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WOLF Waterford Turns One: Inside the Anniversary Party
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One year ago, Bill and Steph Jones opened the doors to WOLF Gyms Waterford on Highland Road. On Saturday, November 7, 2026, the gym threw itself a birthday party, and it felt like half of Waterford showed up to celebrate.
From 10am to 2pm there was a live DJ, local vendors set up across the gym floor, fitness challenges, giveaways, free food and drinks, and people still training through the middle of it all. I was there with my family, and it was one of the best gym events I've been to. Here's what it looked like, who was there, and why this gym belongs on your list if you care about recovery and contrast therapy.
The Quick Answer
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | WOLF Gyms Waterford 1-year anniversary party |
| When | Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10am to 2pm |
| Where | 3635 Highland Rd., Waterford, MI |
| Hosts | Owners Bill and Steph Jones |
| Highlights | Live DJ, local vendors, a grip strength challenge, InBody scans, free food and drinks, and the kickoff of a sponsored athlete program |
| Recovery | Dialed Labs infrared sauna and a cold plunge, open 24/7 |
A Year of WOLF Waterford
Bill and Steph summed up the first year better than I can. In their anniversary post, they wrote that what started as an idea “has turned into a place where friendships have been made, goals have been crushed, and people show up every single day to become a better version of themselves.”
I wrote about WOLF Waterford in its first month in WOLF Waterford: Metro Detroit’s Fiercest New Gym. A year later, everything I liked then is still true, and the community around it has grown. Saturday proved it.
The DJ Set the Tone
The DJ set up right in front of the posing room and kept the energy up all day. The music was great, the lights were going, and the whole place felt like a party, not a sales event. That’s hard to pull off in a gym, and WOLF did it.
Danny Swole Came to Celebrate
One of the biggest names at the party was Danny Swole (@dannyswole), the Air Force veteran, bodybuilder and mental health advocate who owns WOLF Gyms North Wales. He flew in from Philadelphia for the party, posting “Michigan bound” from the airport that morning. His table was full of “It’s ok to not be ok” hats and shirts from his apparel line, @selflovesupplyofficial.
He was as nice in person as he seems online. My son Xander walked up to his table, and Danny got him to flex for him. Xander hasn’t stopped talking about it. That’s the kind of person you want representing a gym.
Criminal Cookies Kicked Off a Sponsored Athlete Program
Criminal Cookies & Co. (@criminalcookiesllc) bakes New York style luxury cookies in small batches, and they brought free samples. They also used the party to officially kick off their 2027 Sponsored Athlete Program with WOLF, for bodybuilding and powerlifting athletes, with applications taken right at their table.
Every Vendor at the Party
Here’s everyone I found on the floor. Give them a follow.
NATIV
NATIV (@nativdrinks) handed out cold cans of their electrolyte water. Their banner says it best: “Natural ingredients, zero compromises.” They also make clear protein and energy drinks.
BUM Energy
@bumenergy poured samples of every flavor, along with RAW protein bars. The table was a Danny Swole and BUM Energy team-up, and Danny was right there behind it. BUM says each can has 112mg of natural caffeine and 250mg of Cognizin: “less caffeine, more focus.”
Jacked Alien
Jacked Alien (@jacked_alien) is a Detroit streetwear brand, and their bright green table was impossible to miss. Even the DJ was wearing their gear.
Tallow Barn Organics
@tallowbarnorganics brought natural tallow soap bars, deodorants and lip balms, and people were trying everything on the table.
Renaissance Longevity
Renaissance Longevity (@renaissance_longevity), a regenerative medicine and wellness practice in Clarkston, set up with an Emsculpt Neo under the message “Live Better. Longer.”
MVPT Physical Therapy
MVPT (@mvpt_mi), a sports and orthopedic physical therapy practice in Troy and Bloomfield Hills, ran a grip strength challenge with men’s and women’s leaderboards. It drew a crowd all day.
SheThrives
SheThrives offered InBody body composition scans for $30, printed on the spot. If you’ve never had one, it’s a quick way to see where you stand on muscle and body fat.
The Recovery Side: Sauna and Cold Plunge
This is the part I care about most. WOLF Waterford has an infrared sauna from Dialed Labs (@dialedlabs), a cold plunge and sauna maker that’s an official UFC partner, plus a cold plunge. The gym is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so you can recover whenever it fits your day.
That red light panel is a nice touch. Want red light at home, or in your own sauna? Our pick is Lumaflex. Its flexible, cordless panels are IP67 rated and heat resistant, according to the company, so they can come into the sauna with you. The Lumaflex Essential wrap is the easy place to start. Our links apply the Contrast Therapy Finder discount, or use the code ContrastTherapyFinder. For timing and the research, read our red light therapy and sauna guide.
Here’s the gym’s own tour, cold plunges and recovery room included:
Pair the sauna with the cold plunge and you have a full contrast therapy setup at your gym, with no separate studio membership. If you’re new to it, start with sauna before or after cold plunge and the beginner’s guide to contrast therapy. Curious how WOLF’s infrared sauna compares to a classic Finnish one? See infrared vs. traditional sauna, and check what to bring to a sauna and cold plunge before your first visit.
More Than a Gym Floor
WOLF also has a pro shop stocked with supplements and WOLF apparel, a posing room for competitors, and a clean locker room with a TV on the wall. It’s built for people who take training seriously.
Happy First Birthday, WOLF
Congratulations to Bill, Steph and the whole WOLF Waterford crew on an incredible first year. You built more than a gym. You built a place people actually want to be on a Saturday afternoon.
Follow them at @wolfgyms_waterford, and see WOLF Waterford’s listing for hours, day passes and the recovery area. Looking for more places to sauna and cold plunge nearby? Browse the best cold plunge and sauna spots in Metro Detroit or see every sauna and cold plunge studio in the Detroit area.
Not near Waterford? Find a sauna and cold plunge near you in our studio directory, or browse by cold plunge and infrared sauna. Thinking about a setup at home after seeing WOLF’s? Here’s what a home sauna and cold plunge really cost, and you can get a free quote from the manufacturers we work with.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the WOLF Gyms Waterford anniversary party?
Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 10am to 2pm, celebrating the gym’s first year.
Does WOLF Gyms Waterford have a sauna and cold plunge?
Yes. It has a Dialed Labs infrared sauna and a cold plunge, open 24/7.
Where is WOLF Gyms Waterford?
3635 Highland Rd., Waterford, MI.
Who owns WOLF Gyms Waterford?
Bill and Steph Jones.
Is WOLF Gyms Waterford open 24 hours?
Yes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Wes Francis
Founder of Contrast Therapy Finder, the directory of sauna, cold plunge and contrast therapy studios across the U.S. About CTF
