YMCA of Western North Carolina

Serving Asheville and Western NC Since 1889

---

The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) has been a mainstay in Asheville and Western North Carolina for almost 120 years. In addition to providing quality athletic and fitness opportunities in the form of a gym, pool, and workout facility, the various YMCA locations in WNC also provide exceptional non-profit human services and over 200 community programs. These facilities, services, and programs serve "all ages, races, religions, income levels, and abilities."

YMCA of WNC provides three full scale facilities, two in Buncombe County and one to the East in Marion, NC, which is located in McDowell County. Along with these primary facilities the WNC YMCA also offers two support facilities in Buncombe County, one for Child Care Services and one for Youth Services.

The services offered by the primary facilities vary slightly between locations but all include an indoor swimming pool, strength training equipment, cardio equipment, free weights, group exercise areas, child watch areas, and a wide variety of fitness programs including water exercise, cycling (spinning), yoga, personal trainers, swimming lessons, youth sports, parent/child programs, and much more.

YMCA Branches in Asheville and Western North Carolina

---

NOTE: All YMCA of Western North Carolina branches will be closed for Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please check with location for Summer hours June 1 to August 31. For more information visit the YMCA of WNC Branches page.

YMCA Programs

---

The YMCA is more than just a place to go work out and swim. The YMCA of Western North Carolina offers over 200 programs including the following featured programs. To learn more visit the YMCA of WNC Programs page.

Y-Aquatics

The YMCA offers aquatic programs including swimming lessons, water fitness, competitive swimming (swim team), and lifeguard certification classes.

Y-Child Care

Child care programs include day camps, after school programs and a parent’s night out program.

Y-Family

The Y helps bring families together with activites geared toward family bonding such as Adventure Guides and much more.

Y-Fitness

The YMCA offers group fitness classes for all skill levels and individual personal training to fit your specific fitness goals.

Y-Teens

The YMCA offers teen focus programs, after school activities, and clubs covering a wide variety of topics and interests.

Y-Youth Sports

Youth sports teach children teamwork, sportsmanship, communication skills, and much more. The YMCA offers several sports including basketball, soccer, and t-ball.

Y-Day Camp

The YMCA offers a variety of summer camp programs for children of all ages.

YMCA of WNC History

---

The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in 1844 in London, England by George Williams. By 1851 the YMCA had expanded to 24 locations in Great Britain and had opened its doors in Montreal, Canada, and Boston, MA.

R.U. Garrett founded the YMCA of Western North Carolina in 1889 in the Central Methodist Church. By 1901 the YMCA was able to purchase its own building on Haywood Street and by 1909 membership had increased to 658. In 1920 the YMCA purchased a large mansion on the corner of Woodfin Street and Broadway, which served as the home of the WNC YMCA for nearly 50 years.

During WWII the YMCA served as a primary entertainment location of thousands of servicemen. During the same time period the Y operated a Market Street branch, now the YMI Cultural Center, which actively served Asheville’s African American community.

The current facilities operated by the YMCA were massive undertakings costing over $1 million dollars and wouldn’t have been possible without significant contribution from local volunteers and businesses. The YMCA of WNC opened the Corpening Memorial and Reuter Family YMCA locations in 2003.

YMCA Links

---

Go to YMCA Asheville: www.ymcawnc.org
Go to YMCA: www.ymca.net