I Spent the Fourth of July Partying at the Gym

You’d have to bribe most people to spend their Fourth of July partying at the gym. But the members of Life Time Fitness aren’t most people. A one-time fee of $899 (added on to your existing monthly membership) will get you access to the rooftop pool all through summer — that’s cause for celebration in and of itself. But despite its reputation for luxury amenities and specialized group fitness classes, the gym might still seem like an unusual place to party.

That said, the demand for more meaningful connection has skyrocketed as of late. We’ve seen this manifest in the rise of wellness “fourth spaces” like early-bird dance parties and sober sauna raves. If people really are seeking to make wellness a bigger part of their social life, then it’s definitely possible these splashy pool parties are worth the extra dough. The only way to know for certain is to attend one yourself.

Full disclosure: I’m not usually one to blow my paycheck on health and fitness. I consider my LA Fitness membership a splurge. On the weekends, I attend donation-based yoga classes in a graveyard. Hot girl walks have gotten me through many a lunch break, and I subscribe to a strict “we have food at home” mentality. But as a social butterfly who loves making friends at the gym, Life Time’s pool parties piqued my interest. Here’s what happened when I decided to spend my Fourth of July partying at the gym.

The Set-Up

When I think of a typical gym, I picture crowded parking lots, sweaty equipment, and sneakers squeaking across the basketball court. Life Time, however, is less of a fitness free-for-all and more of an “athletic country club” (per its own website). Think saunas and spas in the locker rooms, rows of vanities for touching up post-workout, cutting-edge recovery equipment like Normatec compression boots, and boutique studios for Pilates and yoga.

On a brief tour, a Life Time rep leads my guest and I through the immaculate facilities, taking us from one floor to the next via elevator. I’m suddenly very aware of my dingy Birkenstocks stomping across the turf. Still trying to wrap my head around the business model, I ask our tour guide why so many people would choose to party — even spend their holidays — at the same place they go to work out. Her answer is simple: “Everyone is happy to be here.”

Our tour ends with the rooftop pool, which is decked out for Life Time’s “Fire and Ice” Fourth of July party. One side of the roof is completely covered in a smattering of white balloons (the ice side). The other is adorned with fabric flames, a quick bar, and a DJ booth (the fire side). Smack dab in the middle is a gorgeous Olympic-length pool. We take a few photos, grab our wristbands, and get ready to enjoy the party in earnest.

The Experience

During our tour, we’re generously assigned a daybed. I later learned these are typically reserved for those buying bottle service (which can cost as much as $700). This proves to be the source of some contention. Despite a large placard clearly displaying my name, our server informs us we’re in the wrong place. Fair enough, simple miscommunication. But in our quest to secure a mocktail, two more staffers deliver similar messages. Ultimately, a rep confirms we’re indeed where we need to be. I’m grateful for a resolution, but also a little curious as to why so many people think me incapable of buying a bottle of Clase Azul.

Moving right along, the people-watching is top-tier, as is the poolside fashion (designer swimsuits, star-spangled cowboy hats, and sparkling two-piece sets, to name a few). If you opt to stay dry, entertainment includes carefully-crafted photo walls and a 360 glambot machine. At one point, I watch guests dance alongside a towering Transformer-esque robot. If I hadn’t captured it on video, I would’ve sworn the whole thing was a fever dream.

Mid-snowcone run (one of the highlights of my experience), I strike up a conversation with a Life Time member. I comment on the sheer size of the party before asking why he chose to spend his Fourth of July here. “We’re a community,” he tells me. There may be Rolls-Royces in the parking lot (he’s not lying . . . I checked), but everyone is still kind. “They don’t let it go to their heads,” he says.

To him, a Life Time membership is about fitness, yes, but it’s more than that. At a different location, he once ran into renowned businessman Mark Cuban. Being a part of this community makes you want to be better, he explains. I’m beginning to realize “partying at the gym” does not quite capture what these events are really about.

Takeaways

Originally, I thought people partied at the gym because they loved fitness. Sure the amenities are great, but for the most part, people must flock together because of this common interest . . . right? While I do think elements of this hypothesis turned out to be true, my experience at Life Time offered a bit more nuance. Yes, members certainly seemed invested in health and wellness. I also believe they’re seeking community and connection like the rest of us. But there’s something to be said about belonging to this community in particular — a group that’s as aspirational as it is motivational.

I personally love that you can take a fitness class, hit the sauna, slather yourself in lotion, go for a swim, eat lunch, check your emails, get a massage — and yes — attend a pool party, all from the same building. The only unfortunate thing is that I could never afford to become a part of this particular community. That said, I’m not bitter toward those who can, and I’d never judge people for choosing to invest in their own health. Did I feel a bit out of place at the party? Admittedly, yes. But I think our tour guide’s words still ring (mostly) true: “Everyone is happy to be here.”

Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.