What to Expect at a Keycard Gym With No Staff, Classes, or Trainers

At a keycard gym with no staff, classes, or trainers, you let yourself in with your own key whenever you want, use the weights and cardio machines on your own, and leave when you're done. Nobody checks you in, nobody leads a class, and nobody tells you what to do next. You bring the plan; the gym provides the room and the equipment.

Workout 24/7 runs two gyms like this, one in Wells, MN and one in Osakis, MN. Both are open 24 hours with keycard access. This article covers what that actually looks like day to day, so you can decide whether it fits how you like to work out.

What is it like to work out at a gym with no staff?

Working out at Workout 24/7, an unstaffed keycard gym in Wells and Osakis, MN, is quiet, simple, and entirely on your own terms. There are no staffed hours, so there's no front desk to walk past and no one to sign in with. You unlock the door with your key, do your workout, and head home.

Most people who like this setup like it for the same few reasons:

• Your schedule, not the gym's. Early before work, late after a shift, or the middle of the night. The gym is open 24 hours.
• No front desk. Nobody to check in with or walk past on the way in.
• No pressure. You can try a new lift, take your time, or keep to yourself.

The trade-off is that nobody is there to coach you, spot you, or answer a question on the spot. You need to know roughly what you want to do when you walk in, or be willing to figure it out.

How do you get in without anyone at the front desk?

You get into Workout 24/7 with your own key, which is covered by the one-time joining fee when you sign up. The joining fee is $49 for a single membership and $68 for a couple or family membership.

Signing up and getting your key

1. Pick your town (Wells or Osakis) and your term (3, 6, or 12 months).
2. Call or stop in at your town's gym. Online signup isn't available yet, so joining happens in person or over the phone.
3. Bring shoes, a water bottle, a towel, and your ID to your first visit.
4. Sign the membership agreement and pay the joining fee. Cash or check works for the joining fee and key, and you'll set up automatic monthly payments from a checking account or card.
5. Leave with your key. The paperwork gets set up and your key is handed to you while you're there.

The how to join page walks through the same steps if you want to read them before you call.

If you lose your key

A replacement key at Workout 24/7 costs $20. Keep it somewhere you won't misplace it, since your key is how you get in the door.

What equipment is there if there are no classes or trainers?

Both Workout 24/7 gyms, in Wells and in Osakis, have the same basic setup: free weights, strength machines, and cardio equipment, plus open space to stretch. Here's what's on the floor at each location:

• Free weights, benches, and racks
• Strength machines and cable stations
• Treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals
• Open floor for stretching and warm-ups
• Restrooms

That covers most of what people actually do at a gym: lifting, cardio, and mobility work. What it doesn't include is group fitness. There are no classes on a schedule and no personal training at either location. If you like to follow a routine, you can bring one on your phone, use a workout app, or follow a written program you've used before.

Who is a keycard gym without staff a good fit for?

An unstaffed keycard gym like Workout 24/7 is a good fit for people who already know what they want to do and mostly need a place and the equipment to do it. It's a poor fit for people who want someone else to run the workout.

It usually works well if you:

• Work odd hours, shifts, or long days and can't make it to a gym during normal business hours
• Have lifted or trained before and follow your own program
• Want to walk on a treadmill or ride a bike in the winter without driving to a bigger town
• Prefer to work out without being watched or chatted up
• Want one flat monthly price that doesn't change with the length of your term

It may not be the right fit if you:

• Need a class or a coach to stay motivated
• Want hands-on instruction on how to use equipment safely
• Are looking for a trainer to build a program for you

Being new to lifting doesn't rule you out. Starting on the cardio machines and strength machines, which are easier to learn on your own, is a reasonable way in. If you lift heavy by yourself, choose weights you can control without a spotter, and it's never a bad idea to let someone at home know when you're heading to the gym late at night.

What happens if something breaks or you have a question?

If something breaks at Workout 24/7, you tell Workout 24/7 and it gets fixed. That's the whole maintenance policy, and it's the same at both gyms.

Since there's no one on site to report a problem to, you call directly:

• Wells (149 S Broadway, Wells, MN 56097): (507) 553-3211
• Osakis (815 1st Ave E NE, Osakis, MN 56360): (507) 993-8249

The same goes for questions about your membership. If your situation changes partway through your term, call. A freeze or a transfer is usually possible, and Workout 24/7 would rather work something out with you than have you just stop showing up. Both phone numbers and a contact form are on the Workout 24/7 contact page.

How much does an unstaffed keycard gym cost?

Workout 24/7 costs $39.95 a month for a single membership, $74.95 a month for a couple or 2-person membership, and $99.95 a month for a family membership. The rates are the same in Wells and Osakis, and the monthly price is the same whether you choose a 3, 6, or 12-month term.

• Single: $39.95/month, $49 one-time joining fee
• Couple or 2-person: $74.95/month, $68 one-time joining fee
• Family: $99.95/month, $68 one-time joining fee
• Replacement key: $20

Monthly dues are paid by automatic withdrawal from a checking account or a card. Cash or check works for the joining fee and key.

Active duty, National Guard, and veterans get a 10% military discount at both gyms. Bring your ID on your first visit and the discount stays on your monthly rate.

One thing to know up front: the membership isn't cancel-anytime. It's a signed agreement for a 3, 6, or 12-month term and runs to the end of that term. When it's up, you can renew or stop. For the address, phone number, and rates in your town, see the Wells gym page or the Osakis gym page, then call or stop in to get your key.