Dropped in at Royal Oak Gym while I was visiting from out of town. It's deceiving how large it is on the inside, because it looks much smaller from outside the building. When we arrived, we signed in at the front desk, signed a Covid waiver, paid the $5 drop in fee (which is extremely reasonable) and went our way into the gym. They have a ton of machines, free weight, barbells, cardio machines, basically anything you would need to workout regardless of what kind of workouts you prefer to do. I do powerlifting and they had power bars with metal plates, deadlift platforms with deadlift jacks, and plenty of benches. The plates are in pounds though, so if you prefer kilo plates, be prepared to do some math. Everyone was following the policy to maintain social distancing and cleaning/wiping down the equipment after use. I felt 100% comfortable being there. They have locker rooms as well if you need to store your belongings or wash up after your workout. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town! read more

Just swung in to check things out and it's my kind of place. I've been a power lifter for 20-25yrs and have competed in strong man and this is my kinda place. And not bad for the price. I've paid more across the USA and even Canada and this will be my next go to when I get back into it. read more

Old school gym. No BS just get your grind on. It's not pretty or pretentious like the corporate McGyms with the tier programs and high price tags , personal trainer package garbage. Nope. Walk in, drop your cash on the counter and get to work. Plenty of plates and plate loaded machines to keep any meathead happy. read more

Nice old school looking gym but the hours look Kind of too limited and they don't look welcoming when I went. read more

the only hardcore lifting gym in the metro Detroit area, so naturally I love going here. No one cares what you do there so it's a nice environment. That being said, over the years it's become easily the dirtiest gym I've ever been to. The moment you walk in it stinks so bad that I had to cover my mouth walking in. The bathrooms don't look like they've been cleaned in months and smell disgusting, every mirror is covered in grime and marks. It's really unfortunate, because the gym itself is fantastic, but it is not taken care of. If they just had someone clean the place even once a week it would be dramatically better. read more

Surprised at how many good reviews this place has.... Towels used to clean machines are brown.... Theres garbage all over the ground, holes in the ground covered by plywood/carpets, broken mirrors, broken machines.... (And the list goes on). Its eerie how theres no music and no windows... making it feel like a prison gym. As for positives they allow chalk and heavy lifting. I get how people may like the old school vibe of this place but it doesnt make up for the fact that it is filthy and outdated! Some paint and updating and cleaning would go a long way for royal oak gym. read more

Royal Oak Gym - Broken mirror/broken glass - Gyms Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

RO Gym is a old school gym perfect for those who want a serious workout without the fluff of the new places or the look at me people. Equipment all works except for some of the cardio machines. Now one thing, now sure how the girls locker rooms are but the mens is nasty as can be so make sure you bring some sandals. Was not even sure if the showers based on how it looked but the water is hot and that is what counts. Here are some pics of the locker room, if you can get over that then you will like the place. read more

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This used to be my home gym. For 8 years I lifted there every day and it was my favorite place to be. A Classic Black-Iron gym with plenty of heavy powerlifting equipment. Their trainer Art is the one who got me to start competing. But a few years back things really started going downhill. When I first started there they had some occasional equipment breakage took a bit of time to fix, (especially the cardio equipment, but I was there to lift so it didn't affect me as much.) But eventually it's like they just stopped caring, started taking shortcuts on routine maintenance, especially when it came to cleaning in the locker rooms. When I first started the showers were brightly lit and kept very clean. I know they were getting well-cleaned because the guy who did it was usually finishing up right about the time I was finishing up my workout. But then he was gone, and the maintenance tanked. The showers became gross, and eventually I couldn't take it anymore and switched to LA. I have occasionally picked up a month pass right before I do a competition so I can have access to the specialty bars, but each time the locker room gets worse. Now all but three of the shower heads are capped, and there's half of an entire wall in the shower that is missing it's tiles, including a chunk of wall directly under one of the three remaining showerheads. The edges of the shower are caked in mold and grime. They are supposed to be hosting the State Meet for the APF this coming Spring, I sincerely hope there is a dramatic change between now and then. I'd happily return to this being my main gym if they just started actually taking care of the place. But after this last time going I'm wondering if the Gym I go to now will let me bring in my own Specialty bar instead. read more

Few things about this place. I used to go here for a couple years, probably 4/5 times a week. It's a really great old school lifting gym. Everything you could ever want for sq/bp/dl and dumbbells up to 200lbs. I worked my way up from not having much muscle to relatively in shape and a lot more muscular so at the end of the day you can count on these dudes to have all the equipment you could ever need. Unfortunately there isn't much for amenities(just a dry sauna), but you can get a great workout in. The equipment and weights are why I WOULD give this five stars. I was on month to month and would just pay when my month expired but after I was in an accident and couldn't lift for a year I went back and they tried to charge me for the entire time I wasn't there even though I wasn't under contract. I talked them down to something low to pay so I could just get my workout in and be left alone. I'm here to lift, not haggle. But when I came back in it was like nobody cleaned since I left. The bathroom was moldy, the locker room smelled like old piss, there was scum in the sinks. A lot of the people that go there will say it goes to the "charm" of the place, but it's fucking gross dude. The same piss stain was on the tiles in the bathroom for a few more weeks until I decided that I'm just not coming back until I hear they've gotten their shit together. I want to come back but god damn man, that place is so dirty. If you clean the place more often and fix what's broken I can guarantee you I'll give you five stars and come back, but until that happens, thanks for all the gains. read more

Phenomenal old school gym. This is where you go if you want to lift heavy ass weight! People who lift here are very serious about their craft. Humongous human beings moving weight. Highly recommend read more

Royal Oak Gym - Running in to old friends prepping for a bodybuilding show - Gyms Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

This is a poorly maintained gym. I am particularly referring to the way they fail to maintain their stairmasters. I have belonged to this gym since it opened in 2010. And for the last several years, most of their stairmasters have not been working. Sometimes, only one is working at a time. Several of us have complained over and over and over again. I once even started a petition and got quite a few signatures. We have been told that the problem is with "corporate." Whatever the problem is, it is clear that L.A. Fitness cares more about selling new memberships than it cares about maintaining the equipment to keep current members satisfied. read more

The best gym ever. It's old school. I myself have been to several gyms. If you want a gym that you can get in a serious workout and not mutherfuckers sitting on a machine texting. Royal oak gym is for real workouts not socializing. read more

tons of equipment no frills rock and roll gym but they don't replace broken equipment which sucks tons of non working treadmills etc and they don't lubricate the machines very dry , what kind of tees me off a little is they raised the prices , now it's still reasonable and month to month no contracts but if there going to raise prices at least get rid of the junk that doesn't work read more

The gym is good enough. The sauna never seems to be in service any more. Just this morning I stepped on a stepper machine and the paddle just broke off. =( The reason I give it 2 stars is the horrible music. Many have addressed it here and I decided to lower my rating because I've asked several times to shut it off or turn it down. And they never do. They have blasting heavy metal music that almost makes you feel like you're being tortured by the CIA. It's unbearable. The music is God awful and turned up to ear-bleeding levels. It's like they assume everyone that joins the gym is a steroid-junky body builder that's either 16 or 50 years old. So many people have their own music on their ears. I just rejoined, but if the music keeps up, I won't renew. I don't get why they play it. read more

This is a Real Gym. No frills. No plush finishes. If you like to lift weights and make gains this is the spot. Many types of equipment that other gyms don't offer. Caulk is allowed and is provided. There is a lot of of school knowledge here as well if u prove yourself to be a hard worker and a good person. read more

One of the all time gyms I've ever been to. Old, worn out, dirty, hot, loud.. I love it. A true hardcore gym. It's the thing I'm looking forward to most about moving to Michigan read more

Great atmosphere, awesome old school gym environment! If you are looking to get a strength training, bodybuilding, or cardio session in; this is your place! When home in MI twice a year I only train at Royal Oak Gym. Love this place, no frills, no gimmicks. Just a no nonsense gym for serious lifters! What more could you ask for? read more

This is my all time favorite gym ever. I've been a member since 09 and it was the greatest decision of my life. The gym is fairly a good size, lots of equipments, weights and a few cardio machines. It can be very busy in the evening so thats why i go early in the morning, its very quite and less people there. The gym inside is an old school atmosphere which i like compared to other modern gyms. Very friendly staff and people there are really nice, they treat you like family. And the price is very reasonable unlike Lifetime and LA fitness. There's personal trainers there that actually look like trainers and knows what they're doing. If you're looking for a serious gym, good price and nice atmospere then this is the gym for you. You'll not regret it read more

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Best gym in the greater Detroit area. I travel to Detroit about once a month for work and always make a point to stop in at Royal Oak Gym. The equipment is top tier (rogue, TX Strength, etc) and there is plenty of room to lift. They have numerous deadlifting platforms, squat racks, benches, and specialty barbells. I'd recommend this place to anyone visiting anywhere close to it. read more

Old school, no-nonsense and don't come here expecting a spa or all the amenities. What you will find is a place that does not want for specialty bars (bench press, squat, deadlift bars, safety squat bars, cambered bars, Duffalo bars just to name a few). There are quite a few squat racks, benches, platforms, calibrated plates for anyone to use, and dumbbells going up to 200 lbs. They even have tires and a Prowler. If strength training is your goal, don't overlook this place. You definitely can't beat the value here. The only knock would be how insanely busy it can be in the evenings, but even then the turnover on equipment can be pretty quick. And if only they could be 24/7, but on that front their hours aren't too bad either (listed ones are indeed accurate) for most peoples' purposes. read more

Be warned, this gym is DIRTY. The machines are pretty old and VERY close together. I was squatting with a guy deadlifting in front of me, a little too close for my comfort. But if you like old gritty gyms, this is for you. I did enjoy the chalk provided and the music wasn't bad either. Lastly, if you know what you're doing and don't like staff, this is a good place. The girl at the door didn't want to sign us in or answer any questions. read more

Clean yall equipment. how you slip on a treadmill with pure sweat on it. sweat on weights . sweat on everything. plus they had no water there tank yoy read more

If you're a serious lifter this is the spot for you. Some reasons why: Specialty bars everywhere. Squat racks aplenty Deadlift platforms? With hooks for bands? You bet Round kilo plates? Absolutely. Old school Nautilus lat pullover machine? Check that too No frills? Confirmed. This is not the gym for you if you wear gloves and lift at planet fitness or LA fitness and require everything to be sterile in both feel and look. This gym is gritty in both senses of the word. No one bitches about deadlift sounds or chalk being used. Fantastic spot. And, only 5 bucks to drop in!! read more

Deserves four or five stars but knocking it down to two because of personnel. Let my membership lapse and joined another gym because there is only one employee that is reliable in opening the gym on time. If he is not the one opening the gym, the place is not opening until at least an hour after it is supposed to. Just absolutely ridiculous to have an owner and/or employees aside from one person that can't communicate, do their job, and get the place open on time. read more

This is one of the best old school gyms around I been a member for almost 10 years now lol. The vibe in this gym is like no other old school weights plus some new equipment everyone is very friendly and all the pros and trainers are very nice and helpful. I highly recommend this gym to everyone. There's no intimidation or disrespectful people at this gym at all. And this gym is just not for powerlifting or bodybuilding it's for everyone ages 18-100 lol. I highly recommend this gym for all ages and no matter what u try to accomplish wit your health. U will never go back to your old gym after u try Royal oak gym read more

Royal Oak Gym - Gyms Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

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Everything is old and slightly rusty, there's like 7 squat racks, 3 deadlift platforms, 4 benches, pictures of Arnold on the walls... I love it. A powerlifter's dream. If you're a student it's 20 bucks a month no contract no hidden fees no yearly maintenance fee no start up fee no paying for your first month or last month upfront. Also free towels to use while you're there and a bottle filler water fountain. OMG and people actually put things back where they found them and re rack their weights. Seriously. This is literally a no frills gym. Also read a lot about people being asshole or something. Whenever I've asked someone for a spot or something I've never been turned down or sometimes got a nice conversation. I mean plenty of people grunting or throwing around heavy weights but what do you expect in the gym like this? This isn't Planet fitness where you can't grunt because you'll hurt someone's feelings. I do have to say the bathroom doesn't smell the most beautiful though. But I'll put up with it. read more

I would give this place 10 stars if possible. I am in town on vacation/business and needed a place to lift, I came across this gym here on yelp and was actually drawn in by the negative reviews, plus their website had some good pics. Upon entering I was greeted by the manager and I explained my situation, and he hooked me up with a 10 day pass that he actually amended to 11 when I told him my departure date, I thought that was great. The equipment is all top notch with dumbbells going up to 195 lbs, and plenty of variations on equipment so you can tailor your workout however you like. Did I feel bullied? Yes.... by the solid steel weights that seem to be heavier than the weights in my name brand gym back in Arizona. Those weights bullied me for my entire workout. They have some very friendly people in there who were more than happy to lend me a spotter when needed. This is a "Man's Man" type of gym and that is exactly what I needed, I thought I was getting strong until I went in this place, now I am motivated to work that much harder. I didn't once feel like an outcast or as if they didn't want me there. I would recommend this place to anyone, and if my job transfers me up here I know I will be a member Day 1 of my arrival. Thank you for helping stay on my weightlifting schedule, habit is motivation. read more

Cheap. Olympic lifting? Check. Powerlifting? Check. Bodybuilding? Check. Chalk allowed? Check. Some very old ("vintage") equipment, and a lot of people who are serious about weightlifting. If you're looking for a spa experience, this won't be for you. If you really want to lift weights, though, you can't beat it. read more

Love this gym. Been here since August. If you want to waste time on a bunch of state of the art, personalized-tv, cardio rat-wheels, you're probably better off going to LA Fitness or one of the other more modern gyms. If you're serious about getting into good shape and not just looking for a place to stare at hot asses in spandex for 4 weeks because you feel guilty about being a pig during the holidays... this place has everything you need to get into great shape. Count them... 5 squat racks, and on a few days all of them are being used at once. There's a weightlifting platform as well. I spent a day at LA fitness and there was one squat rack being used by someone to do curls. (If you don't know what a squat rack is or why it's the most valuable tool in any REAL gym... well good luck) I followed Esther here after Fitness Unlimited in downtown royal oak was shut down. A big reason I came was because the powerlifting coach Arthur Little moved as well. Just about the nicest guy you could ever meet and who just happens to own a dozen or so different world records. Even though I started off as one of the skinniest guys in the gym he always greets me and treats my like one of his prize powerlifters. Great personal trainer and always there for key advice regarding injuries, etc. He used to be a bodybuilder as well and he definitely knows his stuff. If you're interested in powerlifting or are just a skinny dude looking to put on some serious strength/mass... put down the stupid magazines and let this guy set you in the right direction. The place is far from modern but if you're serious about strength and fitness more than a social meat market this gym is the balls. read more

I love it here, it's the right atmosphere and style for what I am trying to do and most people are very nice, welcoming, and always willing to help. It is extremely fairly priced and hours are decent. However, this gym isn't for everybody because for one it is very dirty and I see 0 chance that ever changes. Never seen anyone really clean or anything like that so definitely wipe your equipment down for everyone's sake. My personal complaints are: I really wish they would get new, or at least functional, cardio equipment. There have been signs on the same treadmills for a year now saying replacements or repairs were coming, yet nothing. They could also use a new sound system and locker room upgrades but those are livable. Lastly, I wish the hours were a bit longer on the weekends. It would be nice to be able to get an early morning or late night Sunday workout in. read more

A solid 5 stars here for this old school "hardcore" lifters gym. Depending on the type of person you are, you may not like it here. If clanging weights, caulk, deadlifting platforms and older machines sounds good to you then you will love it here. The staff was very friendly. I really enjoyed my time here. read more

Confession-I haven't set foot in a gym in 2+ years before coming to Royal Oak Gym. I've been spoiled by Crossfit, and have been working out exclusively in a CF facility for the past 2+ years so when life circumstances had me switching gears and doing my own thing, the facility tours began. If you are looking for a place to look cute in your Lululemon, hang out in the cafe for hours over lunch or pretend to work out while you gossip, this place is not for you. If you are looking for a place to get your sweat on and do some heavy lifting (and even drop a heavy bar and use chalk!!), this place is for you. They've got a special right now, $75 for 4 months, which you can't beat. I am really only using it for lifting, and a bonus is that they have a rower, plus tons of traditional (but rather old, but still looks like it works) equipment-treademills, bikes, ellipticals, cable machines, etc. If they had kettlebells, they'd get 5 stars. read more

I wish ! could give this gym a 10 star rating! This is the ultimate old school grind gym for body builders and and people that are serious about sculpting and definitions.Look if you are looking for a Zumba,step aerobics and spin cycling classes , this is not the place for you Get in , get your workout and get out. Yeah, I guess the locker rooms can be a little cleaner, but I guess the membership is so cheap I can just go home and take a shower(LOL) This is the best gym in the metro Detroit area for power lifting and body builders. I read reviews about old weights and equipment, on the contrary , the weights and equipment are being used so they show some wear and tear. There some equipment in this gym that I have never seen before in all my rears lifting. I left powerhouse to come here! read more

I'm paying $15 a month after talking them down to sharing a initial $150 fee between me and my roommate. For the price, you can't beat it. The gym is huge, with all the equipment you need for weightlifting, and a good amount of treadmills/cardio equipment. There is no pool, but then again, I'm not paying $30/mo. The staff is really friendly, and the customers are just there to get a good workout without judging anyone (unlike LA Fitness, which seems a little more clique-y). read more

We purchased a 2-year membership here because at the time it was one of the better deals for a bare-bones gym (pre-Anytime Fitness and Planet Fitness in our area). The one major bonus of RO Gym is that you can ALWAYS find a spot on the cardio equipment. (It's generally pretty "crickets" in there.) It may or may not function 100% properly, but most of the treadmills, bikes and ellipticals will be open when you arrive. They have one (and I stress ONE) of most everything, including circuit training, rowing machines, etc. There are two crunch benches and a lot of free weights. It's half-and-half between meathead guys (and highschool meathead kids training for whatever sports) and "the rest of us," meaning ladies, out-of-shape folks, and older folks. They have fresh towels and they keep the locker rooms cleaned up. The kids that run the place (mostly 16-25 from what I can tell) are pretty friendly. They don't have a website or even a Facebook page, which is a bummer. They did recently upgrade from paper sign-in to keytag scanner, which is better. We'll be switching to one of the aforementioned gyms in November when our contract is up. If you're looking for bare-bones, this is it... But unless they modernize and clean the place up, they won't compete with the new chains and local places. read more

Pros: -Hardly busy. -Easy to change clothes. -Judgement-free zone. -Very friendly, laid-back staff. -Pretty inexpensive. Cons: -Not clean. Seriously clean your equipment, guys. -Conservative hours of operation. They aren't open very late. -They play the radio on the speakers, so you'll have to listen to commercials at full volume if you don't have an iPod. The stations also don't come in too well, so get used to static. -Not many girls. Almost zero hot ones. -The work out equipment is old, some not properly maintained. read more

Best gym in the area if you like lifting. Staff has some the nicest people you'll meet. Has all the equipment and experienced lifter could ask for. Extremely affordable and straight forward i.e. they don't do any shady back door things/fees like other gyms. read more

My husband and I have been visiting some gyms to figure out where we want to join. Royal Oak Gym offered us a 5 day free pass to see if we liked the place. From the first day we really enjoyed the gym. It's got a TON of equipment and yes I confess it's not the most up to date but who cares. I'm going there to work out, not figure out if they have the latest and greatest. The cardio equipment is always available during prime time hours and the staff is really laid back. I swear this is the most laid back gym. I have yet to use the weights but my husband has been very pleased with the selection of weight machines and free weights. I do have to admit that the gym is a bit intimidating at first. It looks like a total men's gym when you walk in but once you start working out everyone pretty much keeps to themselves and does their own thing. read more

This place is No nonsense!! Strictly Body Build, Workout and Sweat!! The place is Dusty But lots of Various Equipment to Use!!

I used to come here ten or twelve years ago when it was Golds now its mostly a lot of high school kids, douchebags and posers calling themselves power lifters. Don't think I've seen more than two members bench six plates but if you have a strong stomach and not easily annoyed there's lots of squat racks, benches and about any kind of equipment you could think of. Best hours like most gyms are early morning or late night read more