More than 500 gyms Visited

Rick Stephenson's 1986 Gold's Gym, became World Gym and now The GYM, located in Pacific Beach, CA. The same equipment and ambiance as when they started. My favorite gym in the country!

What Mark and Kimberly have done in building MadHouse is truly unique!  This gym alone is worth the trip to Atlanta to just experience it for yourself! Witness every old-school piece of equipment ever made in this HUGE 40,000+ square foot space. Visit the Physque Culture Museaum inside the main location and Grab a set with the world's heaviest dumbbells or strongman kegs!

Dylan has created an amazing old-school experience in the Denver suburbs that make it a must experience gym! Armbrust's was one of the first to build the gym around a great leg section which remains iconic today!

Michael coined the term "social belonging" as it pertains to the gym scene and he along with his team demonstrate that old-school spirit in everything they do! Well equipped old school gym and best team in bodybuilding!

Had the opportunity to train for several weeks during prep at this amazing old school original iconic gym.  Equipment and environment have changed dramatically since that time but an icon still!

Made my first trip to the Iconic Gold's Gym in 1990 and for about a decade thereafter it was magic!  The equipment and environment most closely resembles what you find today in The GYM San Diego or Kissimmee Muscle Gym.

IFBB legend, Vince Commerford's gym until the time of his passing in 2012.  Vince's spirit remains along with one of the greatest collections of new looking BodyMasters and Icarian equipment anywhere.

Chuck Sanow built an old-school gym that has survived and is every bit as relevant today as when it first opened.  True hard-core bodybuilding gym!

Somewhere around 2012-2015 Olympus was home to both Flex Lewis and Brandon Curry and the hard core blue collar gym that was there during that period was outstanding! Equipment and environment top notch!

Amazing full set of red Icarian equipment mixed in with old school benches and Hammer Strength.  Bumped into Mike Francois there in 2008 while in town for the Arnold.  Great equipment but old school environment disappeared as of my last trip in 2022. 

Mike Rubottom's Gold's Gym became Total Body Fitness and operated 23 years in the St. Lousi Suburb. Largest selection of old-school Cybex anywhere in the world.  Great building and layout!  Knowledgeable owner.

Closed 2023

Man what a lineup of great old-school equipment from BodyMasters, Icarian, Paramount and always a ghost town even while these were the best equipped two locations in the Atlanta area.

Closed 2012 and 2013

Chris built great old school gyms across the Jersey Shore and they still exist today more than 25 years later.  Great equipment and environment!  You will find Chris there at one of the six area locations most days throughout the year.

Joe Corbett built an amazing old school bodybuilding, powerlifting and strong man gym leveraging the foundation of the Iconic HOP clothing line from the 1990's.  Joes gyms operated from 2018-2025 under his direction and in May of 2025 sold to RAGE Fitness out of Springfield, MO

Anyone that has ever trained seriously for bodybuilding has been influenced by the original Metroflex Gym!  We had the opportunity to visit and speak at length with owner, Brian Dobson in early 2025.  Home of Brian, Branch and Ronnie and the most hard core gym in the world!