COURTS AT PALM CREEK RESORT & RESIDENCES, CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA. PHOTO COURTESY OF SUN OUTDOORS.
lose business from pickleball players who won’ t stay at campgrounds without courts.
“ Pickleball has certainly blown up,” agrees Mike Whitmer, vice president, Resorts Division, for the Tembo Hospitality Group, a hospitality and marketing firm that partners with several luxury motorhome resorts.
Whitmer is also the general manager at the Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort in South Carolina. He says potential campers often call ahead before deciding where to stay because they have questions.“ I would say that pickleball is the primary amenity that is asked about here, aside from the pool. Pickleball is only getting more popular every day.”
Kampgrounds of America operates more than 500 campgrounds throughout North America.“ Pickleball is one of the most popular amenities being added,” KOA spokesperson Kelly Self says.“ Our campgrounds continue to prioritize them even after the pickleball boom.”
Sun Outdoors owns and operates more than 170 resorts and campgrounds across the U. S. and Canada,“ many of which have pickleball courts,” says company spokesperson Darren Arcaro.
Some Sun resorts have lighted courts, competitive teams and host national tournaments.
Players have raved about the courts at Palm Creek Resort & Residences in Casa Grande, Arizona, which features a world-class, 32-court pickleball complex.
The Sun Outdoors Myrtle Beach resort in Conway, South Carolina, has three lighted pickleball courts.
Knowing that RVers who are pickleballers have hundreds of campgrounds to choose from, park owners are not only adding multiple courts, but quality courts as well. Last year at the Mountain Falls Luxury Motorcoach Resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, a CushionX court surface was installed. It is designed to reduce joint strain.“ That alone was a big draw for many folks,” Whitmer says.“ It is absolutely critical that we have well-maintained and well-constructed courts.”
Thousand Trails is the largest membership-based campground network in North America, with more than 250 campgrounds, RV resorts and marinas in its portfolio. Spokesperson Randy Berman says that“ 117 [ properties ] have pickleball as an amenity. Since 2020, we have added 30 pickleball courts either as new additions or redevelopments of older courts, specifically for pickleball.”
Thousand Trails’ Monte Vista RV Resort in Mesa, Arizona— a 55 and over community— has 12 dedicated and lighted pickleball courts. General manager Kristopher Colig says pickleball is now a major part of the company’ s plans:“ There was no way we could build another stateof-the-art fitness facility without including additional pickleball courts as the feature amenity. The sport is too popular among everyone here.”
Thousand Trails’ Sunshine Key RV Resort in the Florida Keys hosts pickleball tournaments and has“ Glow in the Dark” pickleball nights. Music blares from a loudspeaker, and refreshments are available at a nearby tiki bar.
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