Huge St. James sports and wellness center opens in Mason District
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| The crowd at the St. James waits for the doors to open. |
The vast St. James sports and wellness center is “a game
changer for Fairfax County,” said Board of Supervisors chair Sharon Bulova at
the grand opening ceremony Sept. 15. “Nothing quite like this has ever been
constructed in Fairfax County.”
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| The water park |
The 450,000-square foot complex on Industrial Drive in the
Springfield area of Mason District celebrated its grand opening Sept. 15 – one
year after the groundbreaking – with fitness activities, exhibition games,
tours, professional sports team mascots, and a dance party.
Springfield area of Mason District celebrated its grand opening Sept. 15 – one
year after the groundbreaking – with fitness activities, exhibition games,
tours, professional sports team mascots, and a dance party.
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| The gymnastics center |
The facilities up and running at the St. James include the
field house (for football, soccer, lacrosse, and rugby), the court house (basketball
and volleyball), an Olympic-size swimming pool, water park, two ice rinks,
gymnastics center, fitness club, golf simulators, squash courts, hitting house
with batting cages, and climbing wall.
field house (for football, soccer, lacrosse, and rugby), the court house (basketball
and volleyball), an Olympic-size swimming pool, water park, two ice rinks,
gymnastics center, fitness club, golf simulators, squash courts, hitting house
with batting cages, and climbing wall.
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| The soccer field |
There is a three-story health club with 50,000 square feet
of cardio and strength-training equipment; rooms for group spinning, dance, and
yoga classes; a high-performance training center; and a childcare room.
of cardio and strength-training equipment; rooms for group spinning, dance, and
yoga classes; a high-performance training center; and a childcare room.
Courted, the “medispa,” is also open. It offers facials,
massages, manicures and pedicures, cryotherapy, other wellness treatments, and a
Zen lounge.
massages, manicures and pedicures, cryotherapy, other wellness treatments, and a
Zen lounge.
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| The climbing wall, with Wizards mascot G-Wiz in the foreground. |
The Vim & Victor restaurant; the active entertainment
center, called Super, Awesome and Amazing; and the Stivers retail store are
expected to open in November.
center, called Super, Awesome and Amazing; and the Stivers retail store are
expected to open in November.
The MedStar Health and Sports Medicine Center, to offer
physical therapy and related services, is slated to open in the complex in spring
2019.
physical therapy and related services, is slated to open in the complex in spring
2019.
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| St. James founders and co-CEOs Craig Dixon (left) and Kendrick Ashton. |
The St. James offers several membership categories. Some
facilities, such as the water park and entertainment center are available to nonmembers for a daily charge. The center hosts teams and leagues, sports
coaching, training for professional athletes, classes, and youth camps.
facilities, such as the water park and entertainment center are available to nonmembers for a daily charge. The center hosts teams and leagues, sports
coaching, training for professional athletes, classes, and youth camps.
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| The pool |
The St. James is a “major investment in Fairfax County and a
major investment in our region,” said Supervisor Penny Gross at the grand
opening celebration. The complex is adding about 300 jobs to the local economy.
major investment in our region,” said Supervisor Penny Gross at the grand
opening celebration. The complex is adding about 300 jobs to the local economy.
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| The health club |
Noting that the founders and co-CEOs Kendrick Ashton and Craig Dixon, plan to expand
on the concept nationally and internationally, Gross suggested the St. James
complex in Springfield be the flagship center and the corporate headquarters. A
similar complex is planned for a Chicago suburb in 2021.
on the concept nationally and internationally, Gross suggested the St. James
complex in Springfield be the flagship center and the corporate headquarters. A
similar complex is planned for a Chicago suburb in 2021.
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| Squash courts |
Gross also vowed to get Industrial Drive renamed St.
James Boulevard to better reflect the changes the complex is bringing to that
area.
James Boulevard to better reflect the changes the complex is bringing to that
area.
Ashton and Dixon’s efforts to create the St. James is all about
having “a big vision and a big dream,” said Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. “They
never gave up on that dream and that vision.”
having “a big vision and a big dream,” said Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. “They
never gave up on that dream and that vision.”
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| The courthouse is on the right of this hallway. |
“The St. James is aiming to transform how people of all ages
learn to play and love sports, train to improve their games, comprehensively
take care of their bodies, and enjoy themselves while doing so,” said Ashton.
learn to play and love sports, train to improve their games, comprehensively
take care of their bodies, and enjoy themselves while doing so,” said Ashton.
I bet this place wont have people doing their laundry like they do at Providence. This may have to be my go to place to get away from the riffraff at Providence and Audrey Moore. Too bad both are good facilities but the demographics that use these facilities are having a definite negative impact on their desirability.
Why don't you just pay big bucks and join a country club to get away from all those nasty demographics? Sorry, but your comment is just a bit snobbish.
Well you should check out the mens room at Providence during peak time. Newcomers drying their clothes on the hair dryers and in the sauna. Its absolutely disgusting. Ive actually seen men bring in detergent into the showers for washing clothes. This isn't snobbish its a heath safety issue. Sounds like you are the snob Ms Sue!
I hope the swimming pool isn't treated with and reeking of chlorine. If it is I won't be able to enter the building.
This is a great new development for the area!! I hope it is a tremendous success. To the previous commenters – don't be so prejudiced and negative!