How It Started
From Two Trainers to Scottsdale's Best Gym
In 2019, Chris Avila and Dana Park were both working as personal trainers at big-box gyms in Scottsdale — frustrated by overcrowded floors, impersonal service, and machines that were always out of order. They had a simple idea: build the gym they'd always wanted to train in.
They leased 8,000 square feet on Camelback Road, spent six months building it out by hand alongside a small crew, and opened Iron Valley Fitness in October 2019 with 40 founding members who believed in what they were building.
Six years later, they have 200+ active members, a Google 4.9-star rating, a team of four certified coaches, and a waiting list for Personal Training. They still teach classes every week and know every member by name.
