Fitness club VillaSport Cinco Ranch set to open March 5 – Chron

More than 130,000 square feet of fitness, children’s activities, pools, relaxation and luxury are ready to wow and woo Katy-area residents at the new VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa in Cinco Ranch.

Located at 9930 Gaston Road in Katy, the new club plans to hold its grand opening on Thursday, March 5. It will be the Houston area’s third VillaSport. The others are in The Woodlands and Cypress.

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“A big aspect of what we do here at VillaSport is family,” said General Manager Thomas Westbrook. “So whether you have kids, whether you’re thinking of having kids or whether you know somebody with children, this is a family destination.”

VillaKids has more than 12,000 square feet for children to interact, exercise and according to Westbrook, be ready to go home and sleep by the time they are done. Children six weeks to 12 years can participate for up to two hours a day while their parents enjoy the club kid-free.

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“As your children come in, what you’ll notice as we go through is we do not have tablets or TVs. We’re not placing them in front of a screen and letting them just sit for two hours,” Westbrook said. “There’s plenty of that going around elsewhere. So when we bring them in, we want them to be engaged and active the entire time that they’re here.”

An indoor multi-purpose sport court, art and activity studio, and a three-story play tower are just some of the VillaKids amenities. The club offers youth sports and enrichment programs. Additionally, parents are not called out of their workouts for diaper changes because the club provides that service. The club will have date nights where parents can bring their children to VillaKids, drop them off for four hours in order to go on a date or sit by a pool and create a date on-site, Westbrook said. There are also summer camps.

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The family locker room has more than 200 regular-sized lockers, plus larger diaper bag lockers. Towels are provided, and there are a number of changing and shower areas. Guests can place orders from the VillaCafe as their children watch TV while their parents get ready.

Four gorgeous pools highlight the club. Both the indoor and outdoor recreation pools are great for the family and water aerobics. They have splash pads, play structures and walk-in features so that little children do not have problems getting in.

Between them, adult and family lap pools host a swim team, master classes, swim lessons and a one-mile swim club. There is also an adult lounge and fire pit area. There will be luaus, events and a full-service grill and bar to deliver eats and drinks during the summer.

“There’s really no reason to go anywhere on vacation. You just come here,” Westbrook said. “Save yourself the travel costs, the gas. Pull into VillaSport and enjoy your summer here … Make this your staycation.”

VillaSpa has a relaxation room, steam rooms, facial rooms, whirlpools, adult locker rooms and complimentary tea, water and sweet treats. Westbrook called it a “a place to relax and honestly just disappear.” Massages and facials are also offered at both member and non-member prices. Those non-members can then use the whole club’s amenities for the rest of the day.

The fitness center has more than 100 cardio machines with TVs and internet access and complete lines of circuit, cable, plate-load, free weight equipment, athletic turf and power lifting training.

“If you’re in here, you will see results. There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it,” Westbrook said, but he added that guests should consider getting a coach in a certified fitness advisor to help improve those results.

Yoga and Pilates studios are also on-site. The classes are included in the membership. According to Westbrook, the club offers more than 185 classes in a variety of areas each week, starting as early as 5:15 a.m. and as late as 7 p.m.

An adult basketball court offers pickleball, volleyball, basketball and large group classes like a Cinco de Mayo Zumba-thon.

The Trip is a “fully immersive” cycling experience where as guests spin, they watch interactive videos that help the instructor guide the spin class through what feels like a roller coaster and definitely a trip outside the studio. Westbrook said VillaSport Cinco Ranch is the only place to find The Trip around Houston right now.

Zechariah Newsom has been a trainer for 16 years at other clubs and said he appreciates the VillaSport way of doing things.

“I’ve been at a lot of gyms where they give you like some sort of orientation, and even though they give you an orientation, they don’t put you on a plan that actually is going to be best for you,” said Newsom. “And I like that as trainer, I feel like I can meet with a whole person through their whole life at a gym.”

He explained that while it is not required, included in the membership is a 30-day check-in with a trainer to evaluate progress and make new plans. He recommends taking advantage of the benefit.

The VillaCafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a full Peet’s Coffee espresso bar. Menu items include sandwiches, salad, wraps, pizza, trainer meals and other choices. Guests can use the high-speed WiFi to surf or get some work done from any of the club’s areas.

A day pass to give things a whirl but not commit costs $30, which could make a nice gift. Memberships at the club at the club are month to month, so there are no contracts but generally there is an enrollment fee. If a guest is traveling, he or she has the ability to put a membership on hold.

“There are many reasons why you should come to VillaSport here in Cinco Ranch, primarily because once you’re here, you never have to leave,” Westbrook said.

Visit www.villasport.com for details.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com