SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Batting cages, a traverse wall and an all-purpose field are some of the attractions at The Cage.
“We are an athletic facility,” Kristy Touchinsky-Stokes, 33, said Jan. 12.
She leases the building with her husband, Chris Stokes, 36, a Marine. They said the facility, which opened Jan. 2, is not like anything else in the county. It has three batting cages, an all-purpose area with a large net for people to practice sports such as soccer, a bodybuilding/power lifting area and an indoor track, among other features.
The Orwigsburg couple were both active in sports before graduating from Blue Mountain High School. They were looking for a suitable site they could grow into and found it at the building at 100 W. Penn St., Schuylkill Haven.
“This one just seemed to fit. It’s centrally located,” Touchinsky-Stokes said.
The couple signed a five-year lease on the 12,000-square-foot space in December, with an option to expand if desired.
“We plan on growing into this building,” Touchinsky-Stokes said.
The building is owned by Mayalin LLC, according to the Schuylkill County Parcel Locator.
Exercise equipment includes barbells, rowing machines, leg presses, treadmill, elliptical machine, heavy punching bags, wall balls and pull up rings.
“Every piece of equipment that we have here will strengthen your body,” she said.
They conduct classes for strength training, conditioning and athletic training. Coaches are also available for different activities including soccer and obstacle course.
Future plans for the facility include additional batting cages and all-purpose fields. Mini golf and laser tag are also possible.
Touchinsky-Stokes said the facility offers an inexpensive place for families to workout.
There are varying levels of membership. A bronze membership is $30 per month for students, those in the military, first responders and correctional officers. A silver membership is $50 per month and a gold membership is $60 per month. The first 100 people who sign up get a discount of $20 per month off the gold membership. A $20 registration fee is charged for all memberships. A six-month contract is needed as is a credit or debit card. Memberships offer different uses of the facility.
A membership is not needed to use the batting cages or field, but an hourly fee is charged.
Jodi Schwartz, Orwigsburg, took her son, Stevie Dunn, 15, to the facility to practice his swing in one of the batting cages.
“This is awesome having this so close to home,” she said, adding they had to travel, such as to Reading, to get the practice her son needs.
Facility hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.