LA Fitness has closed more than 20 locations nationwide in 2026, and North Texas hasn't been spared. The Lake Highlands/Kingsley Square club in Dallas is shutting its doors, following recent closures at Forest Lane in northwest Dallas, North Richland Hills, and East Plano. Members are being pointed to the nearest remaining location, Greenville Avenue and Lovers Lane, or offered nationwide access elsewhere in the chain.
Why It's Happening
Parent company Fitness International says overall gym visits dropped in 2026, and the company is betting on a different model: Club Studio. Instead of a standard LA Fitness floor, Club Studio combines boutique classes (reformer Pilates, cycling, boxing) with traditional equipment, in locations getting multimillion-dollar renovations. A Sugar Land location is getting a $5.5 million remodel, and a Houston Heights club got about $4 million. Texas could see around 10 Club Studio locations by the end of 2026, with Coppell mentioned as a likely spot.
The catch is pricing. A standard LA Fitness membership runs under $50 a month. Club Studio starts at $149 a month for a single location, and $249 a month for nationwide access.
Why the Numbers Actually Make Sense
At first glance, declining visits and a pricier new brand look like opposite directions. They're not really aimed at the same customer.
The drop in LA Fitness visits lines up with a few bigger shifts across the fitness industry. Home gym equipment got a lot better and a lot more normal after 2020, so a chunk of former gym-goers simply don't need a commercial gym just for a treadmill or a rack anymore. At the same time, boutique fitness, things like reformer Pilates, cycling, and boxing classes, has been one of the few genuinely growing categories in the industry, because scheduled classes keep people coming back in a way a standard gym floor doesn't. And in a lot of metro areas, there are simply more gyms than the market supports, so chains have been pruning weaker locations regardless of brand strategy.
That's why Club Studio isn't really a bet that current LA Fitness members will start paying three to five times more. It's a bet that a half-empty, low-margin LA Fitness location can generate more revenue per square foot as a smaller, fuller boutique studio serving a different customer than it ever did as a traditional gym floor. Fewer casual gym-goers and more demand for premium, class-based fitness point the same direction. Fitness International is just positioning itself to capture the end of the market that's actually growing.
LA Fitness Closures Across Texas
DFW isn't the only part of the state affected. Here's what's confirmed so far, pulled from local reporting, Yelp listings, and state filings:
- Dallas-Fort Worth: Lake Highlands/Kingsley Square (Dallas) is set to close, members had until Feb. 10 to use it. Forest Lane (northwest Dallas) and North Richland Hills have already closed, along with the Crockett St. location in Fort Worth.
- Houston: The Highway 6 South and W. Holcombe Blvd. locations are both closed. Meanwhile, a Houston Heights club is getting a roughly $4 million Club Studio conversion.
- Sugar Land: An existing LA Fitness is being converted into Club Studio with a $5.5 million remodel, targeted for completion in summer 2027.
- San Antonio: The Blanco Rd. location permanently closed March 30, 2026. Members were pointed to the Bandera Rd. (Leon Valley) and N. Loop 1604 W. clubs.
- Coppell: Reported as a likely spot for a future Club Studio as the brand expands toward about 10 Texas locations by the end of 2026.
The pattern is consistent across the state: standard LA Fitness locations are thinning out, while a smaller number get multimillion-dollar makeovers into the pricier Club Studio brand.
What This Means for DFW Members
If your gym closed, or converts to Club Studio, you're looking at three real options: pay a lot more for the boutique experience, drive further to a remaining LA Fitness, or bring your workout home.
A lot of people are choosing the third option, and it makes sense on paper: even a well-equipped home gym (a quality treadmill or rower, an adjustable bench, a rack) pays for itself against a $149-249/month membership in well under a year. The part people underestimate is getting it set up and keeping it running. A misassembled rack or a treadmill that's never been maintained is how a good home gym turns into an expensive dust collector, or worse, a safety issue.
That's the gap a lot of former LA Fitness members don't think about until it's too late: who do you call when the treadmill belt starts slipping, or the cable on your new functional trainer needs adjusting? That's exactly what we do.
FAQ
Will my LA Fitness membership transfer if my location closes?
Usually yes, to another nearby location or chain-wide access, but terms vary by club, so confirm directly with LA Fitness.
Is Club Studio worth the higher price?
Depends what you use a gym for. If boutique classes are the draw, maybe. If you mainly want weights and cardio, it's a steep jump for the same basic use case.
Is a home gym actually cheaper long-term?
Usually, yes, once you're past the upfront equipment cost, especially compared to a $149-249/month membership.
Who sets up and maintains home gym equipment in DFW?
We do. 2EZ TEK handles assembly, repair, and ongoing maintenance for treadmills, rowers, functional trainers, and racks across Dallas-Fort Worth.