotte now for 2 ½ years and have worked out at quite a few gyms, but have never felt more welcomed at the Dowd. The people are great, the facilities are clean and I couldn’t imagine ever leaving! GIVE ME DOWD OR GIVE ME DEATH.

This is the only YMCA that I’ve been to in the area. I’m unsure how this compares. However, the staff is extremely friendly, the equipment is in good shape, and it’s a full Y with pool, basketball, and racquet ball in addition to the normal gym equipment.

I like this YMCA, it’s the only y in Charlotte that has a jacuzzi, the set up is super cool. But my issue is. It’s a bit racist if your black they think your sneaking in trying to steal stuff. I had a woman tell me I look like a thief I can’t come in this way to go to the locker room. If you do not come in there dress like a business savvy person, the red button goes up. Second mainly the woman that’s been coming for a long time walk around butt naked, it’s so disgusting they get in the jacuzzi necked and shave there private areas in front of ppl. It’s just to much. My husband says the men do it to. And they would have a towel around there neck while they are talking to you. The staff doesn’t do anything about it, cause they say they been here for a long time and they do not want to upset them.

This gym is great. The parking is fine if you’re not one of those people that drives around in circles looking for the closest spot… just park anywhere and walk an extra 10 feet. Consider it your warm up. The staff is either very friendly or leave you alone to do your own thing, which is great. Equipment is sufficiently up to date and there is a section in the women’s locker room for exercising (with treadmills, weights, etc…) for those days when you just want some privacy from the opposite sex lol.
The ONLY reason I gave it four stars instead of five is the shop/​restaurant area. I am usually pretty exhausted after a work out and therefore think it’s worth paying the very expensive cost of purchasing food there instead of driving to Harris Teeter or getting unhealthy fast food on the way home. With the exception of one lady, the restaurant staff is a bit rude. They are often cleaning, talking to someone, checking out their fingernails… doing anything but coming over to the register where I am standing with my yogurt and apple waiting for someone to ring me up.
I come to Dowd pretty much every day, there are many gyms in the area but this one is spacious and very reasonably priced.

Love the Dowd YMCA! They have a sliding price scale, which makes it affordable, and a really nice selection of group classes. Group classes are my bread and butter as it makes me work out because I have to meet a class, kinda like in college ;)
The group class offerings really impressed me as they offer several forms of yoga (including hot –what?), pilates, and barre classes. There is a women-​only weight room with free weights, which is good because I don’t get intimidated by the hulks. They also have a sauna AND a steam room, which, though small, is amazing!
Overall, I feel this is a good place to work out with lots of variety and clean, convenient amenities (like providing towels), for a good price — especially because I get to go to any Charlotte Y. The only downside is that it gets VERY busy (get to class early!) and parking can be quite difficult at prime times.

We have been members since this place was called Central Y. It is overall a great place to work out. THANKFULLY we never ever go after 4:30 pm weekdays, that would be a nightmare (and from what we hear, is so). I used to work out after 5pm and made alot of business & personal friends, yet I’m not in that world anymore. Overall the latest team (as of this email date!) is good. In the past, you could fall over on the workout floors (& I have helped folks who have) and never a staff person around. Now the staff is friendly, helpful & visible. I don’t do classes, yet there are plenty of offerings. The womens locker room is clean when I arrive (vs a disaster area after the AM working crowd leaves :-)). The equipment is mostly good (need NEW rowers!!) and kept up by really great maintenance guys (ok, no girls, yet). The weight room downstairs is good, though more often than not crowded. Weight room staff please gently nudge people to get off their blasted phones (emailing, txting, changing their music whatever) & not letting people work in between sets. Also the music in the weight room is TOO LOUD (& terrible). I also wish the staff could walk through the 3^rd & 4^th floors every minutes and get the jerks off their phones who cannot read or don’t care about the very respectful NO CELL PHONE signs. One guy weekday mornings (white hat, arrogant attitude) breaks the rule ALL THE TIME, staff has talked to him and he still does it (then others will start being as rude/​arrogant about it). One bad guy yet people glare and he disrupts the zen of the morning (9 – 11 ’ ish timeframe) workout adults, who respect people (other than white ball cap jerk). I think the variety of equipment is great and there is something for everyone.
FitCentral trainers are THE BEST (especially Janet & Jill) and worth the occasional if that’s all — fee to train right for your body mind & soul. (I cannot be comfortable the Y staff has beyond the basic training, and certainly not the time, to provide a good overall training workout).
This is a busy, high-​volume Y so lots of whining people who demand alot. I give them credit for trying to make people happy. I am smiling more when I workout as I’m less peeved about all the non-​caring people, unkempt equipment and unclean locker rooms — because it is truly much better than it has been in a very long time. Keep it up!

Love this gym but my god it’s a problem getting in there, this is now the 10 time this year that my account has been deleted or stopped or some shit, AND every time they fix it and the apologize for the system and bla bla bla… FIX IT!!!

I enjoy having my YMCA metro card to visit any YMCA in Charlotte, I’ve been sleeping on the Dowd location. Dowd Is definitely a different atmosphere than the Siskey, it’s more of a young professional business crowd vs high school, college kids, and large families. I’m a mom so I love Siskey but since my daughter is in HS and my son is too young to play in the kids area I’ll hit up Dowd for more free weight options and advance machines .
Also, how awesome is the full service restaurant for a healthy meal on the go or a smoothie. Forgot your headphone, no worries there is also an onsite gift shop for those little knick knacks. Need dry cleaning, shoe repair, bring it to Dowd.

I love this gym, it has almost everything you need, weights, basketball, indoor track, punching bags, driving range for golf, pool, etc.

This place doesn’t get 5 stars because the parking situation is terrible. I never come here between 5 – 730 because it is so packed. Sometimes I have to go into other businesses parking lots or park on a side street.
The facility itself is great. There are 4 floors. The bottom tends to be for the men. The first floor has a women’s center and a yoga studio. The upper floors are filled with all sorts of gym equipment.
The classes they offer here are fun and a good workout. I like going to cycling, kickboxing and Pilates myself. Yoga studio can get packed so hope you can fit.
Overall I am glad I am a member here.

Ummmm… it’s a workout facility… what else do you want???
Nah forreal, this is a good gym. I’m in love now that they have prenatal yoga classes. It’s only on Mondays but I’m good with that since I go to another place for yoga twice a week.
They have an abundance of classes and the machines are always properly working… or at least if something is broken there are a million others like it.
Parking is hell weekday afternoons or right after New Years (if you catch my drift); but it’s worth it, since it down the street from my job and I don’t want the hassle of going to Childress Klein which is smaller and I don’t feel like driving through a maze to park.
Also, I used to own a locker there and all the ladies are pretty cool. If you’re a regular expect to strike up some conversations with some chicas… I mean if they see you everyday, you may as well know your locker neighbors.

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.

The Dowd has the largest selection of work out classes and their schedule is awesome. Parking can be a little tricky but waiting for a spot is worth it. I love how much space there is at this Y. Great gym!

Beautiful facilities– all the amenities you could ever need, plenty of high-​end cardio equipment, decent amount of parking, friendly staff.

The good: Great gym, great classes, great instructors. Hours are amazing and the equipment is newer up stairs. They’ve added a few more classes. Pools are fantastic. The juice spot is great! Staff is nice. The bad: parking is impossible. Seriously if you plan to come at 4:30 — 7:00 monday-​friday, forget about parking. You will not get a spot. The woman’s locker room equipment is nasty, the circuit equipment makes me cringe, there’s always two elliptical broken or stair masters are broken. More parking would be the first thing to figure out!

Not one to write reviews unless really compelled. This gym is impressive; it ranks up there with some of the pricier gyms (equinox and NYSC) I have been a member of. I find myself getting bored with class offerings after taking them for prolonged periods bc the instructors get lazy – same music, same routine… blah blah blah. I did my research before joining. I looked at Charlotte Athletic Club, Gold’s and a few boxing spots. I use the gym for group classes and this place offers quite a bit. The classes offered run will into the evening (8pm), a must for those who have to run errands after work. and the class instructors are great – they keep things interesting with new routines and music from week to week. The website is up to date with classes and instructors. The price is great for what you get –19 locations locally!
The staff is friendly and accommodating. They speak to you when you arrive/​depart. They pick up the phone when you call and they have answers to questions! I mean, that alone is amazing. One of my cleats from my cycle shoe got stuck in the bike yesterday. The instructor took my info on what appeared to be scratch paper and said he would pass along my info. Sure, I thought. I called this morning to follow up and the lady who answered the phone knew exactly what I was talking about, before I even got the full sentence out!
I know folks have mentioned the parking; I have not had an issue. There are a few other parking lots they might not know about, and if you time your arrival you can find people leaving. Not bad. It does get crowded during peak hours but that is to be expected. I can only imagine what the place will look like come January. It is nothing that would deter me bc as I said, facility is impressive.

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!