The co-founders of The Pickle Lodge in West Chester Township, Ohio, the second-largest indoor pickleball complex in the US, aim to partially open their facility by the end of this month, subject to receiving the necessary approval from county regulators. The first stage of the 60,000-square-foot facility’s opening is planned for April, with two further phases to follow.
Co-founder Mitch Dunn stated that his team is collaborating with Butler County officials to open the first nine of the facility’s 17 courts, which are ready for use pending regulatory clearance.
“We love seeing municipalities explore pickleball,” Dunn said. “I won’t kid you; we are glad they are taking that kind of wait-and-see approach because we’re confident about our ability to meet the needs of players in West Chester.”
The courts have lines!! The tape is coming off at The Pickle Lodge in West Chester! The second largest pickleball facility in the country is set to open soon! @Local12 pic.twitter.com/Iq8hWGZ8mS
— Marella Porter (@marellasp) March 9, 2023
Dunn shared that the remaining eight indoor courts will open in the summer, together with the newest location of Two Cities Pizza, a restaurant that won Cincinnati Magazine’s “Best Pizza in Cincinnati” award. The outdoor courts at The Pickle Lodge are scheduled to open next year.
The Pickle Lodge offers three monthly membership packages with varying access and benefits starting at $29, $79, and $139. Dunn, also the co-founder of the Cincinnati Pickleball Club, mentioned that membership signups had exceeded expectations during the first month of pre-sale.
The Pickle Lodge facility in West Chester Township, which boasts a full-service restaurant and bar, has planned a three-phase opening, with the first phase set for this month. Co-Founder Mitch Dunn revealed that his team is collaborating with Butler County to initiate nine of the facility’s 17 courts, which are ready to go once approval is granted.
Dunn was very enthusiastic about the project, pointing out how close they were to completion and how excited he was about it. Developers announced the opening of The Pickle Lodge in October last year, and it is just one of several high-profile West Chester pickleball initiatives.
In March, Tommie Rowland, the owner of West Chester’s Premier Shooting, announced that she was adding outdoor pickleball courts to her business premises in the next few years. While In Norwood, near Cincinnati, plans have been disclosed for Aces Pickleball and Kitchen, a new 11-court pickleball complex.
In January, West Chester Trustees ended up halting plans to spend $4.6 million on a public pickleball court development, similar to an 18-court complex in Middletown — a decision Dunn said he had been grateful for at the time.
“We love seeing municipalities explore pickleball,” Dunn said. “I won’t kid you [though]; we are glad they are taking that kind of wait-and-see approach because we’re confident about our ability to meet the needs of players in West Chester.”
Ohio is fast becoming an important pickleball hub with developments springing up like the 18-court Pickleball at Sawyer Point club in Cincinnati, located in the riverside park of the same name. It has received a $500,000 renovation, including new LED lighting, a 12-layer cushioned playing surface, and new gates and benches. Other areas of the country have also caught the pickleball bug and are developing new courts at an amazing rate.
The Sawyer Point complex has created some serious national interest and become the new site of the Cincinnati Open. Ken Herrmann, founder of the Association of Pickleball Professionals in 2019, commented, “This investment by the city shows that Cincinnati is serious about pickleball and wants to be front-and-center for its growth. There’s a passionate fanbase in the region, and it’s clear Cincinnati wants to be a player.”
