I.J. & Jeanné Wagner JCC

How did the JCC procure the Fort Douglas Country Club?  The story goes that Izzi Wagner originally tried to become a member at the Fort Douglas Country Club, but his application was rejected because he was Jewish. When the Club went up for sale, a major gift by Izzi Wagner honoring his late wife, Jeanné, was paired with gifts made by more than 500 families and organizations including a million-dollar gift from the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation and sizeable gifts from the Elliott Wolfe family and the John and Marcia Price family. The community would now have a full service JCC with a state of the art health and fitness center, brand new early childhood center, and a Holocaust memorial. The price tag for this was in excess of 18 million dollars. Even with Izzi’s substantial gift and all of the other gifts, the completion and opening of the I.J. and Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center in 2001 was accompanied by financial strain. Once again, no budget existed for furnishing a 90,000 sq. ft. building and the start-up costs for a new health and fitness center and rental and catering operation required spending money before any was made. A million-dollar mortgage was taken, this time guaranteed by the already built JCC.
1997 Salt Lake Tribune article
1997 Deseret News article                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Construction of the I.J. and Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center was complete in July of 2001, when Rabbi Benny Zippel blessed the building and Rabbi Fred Wenger attached a Mezuzah to the front door. Following the blessing was a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by JCC Board Chairman Daniel Shapiro. At the time of the opening, the new JCC boasted over 90,000 square feet. It had an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a spa, group fitness studio, spin room, exercise room, state-of-the-art fitness center, a climbing tower, a full-size basketball court and running track, youth lounge, senior lounge, daycare room, and offices which housed Jewish Family Services and the United Jewish Federation of Utah. The social hall seats over 300 guests and the preschool cares for over 200 children with two outdoor play areas. The J also boasts having some of the finest views of the city from their patio. The Price Family Holocaust Memorial Garden was erected on the east side of the J, as a place of reflection and information about the Holocaust.

With this magnificent space, packed Early Childhood Center, bustling summer camps, and active fitness facilities and pools, the Salt Lake Jewish pioneers of the '20s would be astounded at the growth and development of how the Jewish Community Center has grown and prospered. But this is a story about growing (and outgrowing) the JCC. Despite this huge facility, the J found itself in the same conflict as before — programming for kids was overrunning the J — and it became clear that they needed their own place to thrive.

By 2016, discussions were in progress to start a Capital Campaign. Within the plan was an upgrade of the Health and Fitness facilities as well as erecting a separate building on the grounds that would specifically meet the needs of children for the summer camp and after school programs. 

With a huge campaign and LOTS of fundraising, money was raised and plans were underway for some big changes at the J. However, there was an unexpected hitch to the process...the COVID-19 Pandemic struck in March of 2020, and with that, the J had to move quickly to not only find ways to safely stay open, but to try to continue to function as an essential business. Keeping our Early Childhood Center and Club J programs open were critical, and with strict protocols like wearing masks, taking temperatures, and maintaining safe distances, the J was able to remain open. Fitness equipment was spread out, fitness classes were moved outside, and children and adults alike adjusted to the new norms. 

In spring of 2021, the J was finally able to break ground for its dreams of a bigger and better facility. In addition to the challenges of a pandemic, the JCC also had to battle the challenges of another facility that had outgrown its space — The Huntsman Cancer Institute just east of the J. Suffice it to say, there were a lot of frustrated members trying to navigate the roads that were constantly blocked with construction equipment, air that was persistently a dusty haze, and delay after delay of deadlines.

Persistence won out. In the fall of 2022, the Jerry J. Kaufman Family Activity Center was complete. Children now had their own building with large rooms, an art room, a huge multipurpose room with a stage and seats, and a large outdoor with permanent areas with dens for camp groups. The Health and Fitness area was completely upgraded and now offers the best workout facility views in the city. By 2024, the Huntsman Cancer Cancer Institute finally finished its new building, parking structure, and roadway. Cranes were cleared out, trees were planted, and the dust finally settled.

It is 2025, 100 years since The Covenant House first opened as the first Jewish Community Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Although the Wagner JCC is literally right up the hill from its original location, the journey to get here has taken many twists and turns and unexpected adventures. As we reflect on where we have come from, we also look ahead at where we are going. Where will the next 100 years take us? One thing is evident — the people who are a part of our community make this place special. We invite you to come along for the ride.

Learn About the First JCC

Learn About the 17th South JCC