Wellmark YMCA

Overview

The YMCA of Greater Des Moines operates as a comprehensive community fitness and wellness organization rather than a dedicated sauna business, but it prominently features a sauna among its amenities at the Walnut Creek Family YMCA. This nonprofit provides multi-purpose fitness facilities across Central Iowa, emphasizing youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Facilities include gyms, pools, tracks, and specialized areas like saunas for relaxation and recovery.

• Facility type: State-of-the-art YMCA branches with fitness centers, aquatic areas, sports courts, and wellness spaces, including dry saunas for post-workout recovery.
• Overall atmosphere and experience: Welcoming, inclusive, and community-driven environments fostering connection, growth, and health. Members enjoy a supportive vibe with certified trainers, group classes, family programs, and events. The Y promotes a sense of belonging, with free trials, scholarships for 18,000 individuals, and programs serving 100,000 people annually. Experiences range from invigorating workouts to relaxing in saunas, all in clean, modern spaces originally designed for community use (e.g., Wellmark YMCA’s former convention center).

Features & Amenities

The YMCAs offer extensive amenities tailored for all ages and fitness levels, with the sauna at Walnut Creek YMCA highlighted for relaxation:

• Aquatics: Lap and recreation pools (e.g., Charlotte Broderick Natatorium at Waukee), Prairie Meadows Pool at Wellmark.
• Fitness areas: Strength training zones, cardio spaces, indoor cycling studios, indoor running tracks.
• Group spaces: Aerobics studios, yoga/Pilates/Barre studios, mind/body studios.
• Sports facilities: Gymnasiums, basketball/hand/racquetball courts, athletic centers.
• Recovery & relaxation: Sauna (Walnut Creek), supportive housing campus.
• Family/kids: Children’s Learn & Play Centers, Kids Zone during classes.
• Tech-forward: EGYM smart strength training (Walnut Creek, Waukee) with auto-adjusting machines and app tracking.
• Other: Community rooms, rentals (e.g., Knapp Learning Center suites up to 3700 sq ft), virtual wellness access via YWellness 24/7.

Services

Diverse programs promote holistic wellness:

• Fitness & Training: Hundreds of drop-in classes (cardio, yoga, Pilates, cycling, water exercise, LES MILLS™); personal training (custom plans, assessments); small group training (TRX, Boot Camp); EGYM for efficient strength workouts.
• Youth Programs: Flag football, basketball, soccer; swim lessons, camps; enrichment classes teaching teamwork and skills.
• Aquatics: Lessons, teams (e.g., masters swim), open swim.
• Events: Super Saturday samplers, Red Flannel Run, Healthy Kids Day, Truck or Treat, dodgeball tournaments.
• Community Support: Scholarships, supportive housing (140 residents), volunteer opportunities (meals, activities), Annual Campaign fundraising.
• Virtual Options: On-demand classes via YWellness 24/7 for home workouts.

Pricing

Specific pricing is limited; focus on memberships and add-ons:

• Free Trial: 5-day pass to try classes, courts, facilities.
• Personal Training (certified trainers, customizable packages):

  Sessions	Individual	Partner (per client)	Trio (per client)
  1	$60	$50	$40
  5	$285	$237.50	$190
  10	$540	$450	$360
  20	$960	$800	$640

  • Monthly packages by request.
• Other: Youth Rookie leagues free with Family membership; financial assistance available. 3% credit card transaction fee effective Jan 2026. Membership join incentives (e.g., 50% off first month at events). Donations tax-deductible.

Location & Hours

Multiple branches in Central Iowa:

• Walnut Creek Family YMCA (948 73rd St, West Des Moines, IA 50265; 515-224-1888):
  • Mon-Thu: 5am-9pm; Fri: 5am-8pm; Sat: 6am-4pm; Sun: 8am-4pm.
  • Features sauna.
• Waukee Family YMCA (210 N. Warrior Lane, Waukee, IA 50263; 515-987-9996):
  • Mon-Thu: 5am-9pm; Fri: 5am-8pm; Sat: 6am-6pm; Sun: 8am-4pm.
• Wellmark YMCA (501 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309; 515-282-9622):
  • Mon-Thu: 5am-9pm; Fri: 5am-8pm; Sat: 7am-4pm; Sun: 9am-4pm.
  • Parking: Garage/street ($1/hr ramps, $0.25-$1.75/hr street); monthly $15 validation.
• John R. Grubb Community YMCA (1611 11th St, Des Moines, IA 50314; 515-246-0791): Mon-Fri 9am-7pm; Sat 7am-2pm; Sun closed.

Notes

• What makes this special: 150+ years of community impact as a nonprofit; accessible via scholarships; innovative tech like EGYM and BioAge tracking; inclusive culture (welcoming, genuine, nurturing)…