Wills Gymnasium

Wills Gymnasium was a sports facility at Kent State University with multiple athletic areas under one roof. The main arena held about 4000 spectators, while additional spaces included an indoor pool, locker rooms, and a bowling alley.

The gymnasium opened in 1925 as the campus's first dedicated sports building and served as the main venue for athletic competitions for decades. Structural problems developed in the 1970s, which eventually led to the facility's closure in 1979.

The facility was a gathering place where students came to watch basketball games, wrestling matches, and volleyball tournaments together. Athletic competitions shaped campus life and regularly drew crowds of spectators.

The site is now a parking lot and no longer accessible as the original building. Visitors can walk the area to get a sense of where this former sports center once stood.

The site where the facility stood was originally a swampy area called Blackbird Lake located behind the original Administration Building. This marshy ground had to be drained and leveled to make room for the sports facility.

Location: Kent

Inception: May 16, 1925

GPS coordinates: 41.15094,-81.34853

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:07