EXCELLENT
Based on 232 reviews
Posted on Google
Amanda BentleySeptember 6, 2026We recently celebrated my son's 11th birthday at Hot Ground Gym, and it was an incredible experience. The kids had an amazing time and loved having the entire gym to themselves. The party started with a fun obstacle course before moving outside, where they worked together to push a large truck. One of the highlights was when all of his friends carried him across the room in a kayak, which he absolutely loved. It was great to see the kids fully engaged in the activities from beginning to end. The celebration wrapped up with cake cutting using a sword, which my son thought was the coolest thing ever. The staff was fantastic, helping with everything from serving pizza to handing out cake, making the day stress-free for us. I would highly recommend Hot Ground Gym for any child's birthday party.Posted on Google
Anna GutsulyakAugust 23, 2026We had such a great experience celebrating my son’s birthday at Hot Ground Gym! The staff was absolutely amazing—so friendly, helpful, and great with the kids. There were so many fun activities, and everything was organized so well. The kids had an absolute blast and were having so much fun the whole time! We also really appreciated the great communication and cooperation with the staff throughout the whole process. It made the celebration easy and stress-free for us. Thank you, Hot Ground Gym, for making my son’s celebration so special! We would definitely recommend it!Posted on Google
Emily ZuhrAugust 19, 2026We attended this location for a group/team building outing. It was very inviting, with energetic and friendly staff. The staff kept the focus of the group and made their experience very enjoyable. The location was clean and organized and the group had a great time!Posted on Google
Kate MayAugust 19, 2026HGG was an absolute blast! They held a team bonding event for our Girl Scout troop. The girls were sweating, pushing themselves, cheering each other on, and having so much fun along the way. It was such a great opportunity for them to step outside their comfort zones while building teamwork and confidence. We are so grateful for their support of Girl Scouts!Posted on Google
Cheryl KinneyAugust 16, 2026I stumbled upon HGG after asking for birthday party recommendations in a Facebook mom group, and I am SO glad we decided to give it a try! We hosted 24 kids, ages 5–12, for my daughter’s 8th birthday party, and every single kid had an amazing time. The party was incredibly well run—the kids were engaged, active, and moving the entire time. They also went above and beyond to make the birthday girl feel extra special. She got to demo everything, participate in a group challenge where the kids carried her in a canoe, and had a whole line of kids giving her high-fives and hugs. They even made time for group photos and, best of all, took care of EVERYTHING—from setup to serving the pizza and cake. As a parent, I didn’t have to do a thing! And the birthday girl’s favorite part? She got to cut her cake with a SWORD, which she was absolutely obsessed with! 😂 The owner also told us that they change up the gym every week, so each visit offers something a little different. My older child is already asking to have their birthday party there, and I know at least one other parent who is planning to book HGG after seeing how much fun the kids had. It was truly an exceptional experience for both the kids AND the adults. If you’re looking for a birthday party where the kids are having a blast and the adults can actually sit back and enjoy it, I cannot recommend HGG enough! 🎉Posted on Google
Vika HARENKOVAAugust 14, 2026We spent a month at a summer camp in Arlington Heights, and it was such a pleasure to see our child go there every day with so much excitement and enthusiasm! We really appreciated the creative approach and the variety of activities. Throughout the entire camp, we had no negative experiences at all — everything was organized wonderfully, and our son was always happy to go. Summer isn’t even over yet, and we’re already thinking about the fall and winter breaks and hoping to spend them there again! 😊 Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful experience for the kids! ❤️Posted on Google
Jori BinsihiAugust 10, 2026I can’t say enough wonderful things about Hot Ground Gym in Arlington Heights! When I needed a last-minute camp for my boys because I was unexpectedly called into work, Doug truly saved the day. From the moment they started going, I knew they were in great hands. Doug is amazing with the kids and such a positive role model. My boys absolutely love going there, and I love that they’re getting both the physical exercise and mental stimulation they need while having fun and building confidence. It’s such a relief as a mom to have a place where I know my kids are safe, active, engaged, and genuinely enjoying themselves. We are so grateful to Doug and everyone at Hot Ground Gym for creating such a positive environment for kids. Highly recommend! ❤️Posted on Google
Seth KnockeJuly 13, 2026My daughter did a week at their summer camp and had a great time. She’s already said she wants to go again next summer. She loved the challenges and activities, showing us each day what she learned.Posted on Google
Mike NJune 10, 2026From the start to the very end, Doug and his crew ran a 1st Class, child and family-centric party. We were greeted at the car and Doug and his crew got out all of the party items and set everything up. Doug carefully explained how the party was going to go for my 7 y/o and 23 of his friends and relatives. Doug has an amazing way with children, keeping them having fun while staying disciplined. The Kayak carrying to the birthday cake and the sword cutting of the cake are special experiences my child is still talking about. Doug and his crew did everything, served all of the food, drinks, snacks, and cake. At the end, Doug and his crew took care of everything yet again and helped carry everything out for the day. Doug's dedication to serving others shows in every single thing he does with Hot Ground Gym. Knowing that he served our country in the Marines made the decision to choose Hot Ground Gym for my son's birthday party that much better. Thanks Doug!
Hot Ground Gym® (HGG) is a first-of-its-kind gym for kids. Our programs combine indoor obstacle courses, teambuilding “missions”, “target practice” (hand-eye-coordination), and life skills into the same experience, which completely changes every week. We are a new way of motivating kids to stay active and develop higher fitness levels.
Hot Ground Gym® (HGG) is a first-of-its-kind gym for kids. Our programs combine indoor obstacle courses, teambuilding “missions”, “target practice” (hand-eye-coordination), and life skills into the same experience, which completely changes every week. We are a new way of motivating kids to stay active and develop higher fitness levels.
The HGG Approach
We target physical, mental, and character growth during the pivotal childhood development stages to teach skills like resilience, cooperation, perseverance, and leadership traits.
Physical Development
The kids can become stronger, healthier, and calmer through the obstacle course fitness they experience in our gym.
They are working out, and may not ever realize it.
They are working out, and may not ever realize it.
Mental Development
The first aspect honed is a child’s discipline. They will pay attention to what is going on around them. Later they will activate their problem-solving skills to complete the course and “mission”.
Character Development
We are huge believers in “Teamwork makes the dream work” & “Many hands make light work”. We love making the kids work together to solve challenges. That’s when we get to see their leadership skills start to shine through their personalities.
