The Rappahannock Area YMCA was started in October 1973 when Dr. Louis B. Massad presented the idea to establish a YMCA in our community at a Rotary Club meeting.  Later that month a group of interested people held the first meeting of the newly founded YMCA.  The organization was incorporated in February, 1974 and received its charter through the National YMCA in July, 1974.  

In January 1982, the Rappahannock Area YMCA opened on Butler Road in Falmouth. The facility included a 25-meter indoor pool, family locker rooms and multi-purpose rooms for aerobics, youth programs and a weight room. After opening its first additional branch Spotsylvania in 2003, the Rappahannock Area YMCA changed its flagship branch name to the Massad Family YMCA.  The Massad Family YMCA now offers a full service health and fitness facility including two indoor swimming pools, an outdoor water park, wellness and exercise studio, basketball/volleyball complex, indoor tennis courts, steamrooms, saunas, jacuzzi, racquetball, preschool, daycare, and summer camp programs for kids.