Vernon Planet Fitness manager Kelsey Lee cuts the ribbon to open the new Vernon outlet on 27th Street on Dec. 6. (Vernon Matters Photo)
Planet Fitness Grand Opening

New Vernon fitness gym hits the ground running

Dec 7, 2023 | 1:00 PM

If you are a Minnesota Vikings fan, you will feel right at home in Vernon’s newest fitness facility.

Over a hundred people were working out in the purple and gold-themed facility on Wednesday evening as Planet Fitness celebrated its grand opening in Vernon.

The new club, which is over 20,000 square feet, is at at 4506 27th Street at the former Canadian Tire property. It offers state-of-the-art cardio machines and strength equipment, 30-Minute Express Circuit, numerous flat screen televisions, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, and more.

The new facility is open and staffed from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Hundreds of pieces of exercise equipment at Planet Fitness. (Vernon Matters photo)

“We are excited to bring our “judgement free” fitness experience to the Vernon community,” Candice Rogers, VP of Operations Canada at Ignite Fitness Holdings, a Planet Fitness franchise group, said. “We take a lot of pride in providing a high-quality experience at an exceptional value and a hassle-free, non-intimidating environment for everyone, no matter where they are in their fitness journey.”

Vernon has several gyms, yoga studios and small fitness studios, but Rogers feels the market for Planet Fitness leaves room in the market.

“Well, 80 per cent of people have never been to the gym, so we cater to that first-time gym goer. Sometimes taking that first step and getting into the gym is the hardest step and that is where Planet Fitness comes in with the judgement free zone, no matter where they are in life,” Rogers told Vernon Matters.

The gym discourages behaviour that sometimes stops people from going to a club for the first time.

Lunk alarm at Planet Fitness (Vernon Matters photo)

Memberships start at $15 a month plus a sign-up and annual fee, while an enhanced membership, “The PF Black Card membership,” is $29.99 a month. That includes additional amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no additional charge, and access to tanning, massage chairs, hydromassage, red light therapy and a wellness pod.

As part of the grand opening, Spirit North was presented with $1,000 by the business. The non-profit group gets Indigenous youth into outdoor activities.

Spirit North cheque presentation (Vernon Matters Photo)

Founded in 1992 in New Hampshire, Planet Fitness has more than 18.5 million members and 2,498 locations in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia.

For more information click here.

View Comments