Being at Dropshot pickleball courts in Shakopee, Minnesota, is where Rob Gray thrives.
The former University of Minnesota Gopher kicker and punter craved competition in his later life and found pickleball, where he quickly excelled, becoming a Senior Pro player.
But no matter how hard he worked out, it wasn’t enough to stop his health decline.
“It got to the point where I would pretty much stand in one spot and make my partner do most of the work,” Gray said.
He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease back in 1999, battling against time with just one kidney that eventually started to fail.
“I knew I was going to need one, and if I didn’t get one, I was going on dialysis Nov. 1 or even in Oct. 3,” Gray said.
That’s when a connection on the court turned into something much bigger.
Matt Skahen has been playing with Gray for several years now. His strong faith drove him to offer up a life-saving gift to his friend.
“I do just believe it was ordained, that Jesus knew exactly when he brought us together, that, ‘Hey Matt, you’re going to have two healthy kidneys your whole life because you’re going to give one to Rob eventually,” Skahen said.
Gray never asked for the donation, but Skahen took all the steps to get tested, found out he was a perfect match and never looked back.
“I do think that I would have regretted it for the rest of my life,” Skahen said.
On Nov. 6, the two friends underwent surgeries at Hennepin Healthcare, and the transplant was successful.
Both Gray and Skahen were back to playing pickleball together just six weeks after the operations.
Gray already feels the difference of having a healthy kidney.
“It definitely changes your energy level. My brain fog went away, my mind is more active,” he said.
Skahen’s kidney donation holds more value than a person may think. The National Kidney Foundation says there are currently over 100,000 people on the waiting list.
Only 17,000 people receive a kidney each year, and every day, 12 people die waiting for a kidney, according to the foundation.
“Yet there are 300 million people in the United States with two kidneys. There has to be a way that this education can get out there so we can start saving lives,” Gray said.
He and Skahen hope they can be an example of how easy and low-risk a transplant can be.
“You don’t have to be extraordinary to do something extraordinary,” Skahen said.
Gray added, “It’s just an overwhelming feeling of brotherhood and love. It’s just, I couldn’t be more thankful.”
A brotherhood only divided by one thing, rivalry Bloomington alma maters.
“We still rib each other a little bit about it,” Gray said. “I think there’s some people from Kennedy and Jefferson that would be like, ‘You gave him a kidney?”
New AI-powered CourtsApp simplifies booking for racquet and paddle sports players.
More than 1,500 courts across 150+ facilities are already on the platform.
Expansion planned from Maine to Florida by early 2026, with more markets to follow.
App helps facilities gain exposure while offering players real-time court access.
With the exploding popularity of the racquet sports industry, Long Island developer and pickleball enthusiast Daren Hornig saw a need for players to reserve court time more easily.
To help serve the growing demand, Hornig partnered with creative executive Kate Daggett to launch CourtsApp, an AI-powered marketing and booking platform built to modernize court promotion and reservations.
The app is designed to give players a tool to reserve a court in any racquet and paddle sport. In addition, CourtsApp is also aimed at giving racquet sports facilities more exposure and expand their reach. The platform provides its software to the facilities for free and makes a commission on the courts it books.
Courtesy of Sportime
Currently live to players with more than 1,500 courts across over 150 facilitiesalready signed on throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, CourtsApp plans to expand from Maine to Florida by the first quarter of 2026 before expanding market-by-market as club density increases, according to a company statement. Additional markets, including Southern California, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest, are expected to come online throughout 2026.
“CourtsApp was born from pure frustration,” Hornig, CEO of CourtsApp and an avid tennis and pickleball player, said in the statement. “For years, me and my friends struggled to find open courts in real time and near where I wanted to play. We wanted a simple, reliable solution that matched how people already book restaurants, travel, or fitness. Now, with CourtsApp, they finally have one.”
Pickleball has been consistently named the fastest-growing sport in the nation with an estimated 22.7 million players, an increase of more than 45 percent over the previous year. There are now more than 68,000 dedicated pickleball courts in the U.S., according to the company. In addition, the United States Tennis Association reported that 25.7 million Americans played tennis in 2024, an all-time high and 1.9 million more than 2023.
“Racquet sports are booming, but the technology that supports them has not kept up,” Daggett said. “Players expect the same ease they get everywhere else, and clubs need tools that help them grow. CourtsApp brings both sides together in a modern, intuitive experience that gets more people on the court, more often.”
Besides being an avid pickleball player, Hornig’s Great Neck-based real estate and development firm Hornig Capital Partners, has developed several of the sport’s newer facilities.
The company worked with Sportime on the $8 million renovation of its 200,000-square-foot Sportime John McEnroe Tennis Academy in Port Washington, expanding it to house 13 tennis courts and 12 pickleball courts.
The developer also worked on Sportime Pickleball facilities in Westbury, Armonk, Englewood, N.J. and Wayne, N.J.
Hornig, who calls CourtsApp the “OpenTable for courts andthe Expedia of racquet sports,” says that beyond convenience, the app connects people,
helping friends meet to play, helping communities stay active, and making racquet sports more accessible to everyone.
“It is also a critical marketing tool for facility owners,” he said. “Most operators lack the funds and expertise to market effectively in today’s complex digital environment, and CourtsApp does this for them and more. Our goal is to get players on the courts and help clubs keep their courts full. It’s really a win-win scenario for all.”
The free app is available to download from the Apple App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android. More information for players and facility operators can be found at courtsapp.com.
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The 47,800-square-foot space at 3124 Jericho Turnpike will feature 15 pickleball courts, along with a pro shop, locker room, private event space and more, according to a company statement.
The East Northport venue follows The Picklr’s first Long Island location, a 33,900-square-foot club with 11 courts at 231 Centereach Mall in Centereach.
Slated to open next year, The Picklr in East Northport will offer one price for unlimited pickleball and the club will offer its members open play, league play, court reservations, four free guest passes and four free clinics every month.
The East Northport club, which is branded as The Picklr Commack, will be operated by Arete Sports Group, which also operates the Picklr franchises in Centereach, Manahawkin, N.J., and East Brunswick, N.J.
“The Picklr is the fastest growing brand in the fastest growing sport because it offers the best membership value in the sport. The Picklr Commack will be our flagship location, offering an unmatched club and member experience including 15 best-in-class courts, amenities and benefits,” Long Island franchisee Tom Neale, founder of Arete Sports Group and Pickleball Long Island, said in the statement. “We understand that the monthly unlimited membership model is new for Long Islanders versus the current pay to play model. We believe that once players discover our first-class state-of-the-art premier facilities, an all-inclusive exceptional member experience, professional level playing conditions, and wide range of programs for every age and skill level, they’ll choose The Picklr as their home for pickleball.”
Founded in 2021, The Picklr, headquartered in Kaysville, Utah, began franchising in 2023. It currently has 49 facilities opened and has sold more than 500 franchised clubs globally, according to the company’s website. The all-in cost to open a single Picklr franchise ranges from $540,000 to $1.178 million, according to sharpsheets.com.
HATBORO, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — This national pickleball organization visited our area to put up some good volleys.
The “U.S. Legends Pickleball League” gathered players from across the country.
All of them were ages 50+ and 60+ to create balanced competitions on the court.
“We have 12 teams today. We have teams all the way…in Boston, all the way down to Florida…The biggest goal for us is we want to make sure everybody enjoys their time when they come out to compete,” said Co-Founder, Michael Cao.
“The goal really is to allow the older players to be able to compete at their age level. I played tennis in high school and college… And then pickleball came along and it allowed anyone 50 and older to be able to compete at this high level,” said Co-Founder, Ron Cortese.
The tournament took place at Dill Dinkers in Hatboro.
Pickleball—the fastest-growing sport in the United States—is causing an alarming number of eye injuries.
In a study published yesterday in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers investigated the occurrence of pickleball-related eye injuries among patients who visited emergency departments in the United States and found that from 2021 to 2024, they increased by an estimated 405 injuries a year.
“This study found that pickleball-related eye injuries have increased at an alarming rate over the past 4 years as the sport continues to grow in popularity,” the researchers wrote in the study. “Eye protection is not currently mandated for casual or professional play. Establishing standardized guidelines for eye protection is recommended to reduce the risk of ocular injuries among players.”
1,262 eye injuries estimated just in 2024
It seems like everyone these days is trying their hand at the strange mix of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. I myself first learned about the sport during covid-19, when people were desperate for any reason to get out of the house (but not desperate enough to learn how to play a serious sport like tennis… kidding!).
According to the study, pickleball’s low-impact nature and simple rules, among other features, make it accessible and broadly appealing. In 2024, there were around 19.8 million players in the U.S.
To study pickleball-related eye injuries, researchers analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a government-funded database that collects information about consumer product–related injuries from a sample of around 100 U.S. emergency departments.
Between 2005 and 2024, the researchers identified 2,472 pickleball-related injuries, leading to an estimate of 137,471 injuries on the national scale. 73 of the 2,472 records reported eye injuries, or 3,112 eye injuries on the national scale—and they all occurred in 2014 or later.
The injuries resulted from accidents such as a direct hit by a pickleball, a direct hit by a paddle, or falling. Serious cases included retinal detachment, orbital fracture (breaking eye socket bones), and hyphema (bleeding in the eye). What’s more, 88% of the identified pickleball-related eye injuries took place between 2022 and 2024, with an estimated 1,262 taking place just in 2024.
Why the increase?
“Recent surveys have demonstrated that this growth [in pickleball participation] has been primarily driven by the influx of casual players,” the researchers explained in the study. “Although the increase in ocular injuries may simply reflect the increasing number of players, it is also possible that casual players are more susceptible to injury due to limited experience, unfamiliarity with the game, or lower level of physical fitness.”
In other words, it might be the rookies’ fault, though the researchers also noted that 70% of all pickleball-related eye injuries in the study happened to players 50 years old or older.
“Currently, no official guidelines exist regarding eye protection in pickleball. Increasing awareness for age-specific risk factors and establishing standardized recommendations for eye protection may help reduce injury rates and prevent vision loss,” the researchers concluded.
Orlando is getting a boujee new pickleball and social club concept, and it’s now accepting memberships ahead of its grand opening in SoDo.
Hamlin House, owned by the DeVos family, aims to redefine pickleball with professional-level courts and events. It’s set to open at 231 W. Grant St.
The 28,000-square-foot facility will house three indoor courts and four outdoor courts (two covered and two not), in addition to a family room, full-service restaurant, café and outdoor patio.
Hamlin House collaborated with chef John Fraser and his team to curate the menu to be served at the restaurant, which will be open for lunch and dinner. The café will serve all-day bites, smoothies and coffee. And for the outdoor players, courtside servers will cater to all mid-game beverage needs.
Hamlin House’s early access membership options start at $200 per month, depending on guests’ interest in sports or social events. The Racquet Membership provides full access to courts, leagues and clinics, while the Social Membership caters more to dining, events and lifestyle. Both options are open to families, individuals or even corporate memberships.
An official opening date has not been released, but we’re eyeing Hamlin House’s Instagram for updates.
Pickleball is rapidly growing across Colorado, fueling a wave of stand-alone and all-in-one entertainment venues opening in Denver and nearby communities.
No longer limited to local park courts, at least four pickleball destinations have emerged this year in Louisville, Thornton, Aurora and Denver, with several more projects underway.
“You could Google indoor pickleball clubs, and there’s a lot now in the Denver Metro, but I think everybody offers a little something different. So I’m excited about it. I think there’s room for all of us,” said U.S. Army veteran Liz Tanji, who, alongside her husband Michael, recently opened Ace Pickleball Club, a national pickleball franchise, in Colorado.
Ace Pickleball Club is led by husband-and-wife team Liz and Michael Tanji in Aurora, Colorado on Oct. 6, 2025. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Ace Pickleball Club, at 6626 S. Parker Road in Aurora, marks the Tanjis’ second location, building on the success of their first in Omaha, Neb., which opened in May.
Recognizing the rapid growth of pickleball, the shortage of public courts and the challenges of playing outdoors in cold weather, the Tanjis said Aurora was the perfect place to introduce a dedicated facility.
The club, which used to be a Big Lots store, has nine courts and a drill area and offers lessons.
Tanji said she and her husband learned to play during the COVID shutdown and loved the sense of community.
“Pickleball really is a sport for everyone, and we’re so excited to share it with the Aurora community,” Tanji said.
The evolution of pickleball
Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle. Three dads, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, are credited with creating the game when their kids grew bored with their usual summertime activities.
In 2024, there were an estimated 19.8 million pickleball players in the United States, a 45.8% increase from 2023, according to a 2025 Topline Participation Report by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.
Although the sport is often linked to older participants, the largest age group of pickleball players are between 25 and 34. The sport gained more than 1 million participants under the age of 18 between 2022 and 2023.
Kelli Alldredge, president of Chicken N Pickle, began her journey with the company not as an executive, but as a passionate customer. As an avid tennis player, she was introduced to pickleball in 2016 through friends and quickly fell in love with the fast-paced, fun nature of the sport.
“It kind of was love at first sight,” she said. “I started playing every Sunday at our original (Chicken N Pickle) location, and that’s where I met the founder and the rest is history.”
Covering more than three acres and over 45,000 square feet, the Thornton Chicken N Pickle venue features eight professional-grade pickleball courts. (Photo provided by Chicken N Pickle)
The indoor and outdoor entertainment center opened in the Thornton community earlier this summer, marking its first Colorado location.
Covering more than three acres and over 45,000 square feet, the venue features eight professional-grade pickleball courts, including six indoor and two covered outdoor courts, along with a chef-driven restaurant, a lively sports bar and a variety of games and gathering spaces.
As it grows, Chicken N Pickle is shifting its focus toward acquiring complementary entertainment and hospitality concepts, as well as exploring city partnerships to build public pickleball court facilities, with particular emphasis on key growth markets such as Houston, Phoenix and Denver.
Rising construction costs and uncertainty surrounding international economic headwinds have played a role in the shift, the company announced in a July news release.
Designed for all ages and abilities, Chicken N Pickle venues offer adaptive pickleball programming and inclusive spaces that welcome everyone, from seasoned players to first-timers and families. (Photo provided by Chicken N Pickle)
Alldredge said they are interested in opening a second location in the Denver market and are actively looking for the right opportunity. She said they’re open to different possibilities, such as building next to city-run public courts or partnering with a similar concept. New construction is on hold for now.
“We’re just kind of hit the pause button and exploring all of our options. But two things are for sure, we’re still growing, and we absolutely want a second store in the Denver market,” Alldredge said.
What’s next for pickleball enthusiasts?
Denver residents can also look forward to another destination that includes pickleball to open by the end of this year. Moodswing, a 3.5-acre, $10 million entertainment venue, is set to debut in Denver’s Elyria Swansea neighborhood.
Located at 3625 E. 48th Ave., it will include 43,000 square feet of indoor space and 33,000 square feet outdoors. It will feature 125 parking spaces, six indoor and six outdoor pickleball courts, golf simulators, a coffee shop and co-working area, a full bar and kitchen serving Mediterranean and Italian-inspired cuisine and an outdoor live music area.
Construction at Moodswing at 3625 E. 48th Ave. (Photo provided by Moodswing)
Moodswing’s owners are the founders of Denver-based development firm Perpetual First, which includes Improper City and Rayback Collective owner Justin Riley, former Improper City General Manager Giovanni Leone and former Hagerty Insurance Manager Colton Cartwright.
Cartwright said coming out of the pandemic, people were still trying to figure out how to reintegrate into society, which helped lead to the idea of Moodswing.
Cartwright said that in 2022, he and Riley went out to play pickleball and experienced a “holy cow” moment as they observed how people connected and interacted on and off the court.
“It’s just like a nice, natural icebreaker. It’s low barrier to entry, super fun and approachable, whether it’s your 8-year-old niece or nephew, or your 85-year-old grandma or grandpa and everyone in between. And so that’s what really drew us and made us think it was a cool opportunity,” he said.
Moodswing had plans to open earlier this year, but setbacks in the permitting process and how to access the property caused delays.
“It’s been quite the journey, you know, over three years working on this project,” he said.
“There’s been so much support and so much excitement around it, and (we) just really cannot wait to get these doors open.”
In the meantime, Pickleball enthusiasts can enjoy the 40 outdoor and 67 indoor pickleball courts across Denver, according to Denver Parks and Recreation.
The city plans to expand opportunities to play the sport by adding three new courts at Rosamond Park and three to five new courts at the Lowry Sports Complex. Both projects are expected to be completed by spring 2027.
The City of Ocoee is moving forward with a pickleball facility a developer pitched to the city over a year ago.Originally pitched in April 2024, Vasant Sports LLC’s pickleball facility was given the thumbs up during Tuesday night’s city commissioners meeting. The preliminary site plan was approved, but it looks different than the original pitch from April 2024.”I think it’s a great idea, it sounds like a beautiful idea that they’ve come up with, and it sounds like they took the residents into consideration big-time,” said Debbie Gulley, an Ocoee resident.”Air conditioned, which makes it even nicer for the players, but I think the fact that the developers did keep in mind the sound and they’re respectful of those around them,” said Ocoee resident Jill Ogletree.The original pitch was for a 44-court complex, with roughly half of that number being outdoor courts. After listening to the city and residents, that number was culled to 25 indoor tournament-style courts and one outside court for championship play. The outside court will be flanked by bleacher-style seating.Sravan Tummala of Vasant Sports LLC said, “It’s going to bring in a lot of money and a lot of players, top pickleball players to play pickleball here in the city.”Alongside the pickleball courts are plans for entertainment, restaurants, and bars.”If you don’t play, it will appeal to you because there’s going to be a couple of great restaurants, a couple of bars, great entertainment,” said Todd Lucas of Lucas Development. Lucas is doing design work for the complex.The facility will be located on a six-acre site on the west side of Jacob Nathan Boulevard, near Matthew Paris Boulevard off West Colonial Drive.
OCOEE, Fla. —
The City of Ocoee is moving forward with a pickleball facility a developer pitched to the city over a year ago.
Originally pitched in April 2024, Vasant Sports LLC’s pickleball facility was given the thumbs up during Tuesday night’s city commissioners meeting. The preliminary site plan was approved, but it looks different than the original pitch from April 2024.
“I think it’s a great idea, it sounds like a beautiful idea that they’ve come up with, and it sounds like they took the residents into consideration big-time,” said Debbie Gulley, an Ocoee resident.
“Air conditioned, which makes it even nicer for the players, but I think the fact that the developers did keep in mind the sound and they’re respectful of those around them,” said Ocoee resident Jill Ogletree.
The original pitch was for a 44-court complex, with roughly half of that number being outdoor courts. After listening to the city and residents, that number was culled to 25 indoor tournament-style courts and one outside court for championship play. The outside court will be flanked by bleacher-style seating.
Sravan Tummala of Vasant Sports LLC said, “It’s going to bring in a lot of money and a lot of players, top pickleball players to play pickleball here in the city.”
Alongside the pickleball courts are plans for entertainment, restaurants, and bars.
“If you don’t play, it will appeal to you because there’s going to be a couple of great restaurants, a couple of bars, great entertainment,” said Todd Lucas of Lucas Development. Lucas is doing design work for the complex.
The facility will be located on a six-acre site on the west side of Jacob Nathan Boulevard, near Matthew Paris Boulevard off West Colonial Drive.
>> 82 YEAR-OLD HORSEBACK RIDERS SADDLING UP FOR HIS NEXT COMPETITION. IF SUCCESSFUL, HE WOULD BECOME PART OF AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB OF RIDERS. NBC TWO’S RACHEL WHALEN SHOWS US HOW IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO PURSUE YOUR PASSIONS. IN TONIGHT’S STORY, TO SHARE. >> ONE THING ABOUT HENRY WATSON. HE’S GOT TO TELL IT TO YOU STRAIGHT. YES, STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH. GENERALLY SPEAKING OUT, A LOT PEOPLE OR COURSES. WE HAVE NEVER LOTTERY. IF THEY’RE AFRAID THEY’LL TEAR. >> IF THEY’RE THEY WON LAUGHTER. WE MET HENRY AND HIS HORSE SMOOTH BULLET TO GET AT THE HIDDEN HAVEN RANCH IN NORTH FORT MYERS, DOING TRICKS. GOOD BOY AND PRACTICING FOR THE NEXT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA JURORS. SASHA, LET ME SHOW YOU HOURS CAN DO. >> THAT’S THE ESSENCE WHERE THEY’LL BE JUDGED ON HOW THEY PERFORM A SERIES OF MOVES. LOT TO HIM HERE NOW AND SEE WHAT HE DID. YOUR COOKIE. >> YOU WANT TO OKAY? I DON’T HAVE >> WHEN HENRY AND BULLETS COMPETES ON SATURDAY OCTOBER. 26 MIL OFFICIALLY BE A PART OF THE CENTURY CLUB BECAUSE BULLETS IS 20 AND HENRY IS 82. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE. AND THAT’S THIS CENTURY RIDE IS ALL ABOUT. IN FACT, HENRY DIDN’T EVEN START COMPETING INTO HIS GOLDEN YEARS. HE BOUGHT HIS FIRST HORSE AT 70 YEARS OLD. SOMETHING ALWAYS WANTED ALWAYS DREAMED ABOUT WRITTEN BOOKS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOOK, WATCH THEM ON TV AND >> THAT KIND OF THING. YOU’RE JUST. BUT IT WAS NEVER. POSSIBLE. BULLETS BEEN BY HIS SIDE EVER SINCE THROUGH A COUPLE HURRICANES AND HEALTH SCARES. >> LAST MARCH BULLET SPENT 12 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL. IT LIKE ONE OF MY CHILDREN. HAD A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION BECAUSE YOU. >> AS A RETIRED PERSON IN BECOME YOUR FAMILY. NOW BULLET IS BACK HEALTHY AND READY TO COMPETE. >> THE COMPETITION’S KEPT HENRY VIBRANT TO FROM MIKE TOLD ME THIS ONE HOURS. GETTING RID YOUR TIME TO REMEMBER WHO IT WAS, SHARES YOU BETTER FIND SOMETHING TO DO TO GET INVOLVED YOU DON’T GO HOME AND SIT ON THE COUCH OR YOU DIE. THAT’S PICKLEBALL SO GREAT. IT REALLY IS JUST KEEPING PEOPLE OUT ALIVE. I DON’T LIKE >> OPT FOR THE HORSES. >> IN FORT MYERS, RACHEL WHALEN NBC 2 THAT. WORDS OF WISDOM. YOU GOT TO KEEP DOING STUFF TH
An 82-year-old equestrian’s secret to staying young
Updated: 6:52 PM PDT Oct 26, 2024
An 82-year-old horseback rider is saddling up for his next competition. If successful, he’ll become a part of an exclusive club of riders.”Generally speaking, I don’t like people. I like horses,” said Henry Watson.Hearst sister station WBBH met Watson and his horse Smooth Bullet at Hidden Haven Ranch in North Fort Myers as they were doing tricks and practicing for the next Southwest Florida dressage show. They’ll be judged there for a series of moves. “Let me show you what my horse can do. That’s the essence of it,” said Watson.When Watson and Smooth Bullet compete on Saturday, Oct. 26, they will officially become a part of the Century Club. That’s when the age of the rider and their horse equals 100. Henry is 82 and Smooth Bullet is 20. “It’s never too late, and that’s what this Century ride is all about,” said Watson.Watson started competing in these shows during his golden years. He bought his first horse at 70 years old. “It was something I always wanted, always dreamed about,” said Watson.Smooth Bullet has been by his side ever since, even through a couple of hurricanes and a health scare. Last March, Smooth Bullet spent 12 days in the hospital for a colic. “It was like one of my children had a life-threatening situation because, as a retired person, they become your family. They’re not livestock,” said Watson.Now, Bullet is back to being healthy and ready to compete. The competition has kept Watson healthy, too. “Somebody told me this when I was getting ready to retire, and I don’t even remember who it was. He says, ‘You better find something to do, to get involved in. You don’t go home and sit on the couch, or you die.’” said Watson. “That’s why pickleball is so great. It really is. It’s keeping people alive. I don’t like it. I prefer the horses.”
NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. —
An 82-year-old horseback rider is saddling up for his next competition. If successful, he’ll become a part of an exclusive club of riders.
“Generally speaking, I don’t like people. I like horses,” said Henry Watson.
Hearst sister station WBBH met Watson and his horse Smooth Bullet at Hidden Haven Ranch in North Fort Myers as they were doing tricks and practicing for the next Southwest Florida dressage show. They’ll be judged there for a series of moves. “Let me show you what my horse can do. That’s the essence of it,” said Watson.
When Watson and Smooth Bullet compete on Saturday, Oct. 26, they will officially become a part of the Century Club. That’s when the age of the rider and their horse equals 100. Henry is 82 and Smooth Bullet is 20. “It’s never too late, and that’s what this Century ride is all about,” said Watson.
Watson started competing in these shows during his golden years. He bought his first horse at 70 years old. “It was something I always wanted, always dreamed about,” said Watson.
Smooth Bullet has been by his side ever since, even through a couple of hurricanes and a health scare. Last March, Smooth Bullet spent 12 days in the hospital for a colic.
“It was like one of my children had a life-threatening situation because, as a retired person, they become your family. They’re not livestock,” said Watson.
Now, Bullet is back to being healthy and ready to compete. The competition has kept Watson healthy, too.
“Somebody told me this when I was getting ready to retire, and I don’t even remember who it was. He says, ‘You better find something to do, to get involved in. You don’t go home and sit on the couch, or you die.’” said Watson. “That’s why pickleball is so great. It really is. It’s keeping people alive. I don’t like it. I prefer the horses.”
Fancy downtown food fest Chicago Gourmet, the annual fete that gathers together some of the city’s best-known chefs and restaurants, has launched ticket sales for the 2024 event that will run from Saturday, September 21 to Sunday, September 29 at the Harris Theater rooftop in Millennium Park.
The Grand Cru, arguably the main attraction, will return with two sessions on September 28 to the Harris Rooftop with wine and bites from Chicago chefs. But 2024 won’t be the year for those hoping for a pre-pandemic return when the festival occupied most of Millennium Park. This year, organizers at the Illinois Restaurant Association are weaving together sartorial and culinary art forms with the theme “Fashion, Plated,” and encouraging attendees to come dressed to impress in specific colors and styles for each event. “Fashion and food both tell stories, sharing history, traditions, and cultures of people,” association President Sam Toia writes in a press release.
Chicago native and Food Network personality chef Jeff Mauro is set to host Chefs Get Pickled, a new kickoff event set for Saturday, September 21, that will include an inaugural Chicago Gourmet Chef Pickleball Tournament featuring bites, drinks, and the chance to watch chef competitors such as Tigist Reda (Demera), Art Smith (Reunion), Sarah Mispagel-Lustbader (Loaf Lounge), and Kevin Hickey (The Duck Inn). On Wednesday, September 25, fellow food media star Mario Rizzotti will host a House of Gourmet Italian Dinner, another first-time event, inside the Chicago History Museum. Organizers promise an “extravagant” multi-course meal from chefs Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno), Fabio Viviani (Siena Tavern, Bar Siena), Diego Puddu (Eataly), José Sosa (who recently departed Ummo in River North for Greggory Hearth & Tavern in suburban South Barrington), and Casey Doody (Boka Restaurant Group).
Despite being bumped from its usual slot at the onset of Chicago Gourmet, Tacos & Tequila will return on Thursday, September 26 on the Harris Theater Rooftop. Attendees are encouraged to don bright colors for the event, hosted by celebrity chef Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo) and Marcos Carbajal (Carnitas Uruapan), where they’ll find tacos, agave spirits, cocktails, and more from chefs including Diana Dávila (Mi Tocaya Antojería), Carlos Gaytan (Tzuco), and Danny and Jhoana Espinoza (Santa Masa Tamaleria).
On Friday, Top Chef alums Joe Flamm (Rose Mary) and Adrienne Cheatham will host the popular Hamburger Hop competition on the Harris Theater Rooftop with a “streetwear” dress code, which leaves plenty of room for stylistic interpretation. The Grand Cru, the fest’s luxurious and pricey ($255 per person) VIP-style party featuring exclusive winemakers and prominent chefs, will return with two sessions on Saturday, September 28. Hosted by chef Paul Kahan (The Publican, Avec), the sessions are inspired by the “elegant simplicity of a fashion sketchbook,” thus afternoon attendees are urged to dress for a “blackout party,” and evening visitors can expect a “white party” theme.
Smaller events will also dot the festival, including a Somm Session on Friday, September 27 at splashy Italian restaurant Adalina. Organizers expect to see crowds at a Rise & Shine Gourmet Brunch on Sunday with friends Art Smith, Lorena Garcia, and Jernard Wells, and a Late Night Gourmet after-party on Saturday, with small bites and cocktails at Tao Chicago.
PickleRage, a popular indoor pickleball club franchise, is holding its grand opening for its West Bloomfield facility on Aug. 3. The nearly 27,000-foot building will have nine professional-grade courts at 7290 Orchard Lake Rd. The building is brightly lit and controlled for temperature and humidity.
Also announced this week, construction will begin this summer for the Northville Pickleball Club, which will be the largest complex of its kind in the state, with 16 state-of-the-art, climate-controlled courts on the campus of Ward Church at Sixn Mile and Haggerty. The 50,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in 2025.
In April, Bash Pickleball Club, metro Detroit’s first pickleball-only complex, opened in Warren and has already become tremendously popular, with drop-in events regularly filling up. Bash has 10 professional-grade courts under bright lighting.
“We are excited to finally welcome the West Bloomfield community into our club,” David Smith, COO of PickleRage, said Thursday. “Our goal is to provide a welcoming and dynamic environment for players of all ages and skill levels. The grand opening event is a perfect opportunity for everyone to experience what PickleRage has to offer.”
PickleRage will be open 365 days a year and features a players lounge, beer and wine bars, free balls, and paddle loans. Players will have the opportunity to video record and live stream matches.
One of the fastest-growing indoor pickleball clubs in the country, PickleRage plans to open an additional 500 locations over the next five years, the company said.
The Northville Pickleball Club will be open every day for court rentals, leagues, and skill-level sessions. It will feature a pro shop with pickleball equipment and clothing, locker rooms, a cafe, and meeting rooms for parties and gatherings.
A rendering of the Northville Pickleball Club, which is set to open in 2025.
Ward Church partnered with private investors to build the facility. Among the investors is Christy Howden, co-owner and CEO of Wolverine Pickleball, a popular complex with 12 indoor courts and beer on tap in Ann Arbor. The other partners are local residents Mike Schmitt and Mike Kowalczyk.
“We’ve been searching for the right location to do this project for some time, the Ward Church location was not only a perfect spot, but also represents an opportunity for us to bring world-class facilities for pickleball players in the community,” Scmitt said Wednesday. “There is nothing like what we are doing in the I-275 corridor and finally local residents and fellow pickleball enthusiasts of all levels and ages will have a place to call home.”
Kowalczyk said he and his partners researched other facilities across the country to offer the best possible experience.
“We’ve traveled around the country seeing other great places to play and how to make this the perfect place,” Kowalczyk said. “We think it will be one of the finest pickleball experiences in the country.”
Outdoor Pickleball on the court line. Yellow Pickleball with Blue interior, white line and green exterior..(Getty Images/Glen Edwards)
Outdoor Pickleball on the court line. Yellow Pickleball with Blue interior, white line and green exterior..(Getty Images/Glen Edwards)
Indoor pickleball company Dill Dinkers opens its first location in Virginia on Saturday in Manassas Mall.
The 16,485-square-foot facility features six indoor cushioned courts with fences, an event space, a ball machine, a pro shop, and a reservation system powered by CourtReserve for members and visitors.
The location will offer clinics, private and semi-private lessons, open play, round robins, leagues, business advertising, and rental space for private events, the company said in a news release.
The club will have pickleball pro, Randolph College alumni and certified coach Gage Tutko on staff. Dill Dinkers also works in partnership with Baltimore-born, professional pickleball player Collin Johns.
Each club is also equipped with paddles, nets and other high-quality products through its relationship with JOOLA.
Players of all skill levels can sign up for individual, couple or family memberships here.
Since it was established in November 2022 in Columbia, Maryland, Dill Dinkers has opened four company-managed stores in Maryland and has “rapidly expanded nationwide” after a franchise launch in September.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday is expected to make a critical decision that could decide the fate of a proposed multimillion dollar indoor athletics facility.
Prince William County is considering developing an over $100 million indoor athletics facility. (Courtesy MEB)
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday is expected to make a critical decision that could decide the fate of a proposed multimillion dollar indoor athletics facility.
The board has until May 20 to decide whether to finalize purchase of a $15 million Woodbridge property that is currently under contract by the county with plans for a national destination for sporting and other types of events, as well as a local hub for use by athletic organizations.
Seth Hendler-Voss, director of Prince William County’s Department of Parks and Recreation who has headed the project, said on Friday the land will go to closing next month unless the board takes action to terminate the agreement.
The board declining to purchase the land would almost certainly kill the proposal in its entirety, Hendler-Voss said. It’s not clear that the board has the support necessary for the sportsplex as concerns abound with the project’s steep $140 million price tag. But there may still be an appetite to purchase the land for potential alternative uses.
Board Chair Deshundra Jefferson, a lone Democrat who is skeptical of the sportsplex proposal and could be a critical swing vote, said in a Friday interview she is likely to back the land purchase as the site could still be used by the county for other purposes. Jefferson said she is “not at liberty” to disclose other potential uses for the property that are in talks among county officials.
The board’s other seven members didn’t return requests for comment on whether they will support the land acquisition, but Democrats who hold a majority have largely been supportive of advancing the sportsplex.
The multiuse facility, which could be the largest of its kind in the Washington region, is proposed for 13505 Telegraph Road along the Interstate 95 corridor, which officials say is ideal to attract clientele for large events from across the East Coast. The facility would feature a hydraulic running track and hard-surface courts used for basketball, pickleball and space for conventions or other events.
The most recent renderings for a proposed multiuse sports facility that would feature a hydraulic running track and hard-surface courts used for basketball, pickleball and space for conventions or other events. (Prince William County)
Republicans and Jefferson have expressed concern about the project’s cost. Most other Democrats say the facility would be a boon for the growing community and provide youth athletes a state-of-the-art facility close to home for them to train and compete in. They also touted it as a potential driver of economic activity for the surrounding area.
Gainesville Supervisor Bob Weir, a Republican who opposes the plan, has said several times in recent weeks the board lacks the support necessary for the project.
Projections from consultants retained by the county show that, if the facility is approved, it will become profitable by its third year in use, netting the county more than $400,000 in revenue that’s expected to marginally grow in subsequent years. But the facility would operate in the red at the expense of taxpayers for its first two years in operation.
The board has thus far expended $1 million to allow recreation officials to begin talks with several contractors to flesh out the proposal. It also accounted for an agreement reached with the Telegraph Road site’s current property owner, Belno, LLC, to further sale negotiations.
Officials indicated the nearest major competitor to the facility would be a similar site in Virginia Beach and Spooky Nook Sports, the country’s largest indoor sports facility located just outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Project proponents, including Prince William Economic Development Director Christina Winn, have said it would become a key piece of sports tourism for the county and serve as a catalyst for additional development in the area. Winn said the surrounding area is primed for additional hotel development that could serve the more than 60,000 annual visitors the sportsplex is projected to draw.
Officials say the expected surge in sports tourism will also help boost the county’s small businesses as parents travel to their children’s sporting events and spend money on meals and merchandise while staying nearby, sometimes for days at a time.
The county has held a number of town hall-style meetings to solicit input from residents on the proposal. Its proponents include high school student athletes, an Olympic gold medalist in track, local coaches, sports league organizers and members of the pickleball community. Several public school student-athletes, coaches and parents have spoken of the lengthy travel times they endure to attend track meets since there isn’t a facility nearby.
The county board in 2019 considered an indoor sports complex as part of a bond referendum program for parks, but the proposal ultimately died because of cost concerns.
Bash Pickleball Club in Warren opened what is the first pickleball-only facility in metro Detroit last week, offering 10 professional-grade courts under bright lighting, a pro shop, locker rooms, lounge areas, a coffee station with beverages and snacks, and a party room for large gatherings.
Located at 6881 Chicago Rd., the 30,000-square-foot club features open-play, tournaments, coaching for all levels, free lessons for beginners, court reservations, mixers, and skill-based events.
The pro shop is impressive, with dozens of paddles from eight companies, balls, grips, backpacks and apparel.
Pickleball, which is a fun and dynamic hybrid of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, is the fastest-growing sport in America and attracts players of all ages.
Bash Pickleball Club co-owner Sam Brikho says he and his brother Kevin Brikho decided to open a pickleball complex after falling in love with the game last summer at Borden Park in Rochester Hills. Like many outdoor courts in metro Detroit, they were often full, with people waiting to play.
“I would go almost every day after work, and more and more people would show up,” Brikho tells Metro Times. “All eight courts would be full. I could see that there was a demand for it, and I asked the players where they would play [when the weather got colder], and they all said there really aren’t many places.”
Brikho also said people were looking for organized play so they could compete with others at comparable skill levels.
The Brikho brothers say it wasn’t easy finding a large facility to lease because owners were hesitant to work with a start-up company. But then they found their current location, which was originally a former General Motors Plant that later served as a sports storage facility, peanut shop, tennis facility, and volleyball club.
“The landlord here was a pickleball guy, and he wanted it for the community, so he was willing to work with us,” Brikho says.
Bash Pickleball Club has dozens of paddles from eight companies, balls, grips, backpacks and apparel.
Over the weekend, the club featured its first mixer, a popular event at indoor pickleball facilities that allow players to compete against new people and develop new skills. About 100 people turned out for drinks, food, music, and raffle prizes, including two paddles, a backpack, and a private lesson.
“It was such a good turnout,” Brikho says.
The club is open to everyone. Memberships range from $397 to $697 a year. Although paid memberships aren’t required, they provide discounts, advanced bookings to reserve courts, and free entry into open-play. Until May 15, the club is offering 15-month memberships for the price of 12 months.
The club offers three open-play sessions each day from Monday through Friday, and two sessions each on Saturday and Sunday. The cost for open-play without a membership is $12.
Lessons are available for players looking to strengthen their skills. Head coach Dr. Nick Hernandez, a licensed pharmacist who is taking a break from his profession to pursue his pickleball passions, is a friendly, skilled player who won gold medals in singles, mixed doubles, and men’s doubles at the Royal Oak Classic Pickleball Tournament last year.
If all goes as planned, the club will expand, with an additional 24,000 square feet available for another six to eight courts. The goal is to build a championship court to lure sanctioned pickleball tournaments to Warren.
“The tournaments are phenomenal,” Hernandez says. “The atmosphere is great. Some of them can get about 1,000 to 2,000 players.”
Brikho says pickleball has become very popular because it brings people together and is easy to learn, but is incredibly difficult to master.
“It’s a very social sport,” Brikho says. “It can be competitive or it can be very friendly. It’s great for all ages. Anyone can learn to play in a couple of hours. Every day there are new people coming in. We make them feel comfortable.”
During a recent open-play, players of various skill levels were there, and they were cordial and welcomed new competitors, making it a fun way to interact with new people.
For newbies, the club offers free lessons to teach the basics of pickleball. The club offers paddles for those who don’t have one.
Once beginners start playing, Brikho knows many of them are going to catch the pickleball craze and return.
A lounge area with a TV that plays constant pickleball matches at Bash Pickleball Club.
Metro Detroit has a few indoor pickleball facilities, but they also share space with other sports. One of premier facilities in the area is Court4, a combo tennis-pickleball complex in Detroit that is inside a large, well-lit dome.
In Pontiac, more than a dozen indoor pickleball courts are available for open play and reservations at UWM Sport Complex, which also hosts a variety of other sports.
The closest pickleball-only facility to metro Detroit is Ann Arbor’s Wolverine Pickleball, which has beer on tap, 12 indoor courts, and large ceilings with bright lighting.
For the first time ever, the Goodyear Blimp is providing aerial coverage of a major professional Pickleball tournament this weekend. Danya Bacchus reports.
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Carson, California — It’s the fastest growing sport in the U.S., but this week the game of pickleball reached an even greater height — 1,500 feet that is — on the iconic Goodyear Blimp.
A match was played inside the blimp Wednesday between professionals Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau and Jay Devilliers as it flew over Carson, California.
And as a mark of a new peak for the aircraft itself, the blimp is providing aerial coverage over Sunday’s Professional Pickleball Association Tour Finals in San Clemente, California, the first time the sport has received the Goodyear Blimp treatment.
“We basically invented aerial broadcasting of sports,” said Taylor Deen, who has been a Goodyear Blimp pilot for 12 years.
Over the years, the Goodyear Blimp has been part of the U.S. Navy’s defense team in World War II, and christened by aviation icons like Amelia Earhart and Sally Ride. And it has even broadcast emergency signals above natural disasters, like Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
But it was 1955 that marked a new era for the fleet. With the rise of television, Goodyear became the first aerial platform to live broadcast an event for TV when it flew over the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
And when the first Superbowl kicked off in 1967 on CBS, the blimp was there.
“We fly over all the largest events,” Deen said. “…Super Bowls, NASCAR, World Cups, Stanley Cup, NBA Finals. So if we’re there, it’s usually a pretty big event.”
Now a new game has been added to the roster.
“I’ve driven by the blimp. I’ve seen it at sporting events,” said 16-year-old Anna Leigh Waters, the No. 1 pickleball player in the world. “…I’ve always been like, all right, your sport’s kind of made it if the Goodyear Blimp comes to it. So I guess pickleball’s made it now.”
The sport has become a smash hit since the pandemic, with 8.9 million people playing it across the U.S. in 2022, according to a report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
“It just kind of exploded,” Waters said. “So I was really glad to be a part of it, because when I started playing, I was 10. And now I’m 16. So I’ve kind of grown with the sport.”
Pioneers from the court and the sky are elevating the game to “blimp-worthy” status.
Bethesda, Maryland — Rebecca Theim is a prolific pickler. A former collegiate tennis player, she’s got a solid serve, a dynamic “dink” and even the jewelry for pickleball.
“It can be very competitive,” Theim told CBS News. “…It is truly addictive.”
What she didn’t have were the tendons.
“I did get hooked and started playing quite a bit before Achilles tendonitis and tendinosis took over,” Theim explained. “I already had existing problems with my knees.”
She picked up pickleball during the pandemic, quickly going from a somewhat sedentary lifestyle to hitting the court several times a week.
Then her body boycotted.
Dr. Alex Johnson, an orthopedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, explains that one factor in pickleball injuries is that the game pitches itself as being so accessible that some players don’t give their bodies time to ramp up.
Johnson said he sees a lot of pickleball-related overuse injuries.
“It’s kind of been labeled as the sport for everyone,” Johnson said. “And I think it is, but it’s definitely a sport. It can be pretty strenuous.”
Over the past two years, the number of pickleball-related injuries has nearly doubled, from just under 9,000 in 2020, to just over 17,000 in 2022, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Since 2018, the popular paddles have been responsible for more than 60,000 emergency room visits, per CPSC data, and approximately 75% of those injured during that time were between the ages of 55 and 75.
“When you start to have sustained soreness, you just got to give your body time to, to heal,” Johnson said.
As for Theim, she’s rallying with help from a new knee and a gentler approach.
“Invest in some lessons,” Theim advises. “Definitely getting your form correct will get important if you really get addicted.”
Dr. Johnson also recommends stretching beforehand and wearing sturdy shoes, not running shoes.
While Pickleball’s popularity has soared, it has also brought with it the risk of injury, especially among older players. Christina Ruffini takes a look at what enthusiasts need to know.
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A well-done mural can enhance a home’s value, but is mainly a personalization benefit of the … [+] homeowner.
Architect: Court Atkins Group / Interior Designer: Adrienne Warner / Photographer: Kelli Boyd
Zillow recently announced its six hottest home trends to watch for in 2024. Four of them are wellness related. No one should be surprised by this, as homeowners are increasingly acknowledging and appreciating the links between their living spaces and quality of life. That’s showing up in both home improvement and resale reports.
Here are the trends the real estate platform cited, and why designers and real estate professionals interviewed in writing about them agree — with a few caveats.
Sensory Gardens and Pathways
Sensory gardens, like this one in Charleston, delight multiple senses with beauty, scent and even … [+] sound.
Glen Gardner
What Zillow reported:
“Sensory gardens have been surging in popularity, with homeowners and home buyers prioritizing functional and beautiful outdoor space as a way to reconnect with nature. Listings mentioning sensory gardens or pathways are up 314% compared to last year.”
Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton ties this popular amenity to the extended time we spent at home during the pandemic increasing our passion for connecting with nature. “Sensory gardens concentrate those benefits by engaging all five senses,” she shared.
They’re appearing most often in Philadelphia and Chicago metro areas, she noted.
What Experts Say:
“The demand for sensory outdoor experiences has been growing, driven by families and work-from-home professionals who value both educational outdoor spaces for children and a tranquil environment to offset home offices,” noted Megan Majd with Compass on Los Angeles’ Westside. She sees potential marketability enhancement from these features. “Greenery and outdoor spaces are always on the wishlist for buyers. Sensory gardens cater to a particular clientele who is aware of the wellness value these bring to their lives.”
Charleston, South Carolina-based landscape architect Glenn Gardner commented, “Sensory gardens and paths are a part of nearly all [our] projects, whether they are specifically requested or not — as I use them as a part of good design.” He includes fragrant elements like jasmine, gardenia, citrus blossoms, and tea olives. “It’s also wonderful to integrate an occasional edible like blueberries or figs along a pathway to grab a few while in the garden and eat while wandering. I am also a big fan of tucking herbs into the landscape, being able to run out and grab some sprigs of rosemary, bay leaves, thyme and oregano.”
Cold Plunge Pools
Cold plunge pools are in demand for indoor and outdoor use.
“Cold plunge pools are the hottest wellness trend of 2024, touted by influencers as a way to improve circulation and reduce inflammation. The share of listings that feature an at-home cold plunge pool is up 130% compared to last year.”
Pendleton commented, “We typically see built-in cold plunge pools as a feature in luxury homes, but there are an increasing number of portable plunge pools now on the market. From large plug-in models to inflatable plunge pools, anyone can get the benefits of a cold-plunge pool at all different price points, making this wellness trend more accessible than ever.”
Cold plunge pools are most frequently mentioned in for-sale listings in Stamford, Connecticut and Las Vegas.
What Experts Say:
Los Angeles-based Sally Forster Jones with Compass declared, “Anyone at the higher end of the market sees this as a new requirement, and if there isn’t a cold plunge, they are having one installed.”
“In recent years people seem to have the attitude that they will definitely get their money back (or perhaps more) with a tastefully designed pool,” Gardner observed. He does point out that cold plunge pools aren’t being driven by the same whole household impulses as other recreational features. “It tends to be just one family member who has embraced the therapy and wants to enjoy it at home as opposed to having to go to the gym or spa.”
Pickleball Courts
Pickleball courts are in high demand as the sport rises in popularity.
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What Zillow reported:
“This fast-paced paddle sport is becoming a sought-after amenity in backyards and neighborhoods. Nationwide, pickleball mentions are up 64% compared to last year.”
“Pickleball is accessible and appealing to all ages,” Pendleton observed, noting that it offers both fitness and social interaction benefits. “With the sport’s rising popularity, a dedicated at-home or nearby neighborhood pickleball court has become a selling point for many homebuyers.”
Mentions of pickleball courts are most common in for-sale listings in Sarasota and Provo, Utah.
What Experts Say:
“As the wellness movement continues to build momentum, buyer expectations are becoming more sophisticated,” shared New York City-based real estate agent Taylor Middleton of Douglas Elliman. She serves that metro, the Hamptons, and South Florida. “My clients — in particular my international and California buyers — are prioritizing contemporary options.” She sees pickleball courts (and plunge pools) likely having the most enduring appeal and value enhancement among the four Zillow wellness trends. Ultimately, Middleton surmised, “The main resale appeal is that in time, these amenities will become buyer expectations.”
“Pickleball has definitely been a family recreation conversation,” Gardner reported, citing its physical and social benefits, as well as the fact that it takes less space than tennis. “We have clients hosting parties at home based around pickleball tournaments with groups of friends. In several cases it’s being used as a destination activity to draw friends and family over to spend time.”
It’s worth noting that the noise and lights of pickleball courts can be a negative factor for some properties and communities.
Murals
The quality of this mural work enhanced the value of a spec home with its eventual buyer.
Architect: Court Atkins Group / Interior Designer: Deb Van Plew / Photographer: Josh Gibson
What Zillow reported:
“Homeowners and home buyers are saying goodbye to bland in favor of personality-packed homes. Murals are showing up 18% more often in for-sale homes and they’re more accessible than ever. Wallpaper murals are now readily available and depict all types of scenes, from large-scale landscapes to modern botanicals.”
Pendleton commented that “Personalization is a growing trend in interiors as homeowners increasingly want their homes reflect who they are and how they live. Murals make a visual statement, create ambiance and can be an instant conversation starter.”
Murals are most commonly found in for-sale listings in McAllen, Texas and Tucson.
What Experts Say:
“When done properly, and pending the home’s target homebuyer, a mural can certainly add to a home’s appeal. Especially for a younger homebuyer,” stated Orange County, California Compass agent Todd Davis.
Architect William Court practicing in Savannah and Bluffton, South Carolina shared that, “We have used custom murals and wall coverings on a number of homes. Each one tends to present a unique point of view and is often highly personal to our clients. It is an impact statement, so it takes a certain sense of commitment on their behalf.” He does not anticipate that these design statements will benefit the home’s real estate value. “Resale did not come into the conversation, but the sense of quality and finish were certainly discussed,” he noted. He did relate that one of the projects unexpectedly became a spec house and the new owner was attracted to the hand painted panels in the study.
