Being on coastal time doesn’t mean you have to miss your workout! Fitness and aquatic opportunities abound at Cape Carteret Aquatic & Wellness Center—a facility that’s been lovingly run by Carteret County lifers and husband-and-wife duo Deanna and Albert McElmon for the last 26 years.

The gym—which has everything from fitness classes, free weights and a basketball court to a heated saltwater pool and steam rooms—receives a significant chunk of business thanks to tourists. After noticing the volume of visitors consistently coming in to use the facilities, the McElmons implemented day passes for guests, which average a net revenue of ~$3,000 per week and ~$10,000 per month. According to Deanna, that accounts for a tenth of the Aquatic & Wellness Center’s yearly revenue.

“We have repeat people who come back every year,” said Deanna. “They are coming to something that’s familiar.” The co-owner noted the fitness outpost has a 15-visit punch pass that’s been a hit with visitors, especially on rainy days or when the ocean is rough.

For her part, McElmon is very proud of her home county, both for its people and its breathtaking surroundings.

“We are a very wholesome and welcoming group of people,” McElmon said. “We have a lot to offer. When tourists come in, to us they are no longer tourists. They are just our out-of-town members.”

When the fitness-focused couple isn’t hard at work, find them spending time with their many family members who also reside in the area, exploring the coast via boat or chowing down at Coastal Haze Restaurant.

“I was born in Morehead City and I’m going to die in Carteret County,” said McElmon. “We are very, very local and have a very strong connection with the community. That’s why we stay here.”