Dayton, Ky EST. 2012
Where Strong People Get Stronger
RiverCity Barbell is Northern Kentucky's community-built strength gym — private, no-frills, and built by lifters for lifters. Whether you're chasing your first total or your next PR, you belong here.
Built By Lifters. Powered by Community.
Who We Are
River City Barbell was founded in 2012 by Jim Phillips, Nicole Phillips, and Zac Whalen — three friends who just wanted a real place to train. The original idea was simple: build a private facility for a small group of competitive powerlifters. What happened next surprised everyone.
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Word got out. Powerlifters showed up. Then strongman competitors, Olympic lifters, CrossFit athletes, and anyone else who was tired of commercial gyms and craved a community that actually cared about strength. The gym grew not through marketing, but through word of mouth and mutual respect under the bar. As our core members have aged and matured, our demographic has changed. We are still home to nationally ranked powerlifters, but you'll see a lot more weekend warriors and general fitness enthusiasts in the gym now. From absolute beginners who have never touched a barbell to the most seasoned competitor, you can find a home with us.
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We'll be straight with you about how the place runs: membership dues cover the space and the bills. The powerlifting meets we host are our fundraiser — they pay for the increasing energy bills in winter, new equipment, and whatever curveball leasing an 8,000 sq. ft. building throws at us next. It's not glamorous, but it's honest, and it's ours. Members have 24/7 access to the full facility — train on your schedule, not ours.
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Behind every email you've received, every membership question answered, and every smoothly run meet day is Nicole Phillips. She is the operational backbone of River City Barbell — handling memberships, day pass requests, and the mountain of admin that keeps the lights on and the doors open. If you've ever reached out via email or Facebook, you've already met her. On meet day, you'll find her at the check-in table making sure everything runs exactly as it should.
The competitive coaching here isn't incidental either. Zac Whalen and Jim Phillips combined for over three decades of powerlifting experience. Zac was ranked in the national top 10 in the 220lb class for five consecutive years, with competition bests of an 870 squat, 635 bench, and 690 deadlift. Jim's best competition lifts were a 950 squat, 775 bench, and 675 deadlift — a 2,325 total, with a bench press that ranks in the all-time national top 50.
Jim passed away in 2022. His name is on this gym in every way that matters. The culture he helped build — tough, welcoming, unpretentious — is still here every time the doors open.
If that sounds like your kind of place, come find us.
About Us
The People Behind the Platform
Zac Whalen - Co-Founder
Zac Whalen started his weight lifting journey during his sophomore year of highschool in an attempt to improve his play on the soccer field. After graduation, he realized that he liked lifting more than soccer, and began competing in powerlifting shortly after. He was able to rise through the ranks quickly, ultimately achieving a 2175lb multiply total in the 220lb weight class. Lessons learned on the platform and in the gym led it’s way into coaching, where he’s had the pleasure and privilege of working with some of the best lifters in the nation, including many all time world records. Professionally, Zac works in the finance industry, leading a wealth management team at a large investment firm.
He is married to his wife Stacie, and has an 11 year old son named Drake, who stays very active with all types of sports. Although he no longer competes in powerlifting, he still lifts avidly (always will), and in his spare time, he also enjoys training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, where he is a brown belt.
Jim Phillips -Co-Founder
Jim Phillips got a solid start on his lifting journey while playing high school football. He was able to hit 405lbs on the bench press for 2-3 reps, training by himself at a commercial gym, which is unheard of. When he found a small powerlifting crew, he took to the sport like a fish to water. The only thing that moved faster than his lifts was his ideas, and he quickly took the small group of lifters out of the residential garage and into a string of increasingly larger facilities that eventually become RiverCity Barbell. On the platform, he achieved a 2325lb total, and leveraged his experience to become a fantastic coach. He worked with lifters of all levels to achieve countless PR’s, including many nationally ranked lifts and world records. At home, he was a devoted husband to Nicole and excellent father to Ethan, who he was known to train at the gym. Jim was larger than life; the best friend you could have, and the worst enemy.
Jim passed away in 2022. His JP signature lives on the sleeve of every RCBB shirt we make, and his spirit lives in every lift pulled inside these walls.
Nicole Phillips- Co-Owner
Nicole Phillips has worked in the healthcare industry for nearly three decades, bringing that same dedication to detail and care to everything she does at River City Barbell. Since the gym's founding in 2012, Nicole has been the driving force behind most of the administrative work that keeps RCBB running and everything in between that nobody sees but everybody benefits from. Although you won't find her on the platform, she is never more than an email or text away when something needs attention.
Nicole and Jim were married for just short of 20 years prior to his passing in 2022. Together they built something that outlasted everything — a gym, a community, and a legacy that continues to grow. She has a son, Ethan, who is currently a student at the University of Cincinnati, and a spoiled French Bulldog named Dexter who has no idea how much work goes into running a gym.
When she isn't managing her full time career or keeping RCBB functioning at a high level, you might find her on a cruise ship somewhere in the Caribbean — which, honestly, she has earned.
Ben Stone - Iron Asylum Strongman
Ben Stone has competed in structured weight training since 2012, and has competed in strongman since 2016. During that time, he's competed in well over 25 shows at both the amateur and national level, earning podium level finishes in both. He has also competed in multiple powerlifting meets over the past 5 years. He's always seeking to expand his own knowledge of strength sports, and to expand the community of the sport of strongman, showing that it can be a sport for anyone who will to give it a fair shot.
Pricing
Drop-In Visits
$10/Visit*
*For multiple day visits, please reach out for special pricing
Part -Time
Membership
$45/Month
Full -Time Membership
$65/Month
We do not have initiation fees or contracts. We charge a 6% tax, but the price you see is the price you pay. Period.
Try the gym, no commitment. Perfect for visiting lifters or those needing a quick workout while in the area.
2-Day a Week visits with full access to the gym and strongman area as desired. Programming available upon request.
Unlimited visits with full access to the gym and strongman area as desired. Programming available upon request.
Member Stories
The Iron Doesn't Lie
Whether you’re local or traveling through the area, RiverCity Barbell is among the best in the Midwest! The community and culture that RiverCity Barbell exudes is truly supportive of anyone looking to meet and exceed their fitness goals. This is a true, hardcore gym without any unnecessary fluff nor money hungry owners. Check it out and be ready to train hard!
Thomas C.
If you’re tired of the "big box" corporate gym feel, Rivercity Barbell is the place to be. It’s a genuine community of likeminded lifters where the atmosphere is focused and supportive. Whether your goal is just to look better in the mirror or you’re trying to break world records, you’ll fit right in.
There are decades of lifting experience under this roof; if you’re a beginner, there’s always someone to offer advice, and if you’re an experienced lifter, you’ll never have to hunt for a spotter.
The 24-hour access is a game changer for busy schedules, and no matter what time you walk in, you’re greeted by a familiar face. Best gym in the area, hands down.
Alex D.
RCBB is a great gym. The free weights range from 5lbs to over 100lbs, tons of benches/squat-racks and a solid amount of HammerStrength machines with a ton more to use. Its 24/7 and its never packed like a commercial gym. Cant recommend it enough 10/10!
Seger
