The Mitchell County YMCA is making significant strides toward its grand opening in the Summer of 2025. Trey Oakley, CEO of the Williams YMCA of Avery County and the future Mitchell County YMCA, shared insights on the anticipated impact and progress of this vital community project.
The construction, led by Vannoy Construction, remains on schedule, with significant milestones already achieved. The demolition of the Three Peaks Enrichment Center space has been completed, paving the way for the establishment of the 18,000 square foot YMCA Wellness Facility and an adjacent indoor Aquatic Center. This pace is expected to accelerate with the arrival of warmer weather.
“I hope that the Mitchell County YMCA enhances an already vibrant tight knit community by providing additional opportunities for our children, families and older adults,” Oakley shares. “Our goal is to help create a community where children have the opportunity to learn, grow, thrive and become their best selves, our families spend more quality time together and our senior population receives additional services that they may need.”
The renovated building will house a variety of amenities, including a lobby with a coffee bar, multiple group exercise studios, multi-purpose basketball and pickleball courts, a state-of-the-art wellness center, an indoor track, and a Child Development Center. Additionally, the indoor Aquatic Center will feature two pools: an Olympic Short Course lap pool and a separate splash pool for children and families, enhancing the YMCA’s ability to serve the community’s diverse needs.
The YMCA’s development is supported by a $4.5 million allocation from the North Carolina state budget along with many other private individuals. This initiative, in collaboration with Mayland Community College, promises to create job opportunities and meet essential community needs.
“All of us are responsible for leaving our community better than we found it,” Oakley said. ‘Lives change for the better every day at the Y! Whether it be in the pool where a child passes their very first swim test, on the court making that first basket or in a class fighting back against
Cancer or Parkinson’s, we are all better together.”