Finding a gym that doesn't feel like a high-pressure sales floor or a cold, industrial warehouse is getting harder. You know the feeling. You walk in, the music is deafening, and nobody makes eye contact. Great Bay Athletic Club in Newmarket, New Hampshire, is basically the opposite of that. It’s been a fixture of the Seacoast fitness scene for decades, tucked away on North Main Street, and it has survived the era of "big box" gyms by leaning into something they can’t easily replicate: a massive footprint combined with a surprisingly local, community-driven vibe.
It’s big. Like, really big.
We’re talking about roughly 40,000 square feet of space. For context, that’s larger than many suburban supermarkets. But size isn't everything if the equipment is rusted out or the atmosphere is weird. What makes this place worth talking about is how it manages to balance high-level athletic training with the kind of environment where senior citizens feel just as comfortable as the powerlifters.
The Reality of Training at Great Bay Athletic Club
Most people show up here because they're tired of waiting for a squat rack. At Great Bay Athletic Club, the sheer volume of equipment is the biggest draw. You aren't fighting over a single cable machine. They have rows of cardio equipment, an extensive free weight area, and specialized zones that you usually only find in "hardcore" gyms, yet it’s all maintained with a level of cleanliness that keeps it accessible.
The layout is a bit of a labyrinth, but in a good way. You’ve got the main weight floor, sure, but then there are these dedicated spaces for functional training. They have turf. They have heavy bags. They have a dedicated spinning studio and a group exercise room that actually has enough floor space to move without kicking your neighbor.
Honestly, the "Newmarket vibe" is baked into the walls. It’s gritty enough to make you want to work hard but professional enough that you don't feel like you need a gallon of hand sanitizer the moment you touch a dumbbell.
Why the "Athletic" Part Matters
The name isn't just marketing fluff. While a lot of "health clubs" focus on rows of treadmills and maybe a few circuit machines, Great Bay Athletic Club emphasizes performance. You’ll see local high school athletes training here alongside hobbyist triathletes.
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- The Turf Zone: Essential for sled pushes, sprints, and dynamic warm-ups.
- The Iron: Plenty of platforms and bumper plates for people who actually want to lift heavy.
- The Variety: Hammer Strength equipment, which is basically the gold standard for plate-loaded machines, is scattered throughout.
If you’re just starting out, that might sound intimidating. It shouldn't be. One of the nuances people miss is that the staff and long-term members are generally pretty chill. It’s the kind of place where someone will actually help you move a bench if you’re struggling, rather than just filming a TikTok in the mirror while you fumble.
Group Fitness and the "Club" Mentality
You can't talk about Great Bay without mentioning the classes. This is where the "Club" part of the name comes in. They run a schedule that covers the basics—Yoga, Zumba, Strength—but they do it with instructors who have been there for years. This isn't a rotating door of 22-year-olds who just got their certification last weekend. These are people like Denise or local veterans of the fitness industry who know how to scale a workout for someone with a bad knee or a shoulder injury.
The silver sneakers crowd is huge here.
It’s genuinely cool to see a 75-year-old crushing a mobility circuit next to a college kid. That kind of age diversity is a hallmark of a healthy gym culture. It suggests that the environment is inclusive enough to support lifelong fitness, not just a three-month New Year's resolution sprint.
Tennis and Squash: The "Old School" Perks
One of the unique features of Great Bay Athletic Club is the racquet sports. In a world where every gym is ripping out courts to put in more "boutique" studio space, Great Bay has kept its commitment to tennis and squash.
Tennis is a massive part of their identity. They offer indoor courts that are a godsend during New Hampshire's six-month-long winters. They have leagues, lessons, and a junior program that is legitimately competitive. If you’ve ever tried to book an indoor court in the Seacoast area in January, you know it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Having that resource attached to a full-scale gym is a huge value add.
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And then there's squash. It’s a niche sport, sure, but for the people who play, it’s an obsession. The courts are well-maintained, and there’s a dedicated community that keeps the ladder rankings active.
What Most People Get Wrong About Great Bay
There’s a misconception that because it’s a "club," it’s going to be expensive or elitist. Look, it’s not a $10-a-month "judgment-free" purple gym. You’re going to pay more than you would at a budget chain. But you’re paying for the fact that the equipment isn't broken, the locker rooms actually have hot water, and you have access to facilities like the sauna and steam room.
The locker rooms are actually a highlight. They are spacious. They have that classic, slightly nostalgic athletic club feel—wood lockers, plenty of benches, and actual space to change without bumping elbows with a stranger.
Another thing: the parking. It sounds boring, but in Newmarket, parking can be a nightmare. Great Bay has its own massive lot. You pull in, you park, you walk in. No circling the block. No paying a meter. When you’re trying to squeeze a workout into a 60-minute lunch break, that stuff matters.
The "Day Pass" Test
If you're on the fence, the best way to understand the Great Bay Athletic Club experience is to just buy a day pass. Walk in at 5:00 PM on a Tuesday. That’s the "rush hour." If a gym can handle 5:00 PM on a Tuesday without making you feel like a sardine, it’s a good gym.
You’ll notice that despite the crowd, the air doesn't feel stale. The ceilings are high, and the HVAC system actually seems to work, which is a low bar that surprisingly few gyms actually clear.
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A Note on Personal Training
They have a roster of personal trainers who aren't just "rep counters." If you look at the bios of the trainers at Great Bay, you’ll see certifications that actually mean something—CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist), NASM, and specialized degrees in kinesiotherapy or exercise science.
They don't just put you on a treadmill and check their phone. They’re big on assessment. They want to know why your lower back hurts when you sit at your desk all day before they put a barbell on your back. It’s a more clinical, thoughtful approach to PT than what you’ll find at the "turn and burn" corporate gyms.
The Practical Side: Membership and Value
Is it right for you? It depends on what you value.
If you just want to walk on a treadmill for 20 minutes and go home, you might be overpaying for features you won't use. But if you want a place where you can lift heavy, take a legitimate yoga class, play a match of tennis, and then hit the sauna, it’s probably the best value-for-money proposition in the Durham/Newmarket/Exeter triangle.
They don't do the whole "hidden fee" dance as much as other places. Generally, they are pretty transparent about what it costs. They offer different tiers depending on whether you want court access or just the fitness floor.
Actionable Steps for Joining
- Visit during your typical workout time: Don't tour it on a Sunday morning if you plan to workout after work. See the reality of the floor at its peak.
- Check the class schedule first: If you're a "class person," make sure the times align with your commute. Their HIIT and spin classes fill up, so see if the sign-up process works for you.
- Ask about the "Initial Assessment": Usually, they offer a session with a trainer to get you acclimated. Take it. Even if you know what you’re doing, they can show you where the "hidden" equipment is (the gym is big, remember?).
- Evaluate the "Extras": If you’re a tennis player, factor in the cost of court fees versus the membership. If you’re a swimmer, note that while they have great facilities, they don't have an Olympic-sized pool—know your "must-haves."
Great Bay Athletic Club isn't trying to be a tech startup. It isn't trying to be a "biohacking" lab with red lights and cold plunges at every corner. It’s a massive, well-equipped, community-focused gym that understands that fitness is mostly about showing up to a place where you feel like you belong. In 2026, that kind of consistency is actually pretty rare.