New facility with state-of-the-art pool, gym opens July 21
Sarah Atkins
seatkins05@gmail.com
Excitement brewed as rainy skies cleared Friday afternoon, and the new YMCA in Mitchell County celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new YMCA facility, officially named the AMY-Wellness Foundation YMCA of Mitchell County, will serve as a place for members of the community to pursue and “build a healthy spirit, mind and body.”
The facility has two floors. The ground level includes a room for childcare, two spaces for group classes, and a lounge area.
Upstairs features a gym stocked with new equipment, including barbells, stair climbers, and cable machines. There are also two pools: a lap pool as well as a pool designed for children to enjoy. The facility will host the Sibelco Splash Program during the school year, which will offer free swimming lessons to every kindergarten through second-grade student in Mitchell County.
Members of the community, YMCA leadership, and state officials — including Governor Josh Stein and Senator Ralph Hise — spoke at the event, encouraging the people of Mitchell County as they continue to rebuild and recover from the damage of Hurricane Helene.
“The new Mitchell County YMCA is more than brick and mortar, it’s a symbol of resilience,” said Van Phillips, vice chair of the Williams YMCA of Avery County. “This facility represents what happens when neighbors help neighbors, when volunteers step up, when leaders listen, and when a community decides that rebuilding isn’t enough, that we must rise higher than we ever have before.”
Mayland Community College has partnered closely with the YMCA to make this project possible. John Boyd, president of Mayland Community College, described the new YMCA facility as part of a larger $60 million regional project, which includes the Blue Ridge Boutique Hotel and the Mayland Earth to Sky Park. The combined projects are hoped to generate a $20 million annual return, helping sustain a year-round economy and workforce.
The Mitchell YMCA opened to charter members on Monday and will open to the general public on July 21. The facilities will be available for use Monday through Friday, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pool hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday - Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Mitchell YMCA is located at 97 Pinebridge Avenue, Spruce Pine., (828) 520-9101.