Building a community at Desert City Fitness

EPHRATA — The city of Ephrata welcomed its newest athletic club earlier this summer with Desert City Fitness setting up along Basin Street. Since their grand opening June 6, the club has worked to become a strong contributor to the community in Ephrata. 

“We just opened our doors and whoever comes in, that’s how we do it,” said Bryan Boney, owner of Desert City Fitness. 

Boney, who owns the club alongside his wife Tracy Fillion, decided to open Desert City Fitness to keep himself active after retiring six years ago. Boney said he has invested all his money from retirement into purchasing the property, remodeling and getting the equipment necessary to open his fitness center.

Both Boney and Fillion have had strong connections to trainers and fitness club owners locally and in California, which he said gave them a bit of a head start in knowing how to get started. 

“They’re teaching me and they’re saying, ‘Don’t call it a gym anymore, call it a club and listen to all your members on what other kind of machines or what other kind of things they want to do,’” said Boney. “And that’s exactly what we did.” 

The club was designed by Complete Gym Solutions, which provides modern layouts to gyms in California. 

Alongside benches and treadmills, Desert City Fitness has added more fitness equipment to target specific muscle groups, and they are planning to add tanning beds in the future. Members also have unlimited access to free classes, free workshops, coaching, NFL-grade HOIST equipment, and snacks and drinks available for purchase on site provided by Yakima Healthy Vending. 

Boney said he has worked to keep membership fees low with a baseline monthly rate of $40 and a discount for first responders and seniors. 

The club has also made an effort to create a space that allows Ephrata High School student athletes to work out and learn alongside fitness experts who give the athletes a fitness routine depending on whatever sport they are focused on, said Boney. Memberships for students also have a reduced price of just $20. 

“That’s the kind of thing that we’re trying to do, and the parents just love our gym because we take care of their kids,” he said. “We’re just like a family environment.” 

Desert City Fitness has made it a goal to host a variety of events at the club with the most recent being the upcoming 2026 Bench Press Classic this Saturday at noon. This event is open to all gyms and to the public where those competing have an opportunity at cash prizes. 

The Bench Press Classic has gained attention from larger areas already with athletes from Moses Lake, Wenatchee, Yakima and the Tri-Cities signing up to compete.  

The idea to host lifting competitions was inspired by another local fitness institution, Ephrata Athletic Club. When Ephrata Athletic Club first opened in the 70’s, Boney said they used to host their own bench press and squat competitions, which occasionally got players from the Seattle Seahawks to come into town. 

Boney said members from Wenatchee have also suggested implementing a 1,000-lb, 1,250-lb and 1,500-lb club for bench press, squat and deadlift. Those who make the club will have their name put on a board and receive a special t-shirt.  

“That’s what we’re trying to bring back is stuff like that,” he said.  

Even with the extended growth in just a few months of the grand opening, their biggest goal at Desert City Fitness is to provide support to the community in Ephrata. 

“We want to help people,” said Boney. “We want to give people fun stuff to do and try to change the negative world and bring back the fun stuff. We just want to be in the community that we can help with anything.” 

Desert City Fitness 

135 Basin Street SW, Ephrata 

509-450-0461 

Desertcityfitness.com 

    The Iron Den features multiple types of traditional plate lifting equipment with a poster of the club’s gorilla mascot. The Iron Den will be where lifting competitions will be held.
  

    A row of tread mills and other ellipticals on a far wall of Desert City fitness.
  

    The main lifting area with multiple members of the club partaking in their own personal workouts.