Coolest Gyms?
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Vets Auditorium.
Rebuild it seat for seat, bleachers and all. Then move the State tournament back in there.
I haven’t personally been, but Waukee’s gym looks pretty awesome. Marshalltown apparently has a new roundhouse that is supposed to be top of the line as well. Waverly Shell Rock is my favorite gym that I have been in.
Western Christian has a pretty sweet gym to back up their tradition. It's a huge double-decker for a 2A school with an amazing hoops atmosphere
Newton's gym is pretty cool IMO. I like the upper level bleachers, one of which is right behind one of the hoops. Some classic substate games for 2A and 3A have been held there over the last 20-30 years. HawkPT's eagles were involved in some of those.
I second the Waverly Shell Rock gym rec. Daughter had a tournament there and it's a very nice 3A gym.
While not classics, Van Meter (2A) has an outstanding, new facility. Southeast Polk's is nice as well.
Albia used to have a really classic (nice way of saying old and kind of a POS really) set up where it was just one side with bleachers and an upper deck. They've since (in the 90's if not mistaken) built a new gym. Still use the old gym for tournaments at times.
I second the Waverly Shell Rock gym rec. Daughter had a tournament there and it's a very nice 3A gym.
While not classics, Van Meter (2A) has an outstanding, new facility. Southeast Polk's is nice as well.
Albia used to have a really classic (nice way of saying old and kind of a POS really) set up where it was just one side with bleachers and an upper deck. They've since (in the 90's if not mistaken) built a new gym. Still use the old gym for tournaments at times.
Honestly, for a school their size, Western probably has one of the bigger, nicer gyms in the state. Hard for me to say, as I don't care much for them, but it's hard to argue against their success and very nice facility.
Western's gym is really fan-friendly after the last remodel.
We actually reduced our seating capacity by doing new bleachers on the bottom tier to:
1) Move the fans further away from the sidelines/bench, 2) install more aisles with handrails, and 3) increase legroom for all.
Still need to totally redo the restrooms/locker rooms. (Maybe paint the visitors' in pink?
)Seems like visitors always like our secondary concession stand in the balcony with hand-scooped ice cream & root beer floats!
I still like visiting the old-school barns with wood everywhere. Been in a couple that are throw-backs to Hooisers!
Chariton gym
(photo credit: http://www.chc-photography.com/blog...-photographer-final-destination-chariton-iowa)
(photo credit: http://www.chc-photography.com/blog...-photographer-final-destination-chariton-iowa)
Lynnville-Sully has a great atmosphere with the students sitting on the stage.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/m9ru0nie3q6robe/Lynnville-Sully.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/m9ru0nie3q6robe/Lynnville-Sully.jpg?dl=0
How about the old Pella Christian "Crackerjack Box"? Plus all the 'fans' up on the stage puking on popcorn...Classic!
If the word STAGE is used in your description of a gym....I'll assume it doesn't belong in this thread
Not sure what you mean...we're talking about old school gyms, a lot of old school gyms have stages in them. Did you look at the picture?If the word STAGE is used in your description of a gym....I'll assume it doesn't belong in this thread
Most of the newer gyms are vanilla "boxes" around here.
Understandable, when you have to pass a bond issue to get them built. A big square box is still the most practical when it's getting used with the bleachers pushed in for most activities. Tough to give character to a cube though.
Understandable, when you have to pass a bond issue to get them built. A big square box is still the most practical when it's getting used with the bleachers pushed in for most activities. Tough to give character to a cube though.
The Iowa Boy visits the Diagonal gym in January, 2016 (with pics).
http://offenburger.com/index.php/if...-to-repeat-our-expedition-to-little-diagonal/
http://offenburger.com/index.php/if...-to-repeat-our-expedition-to-little-diagonal/
The Pit at North Scott is a great atmosphere. Nora Gymnasium at Senior is another unique old school gym
Interesting thread. Would have been a great off season conversation.
Regarding Cheese2 comments on Nora Gym (DBQ Senior) agreed. It is interesting with lots of character especially in winter when the temperature between the floor and the high seats differs by 15+ degrees. You walk in and your cold, you sit down and wish you were wearing shorts.
The other gyms in the DBQ area are not too interesting. Hempstead and Wahlert are both pretty standard box gyms with little unique character.
A place with a surprisingly nice gym is Maquoketa which does not have character or anything but dang, not a bad seat in the house and (surprise for a modern gym) is a pit style. I went down there a few years ago for a regional game expecting an old small town gym and was floored how nice it was. Still nothing to eat in the town!
If you like wood, the Bellevue gyms got it. Never been to a game there, but I've been in the gym and it certainly has that Hoosiers feel.
Regarding Cheese2 comments on Nora Gym (DBQ Senior) agreed. It is interesting with lots of character especially in winter when the temperature between the floor and the high seats differs by 15+ degrees. You walk in and your cold, you sit down and wish you were wearing shorts.
The other gyms in the DBQ area are not too interesting. Hempstead and Wahlert are both pretty standard box gyms with little unique character.
A place with a surprisingly nice gym is Maquoketa which does not have character or anything but dang, not a bad seat in the house and (surprise for a modern gym) is a pit style. I went down there a few years ago for a regional game expecting an old small town gym and was floored how nice it was. Still nothing to eat in the town!
If you like wood, the Bellevue gyms got it. Never been to a game there, but I've been in the gym and it certainly has that Hoosiers feel.
Carlisle has this really great wood ceiling with huge wooden beams spanning the gym. It is really cool to see in person and the slope of it makes for a really loud atmosphere. I also was impressed with Ballard's gym which is new and very nice.
One that is not so nice but I always enjoyed visiting is Heelan's. It is called "The Pit" for a reason as you have to go down a couple flight of stairs to get there and it just feels dark and pitlike. Although it is old it makes for a great basketball atmosphere.
I also love Western's gym. Really any gym which has a balcony I can watch the game from is a plus for me. It is a great vantage point to watch games unfold from.
One that is not so nice but I always enjoyed visiting is Heelan's. It is called "The Pit" for a reason as you have to go down a couple flight of stairs to get there and it just feels dark and pitlike. Although it is old it makes for a great basketball atmosphere.
I also love Western's gym. Really any gym which has a balcony I can watch the game from is a plus for me. It is a great vantage point to watch games unfold from.
I will second Marshalltown's round house. It's old, but great venue.
For a 1A/2A school, BCLUW (Conrad) also has a nice roundhouse as well. Plenty of room behind the basket, so running into a wall after a hard layup isn't a problem.
For a 1A/2A school, BCLUW (Conrad) also has a nice roundhouse as well. Plenty of room behind the basket, so running into a wall after a hard layup isn't a problem.
South Tama also has a roundhouse, so that must have been a design feature in the area.
Farragut in extreme southwest iowa , pit style with balcony. Capacity 2000 with games in the 1970's reported at 2500. school shut down in 2016. Beautiful gym sitting empty.
Thanks for mentioning that, BrentLo. Found this article on the gym, its glory days, and its closing.
http://www.valleynewstoday.com/swio...cle_1b38ed6e-d1b5-11e5-909b-cb0d25a80d3c.html
http://www.valleynewstoday.com/swio...cle_1b38ed6e-d1b5-11e5-909b-cb0d25a80d3c.html
The Pit in North Scott. It use to be a swimming pool turned into the gym.
Honestly, As an Iowan this is hard to say or admit. If you want to see stellar gyms you need to venture into the Illinois side of the Quad Cities. The best when packed is tough to say, but Rock Island Fieldhouse and Wharton Fieldhouse(Moline) are the best 2 gyms IMO. I would say East Moline United Township is just behind. Also, Rock Island Alleman isn't great at basketball but that place when filled is fairly impressive also.
Davenport Central has a solid gym. Clinton(The problem is the floor isn't good last I knew) and Maquoketa have decent gyms also.
Though the gym doesn't have wooden seats, which I think makes gyms much better. Assumption has a nice gym with the track around it(Similar setup to Chariton, but more seating) and 2 big levels for a smaller school. It is impressive when full also and when they host wrestling it is neat to see under the lights.
Honestly, As an Iowan this is hard to say or admit. If you want to see stellar gyms you need to venture into the Illinois side of the Quad Cities. The best when packed is tough to say, but Rock Island Fieldhouse and Wharton Fieldhouse(Moline) are the best 2 gyms IMO. I would say East Moline United Township is just behind. Also, Rock Island Alleman isn't great at basketball but that place when filled is fairly impressive also.
Davenport Central has a solid gym. Clinton(The problem is the floor isn't good last I knew) and Maquoketa have decent gyms also.
Though the gym doesn't have wooden seats, which I think makes gyms much better. Assumption has a nice gym with the track around it(Similar setup to Chariton, but more seating) and 2 big levels for a smaller school. It is impressive when full also and when they host wrestling it is neat to see under the lights.
Good article of Illinois gyms. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...best-high-school-gym-photos-photogallery.html
For a newer, modern environment, I find Keokuk's hard to beat. Terrific facility and hopefully their football field gets some upgrades soon as it provides a great setting, just again could use some updates.
My favorite "classic" gym is at Quincy Notre Dame in Illinois. Pretty similar to the gym pictured above in the article on Farragut, actually, except the balcony look is on both sides and their is seating behind one hoop as well.
My favorite "classic" gym is at Quincy Notre Dame in Illinois. Pretty similar to the gym pictured above in the article on Farragut, actually, except the balcony look is on both sides and their is seating behind one hoop as well.
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