Aspen Fitness Clubs

Aspen Athletic Clubs is a locally focused health and fitness operator serving the Des Moines metropolitan area. The company runs a single full-service club concept that offers a broad mix of cardio and strength equipment, group exercise classes, personal training, aquatics and family-friendly amenities. Its locations are designed to function as everyday gyms for nearby residents, with formats that fit comfortably into neighborhood and suburban retail settings.

The brand’s history in central Iowa goes back to the early 1980s, when the original Aspen Athletic club opened in the Des Moines area using a classic big-box model built around weight rooms, racquet sports and straightforward adult programming. As the region’s suburbs expanded over the following decades, Aspen added clubs in key trade areas such as West Des Moines, Clive and other growing communities, building a small regional network anchored in established retail corridors.

A notable milestone for the company came as it began upgrading older sites into more modern, multi-amenity clubs. Legacy facilities were refreshed with updated cardio zones, turf and functional training areas, and improved locker and social spaces. Programming also broadened to include a wider range of class formats, from higher-intensity training and cycling to yoga and expanded aquatics. These investments helped Aspen retain long-time members while appealing to younger households moving into new housing and retail developments across the metro.

Over roughly the last five years, Aspen Athletic Clubs has focused less on opening new locations and more on enhancing and right-sizing its existing footprint. The chain has concentrated on remodeling, equipment updates and layout improvements so its clubs stay competitive alongside value gyms and boutique studios. Rather than pursuing a formal regional or national rollout, Aspen has chosen to deepen its presence in greater Des Moines, staying close to the customer base it already knows well.

As of October 2024, Aspen Athletic Clubs operates 5 clubs in the Des Moines market, all positioned within typical drive times of major residential neighborhoods and employment centers. The locations generally occupy traditional big-box fitness footprints within neighborhood and community centers, sometimes with access to outdoor training or pool areas depending on the site. The company remains independently owned and does not appear to franchise or promote a structured expansion program, so any new real estate decisions are selective and tied to local opportunities.

For landlords, brokers and developers, Aspen functions as a stable, service-oriented tenant that can activate larger spaces and support daily visit patterns through recurring member traffic. Its broad member base, which includes working adults, families and active older residents, tends to complement grocery, soft-goods and everyday service co-tenants in established retail nodes. With its long operating history and commitment to full-service club formats rather than short-cycle boutique concepts, Aspen often serves as a durable health and wellness anchor within the core shopping centers of the Des Moines area.