In response to the coronavirus threat, Park County and State of Wyoming health officials ordered all gyms to close on March 19.

The order included other types of businesses, such as salons and pools, causing a huge impact across the county. But for the three private gyms in Powell, it was especially difficult.

One had opened just a few months prior to the health order, which is a critical time for small businesses struggling to survive. The other two were on the verge of grand openings.

Anytime Fitness owners spent months renovating the former Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall on North Clark Street and turning it into a gym. Laura Restle, co-owner of Anytime Fitness, was just about to open the business’s doors for the first time when the order came down.

“It was a little devastating,” Restle said. “Liquor stores can be open. Why can’t gyms?”

On May 1, as part of a phased reopening of the state, Gov. Mark Gordon permitted gyms to open with some restrictions. The number of members allowed inside at one time was limited, locker rooms had to remain closed, and the gyms couldn’t offer group classes. Within these parameters, the gyms in Powell resumed operations.

Some of the restrictions were relaxed further on May 15, with state health officials allowing gyms to reopen locker rooms and again offer personal training and group classes for up to 20 people.

“We are 95 percent business as usual,” said Club Dauntless co-owner Stacy Bair.

She said the limits on the number of people she can permit to use the gym are comparable to fire code restrictions, so those aren’t making it hard for members to get in for their workouts.

The size of the facility — which opened in late November — also makes it easy for members to stay 6 feet apart.

Bair also operates a location in Greybull, as well as Club Dauntless’ original location in Lovell. All three locations are open.

Freedom Fitness is the oldest gym in Powell, but it had just moved to a new location when the public health orders came down. After converting the former Classic Lanes bowling alley into a gym over the course of a few months, Freedom Fitness was all set to open its doors when the county shut down gyms.

Jess Campbell, Freedom Fitness co-owner, said maintaining safe practices hasn’t been difficult. Their members understand and are respectful of the rules. Besides, she points out, cleaning is a regular practice in gyms.

“There aren’t too many industries that promote regular sanitization, [but] that’s a fitness standard,” she said.

The new Freedom Fitness has 7,000 square feet for its members, making it easy for them to maintain good social distances. The gym has a hand sanitizing station members use before stepping into the mat area, and every member gets a set of equipment to use on the exercise stations, all of which are cleaned after use.

Also, Campbell said, “if you don’t feel good, you don’t come in.”

Meanwhile, Johnson Fitness Center on the Northwest College campus remains closed, along with the rest of the campus. In a May 21 statement to employees, college leaders announced that plans were in place to open the facility soon, with guidelines in place for public safety, but no official date had been set yet.

Club Dauntless is a 24-hour facility, with business hours Monday through Thursday, 4-7 p.m. and 8-10 a.m. Saturdays. Its memberships are $40 per month for individuals and $60 per month for families, with a one-time $25 registration fee.

Anytime Fitness also offers 24-hour access and membership fees vary.

Membership plans at Freedom Fitness range from $25 to $65. They are fully staffed and open from 4:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Both Freedom Fitness and Anytime Fitness are planning grand openings soon. Campbell said it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense right now to gather a crowd when they have to limit the number of people who can be inside.