YMCA of Rapid City

About

The YMCA of Rapid City, located at 815 Kansas City St, Rapid City, SD, is a comprehensive community center committed to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. It offers a wide array of facilities including modern fitness equipment, group exercise studios, a gymnasium, and aquatic areas, alongside diverse programs for all ages such as youth sports, after-school care, and various wellness initiatives designed to strengthen the community.

The YMCA of Rapid City typically features two main pools with different temperature settings. The Lap Pool is generally maintained at a cooler temperature between 80-82°F (26.7-27.8°C), ideal for vigorous swimming and aquatic exercise. The Warm Water Pool is kept at a higher temperature, usually between 88-90°F (31.1-32.2°C), making it suitable for swim lessons, therapeutic activities, and recreational family use.

What are people saying (AI review summary)? The reviews for the Rapid City YMCA present a mixed, but largely negative, perspective. One long-standing member praises the facility as clean, friendly, affordable, with supportive administration and wonderful staff. However, most recent feedback highlights significant dissatisfaction, primarily due to multiple price hikes, especially one targeting the 26-29 age demographic, which is perceived as unfair and unsustainable. Members feel these increases are not justified by the value provided, citing minimal equipment upgrades, deteriorating facilities, and the introduction of new fees for previously free services like child watch ($2/hour) and parking ($20/month), as well as additional charges for children to lift ($100). Facility-specific complaints include inconsistent or non-existent schedules for pool/family swim, consistently full basketball courts, poor Wi-Fi/cell service in the downstairs gym, and limited operating hours, particularly on weekends, with the removal of 'Night Owl' hours being a major point of contention. The cafe closes early (2 PM), and comfortable eating areas are lacking. While some staff members are lauded for their helpfulness, others are described as often frowning or yelling, and generally not fostering a fun environment. Multiple reviewers express a sentiment that the YMCA has become 'money hungry,' is poorly managed, and is regressing, leading some to recommend seeking alternative facilities. Suggestions for improvement include income-based pricing, flexible membership options (e.g., opting out of multi-location access), and ensuring price increases directly correlate with noticeable facility and equipment upgrades.

Location

Gallery

Amenities

• Street Parking
• Parking Lot
• Accessible Entrance

Reviews

Listing Reviews

May 25th, 2025

TNT howard

I have always enjoyed my experiences at the YMCA here in Rapid City since I was a kid. Administration is always looking for ways to improve the experience. Very clean, very friendly, and very affordable. I can’t say enough good things. Staff including Ryan is wonderful at handling memberships. Always helpful and supportive. Great job!

December 3rd, 2024

Brannon Cousin

When I first joined the YMCA, I appreciated the community and facilities. However, recent changes, particularly the two price hikes, have left me disappointed—especially the one targeting the 26-29 age demographic. As someone in this age group, many of us are navigating significant financial responsibilities in today’s economy: saving for a home, paying off car loans, managing Rapid City’s rising rents, and affording groceries. Singling out this specific demographic feels unfair and unsustainable. Here are my key concerns: 1. Value for the Price This rate increase might be justified for a high-end gym like LA Fitness, where equipment is consistently maintained and upgraded. At this YMCA, however, I’ve only seen one upgrade (the cable machine) in four years, and even small items like yoga mats are already deteriorating. 2. Alternative Pricing Suggestions • Why not base membership fees on income, with proof, to ensure fairness? • Or consider families with dual incomes, who may better absorb such increases, rather than targeting young adults trying to establish financial stability. 3. Public Gym Expectations It’s unreasonable to cater to complaints about noise from something like a speed bag in a public gym. Noise is part of the environment—no different from the sound of footsteps above the locker room. 4. Membership Flexibility Offering an option to opt out of access to multiple locations could make pricing more equitable. For example, someone living in Rapid City likely doesn’t need access to Custer. Nationwide YMCA access would justify this model, but that’s not the current setup. Ultimately, I’d appreciate seeing price increases reflected in noticeable improvements to equipment and facilities—not targeted demographic changes. I hope this feedback helps guide future decisions. PS. Bring back Night Owl hours

November 7th, 2024

Logan Behnke

I have been a YMCA member since I was kid in their day care. Take it from me this is the WORST facility ran by incompetent people. My 12 year old son cannot lift with me unless I pay them $100 additional on top of my already $94 monthly payment. On top of that their pool and open/family swim is non existent. When I signed up for our family membership they offered child watch up to two hours a day, this policy has since changed where they now charge you $2 an hour if you plan to use this service. They also have zero parking. When I initially started my family membership you had an option to purchase a parking pass for a vacant parking lot across the street for $10, this policy has also changed. If you’d like to have a parking spot when you show up expect another $20 monthly payment for this pass. This place has turned into 1 big money hungry facility that falls short to provide proper services to their loyal members and sad how much it’s regressing. Please save yourself the frustration and find yourself and your family a more deserving facility.

September 12th, 2024

Thomas

Pool doesn’t have a schedule on when it’s opened or closed you’ll have to show up to find out, cafe closes at 2pm and if you bring food you’ll have to eat it at the lobby at a tiny tall circle table while 3 couches are facing you. Staff always has a frown on their face and the councilors for the kids are always yelling and also have frowns on their face, along with not letting the kids have fun. the gym downstairs is alright but the wifi and cell service is so bad down there that you can barely play music without it pausing every 10 seconds, most machines are taken so you’ll have a wait, a lot of people use the wrong machine for exercises, but that’s okay. the gym is clean and the staff down there are always happy and ready to help, one of them even puts fruit out to keep you healthy and asks how your day is going, we love her. Basketball courts are ALWAYS full so good luck running a game in any of the 3. there is a walking track circling the top of the main one which is neat. The drinks they sell in the lobby are very pricey when you can buy the same drink at the gas station literally a 3 minute walk down the side walk for $2 cheaper with far more options.

November 10th, 2024

Melanie White

The hours are too limited. Very difficult to get what you need when you work full time and have to work around kids schedules. It close at 5pm on Saturday and 4pm on Sunday. No night owl any more. Going to have to find a gym with better hours.