Hockessin Athletic Club

Less and less for our kids to do as they have done away with the indoor playground. You would think they could have staffed or done something to make it safer. Childcare is more for kids under 5, leaving my kids with nothing to do while I work out. Hard to imagine they can't do better. Not sure it is worth the cost, except my son loves karate there.

My family and I had a disappointing gym experience. The staff was unhappy and unhelpful, the front desk barely acknowledged us, and the parking lot was consistently full, making it hard to find a spot. The weight lifting area felt outdated, like an old-style workout basement with bright lights. Despite having a "black card," yoga classes were always overbooked or full three days in advance. I'm eagerly awaiting the end of my membership and won't be returning.

We are new to the area and toured HAC as our family of four enjoys keeping fit and staying active. The tour started out fine but quickly went south when we asked about programs for teenage boys. Apparently, there aren’t any but instead of just acknowledging this, the tour guide got defensive and indignant. She even went so far as to suggest that my husband and I join and “find something else for your sons.” So we took her advice and joined Edge Fitness for a fraction of the cost . Too bad because it is a beautiful facility.

As an avid weightlifter and gym-goer of HAC for the last 5 years or so - Here’s a thorough and honest review. I have kept my mouth shut for years, and have stayed to support HAC and give them a chance through all of the hard times, but sadly the time has come to an end. To whom it may concern: Regarding the staff, the facility, and the environment at a high-level - it is clean and friendly. Generally no issues there, though there’s always going to be someone having a bad day or something going on. Some staff members are extra bright and even go above and beyond for you - like Morgan and Laura at the front desk. However, the price of the facility is outrageous. They will advertise a lot to you included in the membership, but it is only partially true at-best. Since the COVID pandemic, the demographics have changed. The amount of young and single gym-goers have emerged, while the amount of families has apparently reduced. The key takeaway is that the gym-goers is the population that is financially holding the place up. Yet sadly still, they are getting the short end of the stick. Even though they have voiced concerns for years. The facility had “upgrades” and “renovations” - and they will surely let you know of it advertising the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars they put into it. Although really there is not much of a difference in the changes they made. It was all a marketing scheme to combat the Edge opening. They made the stretch area much smaller, added a bunch of new silly machines for stretching (a waste of money), and added a sort-of awkward turf and threw some new shiny equipment on there and sat back. They didn’t replace any of the real, much-needed equipment like the 8-stack down stairs, the benches, smith-machines, squat racks and more. They even got rid of a bunch of the more useful machines than of what they have now. It really makes no sense. All of that to say, the equipment is limited in selection and mediocre at best - and that’s with every nut and bolt tightened, and every cable pully operating properly. The cable downstairs has been sticking for years and no one has done anything about it. The message is simple : from a business perspective, the awful plan and decisions are not viable. The decision-makers are not competent and are very cheap. I truly feel bad for the place, and how bad the planning has been over the years. And all who will suffer from what is to come in the near-future. If you classify yourself as an experienced lifter and are looking for a higher level training facility, this is NOT the gym for you. This is a family-first facility and will not meet your expectations for the price you’re paying. In addition, there is a “gymnasium” to be used. Though that gymnasium is occupied daily by children and classes, and even in the evenings by basketball and soccer. I even found on saturdays around noon the gym is being used by staff. That is HORRIBLE as there’s rarely ever a chance to even play basketball or anything (though it’s advertised as included in your membership). Also, while that’s the case, there is not a single properly-inflated basketball to be used, and the equipment manager would put weighted items on all of the nice basketballs to ruin them. On top of putting too much air in them (he’s silly and so is the person who decided to hire him). The solution is simple, add a sign-in or sign-out system with the nice basketballs behind the front desk. It’s really sad what it has come down to - as I don’t know anyone at the top personally, but I have my sources of information and what the whispers behind the curtain. It’s almost as if it comes down to ego. Refusing to open perspective, refusing to listen, refusing to adapt to the new world, social media, and the demand of your people, is incredibly asinine as the owner of the “top facility in DE”. It’s not 2010 anymore. If you don’t want to listen to the people who are holding your business up financially, you will face the consequences eventually. I wish HAC best of luck.

Took my grandson there for swim lessons and it was a terrifying experience! They have 3 kids to a 30 minute class and each child gets 10 minutes! My grandson jumped in the pool with the swim instructor at the other end of the pool! I had to jump in the pool to get him! Swim instructor was rude and acted like it was my 3 year old grandson’s fault!! Did not refund my money! I would never recommend this place to anyone, or will I ever go back there ever again!