NELIGH — In January, 719 Fitness Center here celebrated one year under its new owners, Dan and Jenny Murray.
They purchased the fitness center from Seth and Shelby Snodgrass, who had opened the gym at 406 Main St. in December 2015. The business was a natural for the Snodgrasses, given that they are avid bodybuilders and have competed in and won numerous competitions. Seth Snodgrass also was a mixed martial arts fighter, so they brought their passion for bodybuilding to his hometown and opened the fitness center. The couple named the business 719 after the date of their wedding anniversary.
After having children, the couple became too busy to continue running the fitness center, so they put it up for sale and hoped that someone would keep it going. As fate would have it, Dan Murray, who owns a construction company, happened to be doing work at the Snodgrass home, and he and Seth began discussing the fitness center. By the end of the day, Murray had agreed to buy the business.
All he had to do then was to break the news to his wife, Jenny, who is the arts and graphics director at Blackburn Manufacturing.
Jenny said, “He came home and said, ‘Don’t be mad at me.’ “
Both ultimately agreed that buying the business would be a good investment and good for their hometown, so they purchased 719 Fitness Center in January of 2024.
From the start, the Murrays have focused on keeping the fitness center much the same while also updating things and adding new features. The facility has a variety of cardio machines, such as treadmills, elliptical machines, rowing machines and a Stairmaster. There also are weight machines and free weights, as well as medicine balls and kettle balls.
Additionally, there is a tanning bed, an infrared sauna, a room where one can practice boxing and kickboxing and even a cold plunge that was added in January. Every Friday, a licensed massage therapist, Cassie Sprague, is available by appointment.
The fitness center also has a shake bar that offers protein shakes and fruit smoothies during the staffed hours.
The gym is staffed Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. During those hours, there are workout classes offered by the three staff trainers: Candis Kurpgeweit, who is also the manager, Dominic Tolfa and Luz Anderson. Shelby Snodgrass also offers prenatal/postpartum pregnancy programs and personal training on the side.
There are about 170 current members from ages 12-86 from towns all around Neligh. Members have 24/7 access to the fitness center via an app on their phones, and nonmembers can pay to use the facility during staffed hours. While the business doesn’t yet have a website, it does have an active Facebook page at 719 Fitness Center.
The Murrays credit Seth and Shelby Snodgrass’ expertise and knowledge with being instrumental in helping them learn how to keep the gym running. Jenny said that owning the gym has been an amazing experience, and it has given her and Dan “something beyond the run-of-the-mill to do” with themselves.
