First indoor pickleball club opens in Chattanooga

Four pickleball players enjoying the opening day of Ace Pickleball Club in Hixson.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- With the heat wave hanging over the Tennessee Valley, demand is rising for indoor activities.

One activity traditionally played outdoors, pickleball can now be played indoors in Chattanooga.

Formerly the Stockdale’s store on Highway 153, sounds of balls being smacked now fill the air.

The Ace Pickleball Club is the first indoor pickleball club to open in the Chattanooga area.

Josh Turner, the club’s general manager, said, “This is day one. It’s 10 a.m. and there’s over 100 people here. I have people walking in and they know each other and they’re like, ‘Oh you’re here too’ and it’s been wonderful!”

This first of its kind of business for Chattanooga comes as the sport of pickleball is rapidly exploding in popularity across the United States.

According to a report from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, over 24 million Americans played this sport last year in 2025, compared to just 4 million players nationally in 2020.

Turner said, “It’s a very inclusive sport. Anybody can play. It doesn’t matter how old, how young, how athletic you are, you can come out here and have fun at our facility. We’ve got everything for beginners, intermediate, advanced players. We got a little bit of everything for everybody.”

Before Friday, all local pickleball courts were located outside in various parks.

However, this club is able to allow the sport to be played no matter the time of year.

Turner said, “Like today here on July 4 weekend, the average temperature will be 95°. You know it’s either too high, it’s raining or it’s too cold and we want to be that place where everybody can come and they don’t have to worry about the weather.”

There are four different membership tiers, the lowest one beginning at 39 dollars a month.

However, the club is allowing players to try any of those tiers for free for one month.