Athletic Club of Bend

While I consider the ability to travel a great blessing, I have to admit that certain complications typically ensue from being away from home. One of those challenges can be how to continue your workout routine when on the road. While I don’t have specific recommendations for how to alleviate this situation in all cities, I can certainly provide some assistance when it comes to Bend, Oregon.

The Athletic Club of Bend offers numerous opportunities for you to get that workout in when you’re in town for a visit. Their amenities include 7 indoor tennis courts, an indoor running track, indoor and outdoor pools, a large spa, cardio equipment, weight room, a full basketball court, and 4 racquetball/squash courts.

While those amenities don’t necessarily make this place unique, there are two characteristics that do set this place apart.

First, they openly accept visitors to the club. Many clubs are very closed minded about this, but not so here. Sure, you’ll have to pay a guest fee, but it was very reasonable.

Second, I found the members here to be genuinely welcoming. I chose to utilize the club for some tennis and I felt immediately accepted by a group of members who have a standing weekly match. After just 2 hours together I felt like a part of the group and left with names and phone numbers for the next time that I visit Bend.

Sure, you can come up with an excuse to not workout while in Bend, but that excuse can’t be that there’s no facilities that you have access to or there are no friendly people here to connect with.

And that’s…Henry’s Take.

#bendexcercise
#bendtennis
#bendgym

WORST PLACE EVER if you’re ADA. 1st of all, I’m a fully disabled combat veteran. I have blown out knees that make walking hard, let alone standing. When I arrived the staff showed my wife and I the “ADA Sitting Area” which was chairs placed against the wall along the walk-through area between us and the “view of the stage”, meaning people were constantly walking in front of you where you couldn’t watch the show AT ALL from a seated position. We told the staff about this problem and they said they were going to work on it. After 20min of waiting with no response, the ADA group and I moved our chairs to the other side of the walkway so that people were not walking behind us instead of in front of us. This was a temporary fix. As soon as the main act came on stage, everybody stood up for the whole show. As you’ll see in my pictures, my view was of everyone’s backs. I could’ve had a better (and MUCH cheaper) time listening to the artist at home on my headphones. I understand that ADA isn’t exactly the biggest money draw for the club, but to say that we ADA is even a priority for them is a HUGE understatement. I personally will NEVER be going back to that establishment. Waste of money, time, and total disrespect of their Veteran and ADA community. SHAME ON YOU, ACB