Mach983 CrossFit in Aurora relocated to Mile Hi Pickleball after a Halloween fire destroyed its facility. The gym reopened two days later with help from volunteers.
AURORA, Colo. — An Aurora CrossFit gym is operating out of a temporary location after a fire forced the business to close on Halloween, with a local pickleball facility offering space to help the displaced fitness center continue serving its members.
Mach983 CrossFit, located near Stanley Market in Aurora, relocated to Mile Hi Pickleball just two days after the early morning fire on Oct. 31. Owner Fred Dayton received an alert from his Ring security system notifying him that his building was on fire.
“I got the call from Ring, hey, like your building is on fire,” Dayton said. “I was there Friday morning. I was there at 2 am. At some point that morning, I said I am mentally defeated. I need to check out of here.”
After leaving the fire scene, Dayton went to Mile Hi Pickleball, where he had been a member since the facility opened in 2024. Tricia Houston, owner of Mile Hi Pickleball, was working at the front desk when Dayton arrived.
“I was at the front desk, and I was like, what’s wrong?” Houston said. “He said my place caught on fire last night.”
Houston immediately offered part of her facility to house the CrossFit gym temporarily.
“And I just said, well, just put your place in here,” Houston said. “It just came out of my mouth and I don’t regret it.”
More than 60 members of the Denver CrossFit community volunteered to help move equipment from the Aurora location to Mile Hi Pickleball. The gym began hosting classes at its temporary home on the Monday after Halloween.
“That just truly speaks to the community and the support that we have had and that Mile Hi Pickleball has offered,” Dayton said.
Houston said helping fellow small business owners was an easy decision.
“Doing a small business is tough, like it’s hard,” Houston said. “So of course, I’m going to help him. I just felt super bad for him. I mean, can you imagine getting a call at two in the morning saying your place is burning down?”
The temporary arrangement has surprised some pickleball members who weren’t aware of the change.
“The ones that didn’t see it have been walking in, going, ‘Oh, are we doing different things?'” Houston said. “They are like, ‘It’s kinda funny.'”
Dayton, whose gym has been open for three years, said he hopes to return to his Aurora building within two to three weeks, though it remains too early to confirm a definite timeline.
“It’s a good fit, and he can stay as long as he can make it work,” Houston said.
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