YMCA's CEO, Bobbie Wagner, spoke recently to the Journal about all the upgrades at the Y, which includes new equipment, a fresh coat of paint, and more in the Wellness Center.

Bobbie Wagner, Thomas Smals Talk All Things New at the YMCA By Jennifer Bailey Staff Writer   Covington, VA (Sept. 1, 2026)— On Tuesday, September 1, the Alleghany Journal caught up with Thomas Smals, Operations Director at the YMCA, and Bobbie Wagner, CEO. Together, they caught us up with the amazing new upgrades locals might have seen lately at our local Alleghany Highlands YMCA, located at 101 YMCA Way. We began with Smals, who discussed all the repairs that went into replastering the 20-year-old swimming pool at the Y. "Some of the repairs that we did, we actually had to have the whole floor resurfaced. As a lot of people know, we were down a little bit right before we actually closed for around two months because we did have a leak, so we had crews come in that repaired the leaks, that went in through and checked everything to make sure the infrastructure of the pool was in really good shape," Smals stated. "They came in, tore out all the plaster, which took probably a week or so, and then it took a little around two months to get everything back together." Smals also noted that the staff at the YMCA had to go in and hand scrub the plaster with a giant brush day after day to ensure the wellness of the pool. Next, it was time to speak to Bobbie Wagner about the new wellness center, which was recently redesigned and repainted. Additionally, around $200,000 of brand-new equipment was ushered in to complete the finishing touches. "We are really thankful to be able to do a complete renovation of our entire wellness center, top to bottom. We're talking new flooring, new paint, lighting, equipment, the whole gambit, so pretty special, great project. I think from start to finish, as far as construction timeline goes, we did it in about 14 days, lot of different contractors came in, we partnered with a lot of different folks to come in and do that on such a tight timeline." Wagner also noted the current special going on at the Y to commemorate their 20th anniversary: $20 for new members to celebrate 20 years at the Low Moor location. Existing members won't be left out either! Those of you who refer a friend will get to experience one month free at the Y. Smals and Wagner also noted that all the upgrades done to both the pool and the Wellness Center would not have been possible without the generosity and support of the Alleghany Foundation. "They just do so much for the community," Wagner noted, "and they've done so much for us. We just want them to know how much they're appreciated." Thanks to the generosity and support from the Alleghany Foundation, the Y was able to usher in $200,000 worth of new equipment for members. The Aquatics Center also saw an upgrade in a newly plastered pool that is now free of leaks. Thomas Smals, Operations Manager, gave the Journal a detailed explanation about how the extensive repairs that went into the 20-year-old swimming pool.

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