Silverback Strength opens in Weyauwega
By James Card
Conner Vanden Boomen’s high school defensive football coach for the Wautoma Hornets encouraged his players to take the form of silverback gorillas on the field; to take charge with their chests out and heads held high.
That image always stuck with him and that’s the name of his new fitness center on 117 E. Main St.
Walking inside of Silverback Strength, one notices “Welcome to the Jungle” painted on a ceiling beam. It’s a reference to the Silverback gorilla theme, and it’s also a nod to the 1987 Guns N’ Roses song of the same name.
Vanden Boomen said 1980s rock music gets a lot of airplay in the gym but they also play a “smorgasbord of genres.”
Over the course of last year, the old Maytag building was slowly transformed into a modern fitness center. The center has equipment for both cardio and strength training. For endurance there are treadmills, Stairmasters and elliptical machines. There is a turf area for stretching and agility drills and nearby are foam rollers, mats and medicine balls.
For strength training there are free weights, deadlift platforms, squat racks, Smith machines and pin-loaded plate machines. The racked dumbbells range from 5 pounds to 100 pounds.
“The community has responded well with this business. They like it being 24-7. That’s a big thing. They enjoy the different variety of machines. It’s not so much a gym but a gathering or a community,” said Vanden Boomen referring to how already gym members are on a first-name basis and getting to know each other.
Open 24/7
The gym is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Members receive a key fob and enter through the back door. The gym is staffed from late afternoon and early evenings and some mornings. Vanden Boomen is also available by appointment for helping out beginners.
“We have people that workout through all times of the night,” Vanden Boomen said.
One wall has a huge Silverback Strength logo featuring a tough-looking gorilla. It was painted by his friend Michelle Wagner-Marks and her daughter Meaghan. They are planning on doing more murals in the gym to give it more character and color.
Vanden Boomen has many plans for the future of the fitness center such as opening up another room and expanding into the basement. He’s wants to invest back into the gym and acquire more equipment. He’s considering hosting a variety of classes and beginner courses.
Vanden Boomen, who was also a football coach as Weyauwega Middle School this season — wants to give back to the community and one idea is based on a special that other gyms offer where a member can bring in a friend for a free workout. He would do the same but it would cost the friend a donation of a nonperishable food item. All of that would go to his other Main Street neighbor, the Weymont Food Pantry.
Membership options include day passes, monthly, 90-days, yearly and there are discounts for seniors and members of the military and police, fire and rescue.
Tanning is included and there is a private room with a tanning bed and towels.
They sell a variety of drinks and are working on getting Silverback Strength-branded T-shirts and sweatshirts. Their Facebook page is the best way to get in touch with questions.