Aderdholt to celebrate reopening Published July 23, 2008 HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The Aderholt Fitness Center will reopen July 28 after being closed since November 2007 for extensive renovations. Several activities have been planned to commemorate the re-opening. "Our patrons have been extremely patient during the time our facility was closed for renovations, so we wanted to use this opportunity to reopen with a bang, as well provide a little something extra for their enjoyment," said Capt. Russell Massey, chief of the new 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron Sustainment Services Flight, to which the fitness centers belong. The original building featured 28,095 square feet of space encompassing a gymnasium, four racquetball courts, locker rooms, a co-ed sauna and an aerobics room. To support the Air Force Special Operations Command ops tempo and better serve our Hurlburt community, a $1.4 million renovation project was awarded, and construction began. Under the renovation, many upgrades have been made to include: - Completely re-tiled locker rooms and steam rooms - Fresh paint throughout building - New heating, ventilation and air conditioning system - New gymnasium floor with the AFSOC logo - Additional multi-purpose rooms that can be divided to create two rooms, adding 2,624 square feet - A dedicated spin bike room "And in a few months, the base is going to get another big surprise in the facility, but I'm not going to spoil it for you!" Captain Massey said. The Aderholt Fitness Center was built in 1993 and was named after retired Brig. Gen. Harry Aderholt on Jan. 6, 2004. The general remains a devoted, daily patron of the facility. General Aderholt, who is considered by many to be the father of Air Force Special Operations, will be given the honor of cutting the ribbon for the facility re-opening ceremony. The schedule of the day's events will be as follows: - 7 a.m. Re-opening ceremony/Aderholt opens for patrons. Immediately following the re-opening, refreshments will be served in the lobby - 7:20 a.m. DV tour of the Aderholt - 7:35 a.m. 5k Fun Run. First 20 finishers will receive a 5K T-shirt - 8:15 a.m. 3-point Shoot-out begins - 8:35 a.m. Slam dunk contest begins - 10-11 a.m. Aerob-a-thon in Aderholt multi-purpose room -- circuit type training, encompassing a sampling of all the different types of aerobics classes offered at the Aderholt - 11 a.m. Racquetball singles shoot-out - 1:15 p.m. Hapkido Martial Arts demo on basketball court Prizes will be awarded for the various contests, and door prizes will be given out to patrons throughout the events. For more information or to sign up for any of the events, call 884-4412 or 884-6876.