There is another opportunity in Ames for residents and ISU students to get fit.

A new fitness center is scheduled to open May 1. The state-of-the-art facility will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Anytime Fitness, 823 Wheeler St. suite #6, will be located in the Northern Lights Center, just north of North Grand Mall, 2801 Grand Ave.

It will include cardiovascular equipment, weight systems, free weights and tanning beds – all of which can be accessed around the clock.

Anytime Fitness is a national chain that has already opened six locations across Iowa, in cities including Boone, Johnston and Norwalk.

The company plans to open at least seven more Iowa locations this year.

Chad Erand, owner of the Ames and Boone centers, said members will be able to enter the building and use the equipment with a security key that carries each member’s information.

“Outside one of the doors is a scanner and all you do is go up and scan your key, and it unlocks the security system and lets you in,” Erand said. “It works the same way with the tanning beds.”

The key grants access to any of the 330 Anytime Fitness clubs located nationwide. Erand said the availability of Anytime Fitness would serve the Ames market well.

“A year ago there was a total of 180 clubs, and now we are up to 330,” he said.

Erand said the club features safety remotes for all members, should there be an accident.

“If someone comes in at 1 [a.m.] and there is no staff, they can put one around their neck and it’s an emergency link to 911,” he said.

Erand said that Anytime Fitness is not a direct competitor with Ames Racquet & Fitness Center or ISU Recreation Services, because Anytime Fitness will be a much smaller gym.

“The design is for somebody who doesn’t like the big gym atmosphere,” he said. “It’s the average person’s gym.”

Victoria Wagner, freshman in art and design, said she uses Lied Recreation Athletic Center and would probably continue to work out there because student fees cover membership costs.

“If Anytime Fitness costs money, I’d rather use Lied,” she said.