Thirty years ago, The Summit in Kalispell opened its doors as the first fitness center fused with medical programming in the state. In addition to gym facilities, such centers incorporate a medical perspective into training, focusing on the prevention and treatment of disease, illness, and injury through physical activity, nutrition, and health education.
Not many centers existed in the United States at the time, Jonnette Sibson, director of the Kalispell facility said.
“You might say we were pioneering a new vision for fitness centers,” Sibson said. “In the 1990s, creating a facility with medically integrated programming alongside a traditional fitness model was a new concept, and The Summit was the first in Montana and one of only a few in the country.”
Over the years, the center underwent upgrades and renovations including the addition of a tennis center in 1999. In 2002, former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal attended a basketball event at the center’s court (pictured below) after an invitation from Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson who owns a house on Flathead Lake.
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In 2021, The Summit was renamed the Logan Health Medical Fitness Center, shortly after Kalispell Regional Healthcare rebranded to Logan Health.
The center offers senior, adult and youth programs alongside comprehensive wellness planning. Journey to Wellness, a program for individuals and families with chronic health conditions, pairs participants with certified wellness coaches to personalize plans that incorporate nutrition and exercise classes.
Logan Health Medical Fitness Center also houses two specialized medical clinics: Logan Health Rehabilitation for occupation and speech therapy and Logan Health Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation for patients with neurological or musculoskeletal impairments. A dedicated cardiopulmonary rehabilitation area focuses on patients recovering from heart and lung conditions.
At 114,000 square feet, the facility is the largest fitness center in Montana. Members have access to the center’s pool, tennis court, racquetball, pickleball, an indoor track, indoor climbing walls, turf training space, group fitness studios and free weights.
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“It’s the people and relationships that make this place special, and I’m honored to be a part of it all,” Sibson said. “We are more than a fitness center; we are a community that supports health and wellness under one roof.”
To commemorate the 30th anniversary, the center is hosting a scavenger hunter now through Feb. 20 with a chance to win a year membership. Celebrations on Feb. 20 will also include a cake, raffles, free InBody composition analyses for members and an open house for curious community members.
I’m Zoë Buhrmaster. Let’s see who else is celebrating an anniversary in the Flathead Valley!
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