Gerald Carley opened Elite in May of 1973 in Merriam, Kansas. Elite was the first privately owned gymnastics facility in Kansas. In 1978, Elite moved to it’s current location at 108th and Pflumm in Lenexa. Gerald went on to open two additional locations in Overland Park and Lawrence providing boys and girls competitive and recreational gymnastics, dance and cheer programs. In 1992, these facilities were consolidated to the Lenexa location. Elite continued to pioneer unique ways to share its passion for gymnastics offering a tumble bus, the first of it’s kind, that traveled to day care centers and preschools in the area to teach tumbling classes.
Elite Aquatics, built in 1988 as an outdoor pool, was one of the first aquatics facilities in the area. In 1991 the pools were covered and heated so year round instruction could be offered. Over the last 20 years Elite Aquatics has gained a reputation for safe, quality swim instruction.
In 2000, with the completion of the Tree House, Elite began offering birthday parties and other events such as parents night out and open gym play.