Our Foundation

"I ask not for a lighter burden. But for broader shoulders."

The foundation of everything we rebuild.

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Rebuilding Begins · June 27, 2026

Where the sun
rises again.

Gilmer's first comprehensive fitness facility. Twenty years of iron, sweat, and community. Built on faith. Tested by fire. Reimagined for you.

Our StoryWitness the Rebirth
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Years serving Gilmer
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Months from fire to rebuild
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Comeback story
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— Meet the Owners

Jim & Jaime Tennison.

The hearts behind Salon de Soleil. For over twenty years, they've built this space on faith, iron, and genuine care for every person who walks through the door.

Jim and Jaime Tennison, owners of Salon de Soleil Spa & Fitness
Jim & Jaime Tennison · Owners of Salon de Soleil Spa & Fitness
Veteran-Owned·Air Force · Desert Storm·Established 2004
— Meet the Owners

Stress, turned into fuel.

We started as Gilmer's 1st comprehensive fitness facility in December 2004 — with second-hand equipment and a dream.

I played sports and exercised in high school, then entered the military to serve my country in the Air Force through Desert Storm. I found my passion for weightlifting and bodybuilding, in part, as a coping mechanism to deal with the stress.

Intense exercise was the one place where stress and negativity became fuel for positive transformation — not only of your body, but your mind as well.

The Lord makes all things possible, but He never said it would be easy. We've been in business over twenty years and overcome a plethora of trials and tribulations. Faith and hard work have allowed us to forge ahead — and to be rewarded with bigger, better ways to serve the health and wellness of our community.

— Jim & Jaime Tennison, Owners of Salon de Soleil Spa & Fitness

Jim Tennison, owner of Salon de Soleil
Jim Tennison · Owner
Veteran-Owned·Air Force · Desert Storm·Established 2004
— The Fitness Floor

A complete gym, built around you.

Twenty years of evolution. Every piece chosen for a reason. Every member known by name.

01 / Free Weights

Iron that doesn't lie.

A full free-weight floor — dumbbells, barbells, racks, benches. The room where pressure becomes power, and PRs are earned one rep at a time.

02 / Strength & Conditioning

Built for transformation.

Cable stations, plate-loaded machines, and conditioning space designed for first-timers and lifelong lifters alike. Programmed for real results.

03 / Cardio Floor

Move with purpose.

Treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals on an open floor with room to breathe. Plug in, zone out, push through.

04 / Club Soleil · 24 Hours

Your gym. Your hours.

Members get 24-hour fob access to the fitness floor — early-morning lifts, late-night sessions, whenever life lets you train.

Forged in Fire

Knocked down.
Standing up.

Isaiah 43:2
"When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

When faced with such a devastating blow, you have two choices: lay down and give up, or stand up and fight back. We chose the latter.

Team Member Rebuilding — Forged in Fire
Team Member Rebuilding

Forged in Fire.

The fire took the building — but it could not take the spirit. This is the badge of the men and women who showed up when the embers were still warm, who chose to rebuild rather than retreat.

Every beam raised, every weight returned to its place, every member who walks back through our doors proves the same truth: what is forged in fire does not break. It rises.

Community Strong
The morning after — March 17, 2026.
Aftermath · 03/17/26
01 / 06

"The morning after — March 17, 2026."

— The Heart of the Comeback

Forged by the hands we love.

In the quiet aftermath of the fire, something extraordinary began to glow. Friends arrived before the smoke had cleared. Family rolled up their sleeves. Members — each one a vital thread in the Soleil tapestry — refused to let the dream fade into ash.

Members became builders. Neighbors became family. Strangers became friends over shared cups of coffee between demolition and rebuilding. Every board raised, every weight re-racked, every encouraging word spoken in those tender months became a brick in our new foundation.

This place was never just a gym. It is a living testament to what happens when a community decides: we rise together.

  1. 01 · Dec 2004

    The Dream Begins

    Gilmer's 1st comprehensive fitness facility opens with second-hand gear and a vision.

  2. 02 · 2004 — 2026

    Twenty Years Strong

    Faith and hard work carry us through trial after trial — serving our community one rep at a time.

  3. 03 · Mar 17, 2026

    The Fire

    A devastating fire brings our dreams crashing down. Two choices: lay down, or stand up.

  4. 04 · Jun 27, 2026

    Rebuilding Begins

    On Saturday, June 27, 2026, we begin rebuilding — reimagining what Gilmer's ultimate health and wellness center should look like.

"Stay tuned to see what fruits the hard work of our friends, family, members and community will bear."

Plan Your Visit
— What East Texas Is Saying

Five stars across East Texas.

4.9
· Verified guests across Google & Facebook

For two decades, members from Gilmer, Big Sandy, Holly Lake Ranch, Longview and across the East Texas piney woods have made Soleil their second home — for the iron, the discipline, and the people.

I highly recommend this place to my family and friends! I've been training here for over a year. Jamie, Jim and everyone else there does exceptional work and has great customer service. They genuinely care about your progress.

Long-time Member
May 2025

I have been looking for a gym to call home since moving to Texas 3 years ago. I've tried several and none made me feel at home. This place though — I love EVERYTHING so far. Number one being the people. They are so kind and caring. Working out here takes the experience to a whole new level.

Club Soleil Member
January 2025

Jim knows everyone by name. He'll celebrate your first pull-up like it's his own. Real free weights, plenty of room, and a community that actually shows up for each other. Best gym in East Texas, hands down.

Lifelong Lifter
August 2024
— A Word About The Tennisons

Clients don't just rave about the space — they rave about Jaime & Jim.

Jaime is known across East Texas for the warmth she brings to every conversation, every greeting at the front desk, every quiet word of encouragement on a hard day. People describe leaving lighter than they came in.

Jim, an Air Force veteran and lifelong coach, has spent twenty years walking the gym floor alongside members — celebrating their first pull-up, their last fifty pounds, their comeback after surgery. "Everyone leaves with a smile on their face," he says. East Texas agrees.

— Awards · Recognition · Two Decades of Trust

Twenty years of earned trust.

Recognition isn't the point — service is. But when East Texas keeps showing up, year after year, we don't take it for granted.

Gilmer's 1st Comprehensive Fitness Facility

Opened December 2004 — the first all-in-one health and wellness destination in town.

5★ Rated Across East Texas

Consistently top-rated on Google & Facebook — verified reviews and counting.

Two Decades of Members

Generations of East Texans have called this floor home — from first-timers to lifelong lifters.

Featured After the Fire

Profiled locally as the community rallied to rebuild after March 17, 2026 — "a business that helped build them."

— Join the Rebirth

Get your membership coming soon.

We're rebuilding the floor, the systems, and the sign-up experience to match the community we serve. Memberships open once doors are ready — expected later this summer.

Call to learn moreVisit us in person
24/7 Access
Members train on their schedule
Free Weights
Serious iron, serious space
Community First
A gym that knows your name
— Find Us

Come feel the sun.

Walk in, get a tour, and meet the community that's been showing up for two decades and counting.

Address
1284 TX-300, Gilmer, TX 75645
Call
(903) 734-1682
Hours
Walk-ins welcome
Monday
9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday
Closed

Club Soleil Fitness · 24 hours for members

Rebuilding Begins
Saturday · June 27, 2026
Call (903) 734-1682Get Directions