Metro Atlanta’s pickleball craze shows few signs of cooling off, as the largest indoor facility in the United States for playing the madly popular game hopes to be operational at an intown location this year, according to project officials. 

A new concept called Pickleball Club of Georgia is preparing to start converting an empty warehouse in Blandtown into more than 100,000 square feet of pickleball playing courts and more soon.  

According to project architects Terminus Design Group, the concept has passed Atlanta Beltline Design Review Committee vetting and is awaiting permits for demolition and construction. 

With more than 30 courts in the works, plus a full-service gym, a golf-simulator wing, multiple event spaces, and a full kitchen and bar, the project will qualify as the largest indoor pickleball facility in the country, per the design firm.   

Approximate layout of Pickleball Club of Georgia's courts. Courtesy of Terminus Design Group

Promotional materials for the Blandtown warehouse prior to its recent sale. King Industrial Realty Inc.

The 1365 English St. facility, a 1960s warehouse, is a few blocks north of Huff Road near the Beltline’s forthcoming Northwest Trail, due west of Atlantic Station. Moeller Purcell Construction Company has joined the project as general contractor.

“Our client is hopeful to be operational by the holidays this year,” Terminus Design Group principal Neil Waddle wrote to Urbanize Atlanta via email. “The five to six-month building [process] seems doable.” 

Pickleball Club of Georgia is aiming to be a full-day destination for fans of the game, rather than a quick stop. 

Other recent warehouse conversions to pickleball facilities around Atlanta include Dill Dinkers new outpost in West End and the Painted Pickle in Armour Yards near Lindbergh. (For the sake of comparison, the Dill Dinkers facility is about 1/3 the size of what Pickleball Club of Georgia has planned.) 

Planned look and functionality of the golf-simulator concept. Courtesy of Terminus Design Group

How Pickleball Club of Georgia's renovated exterior is expected to look along English Street. Courtesy of Terminus Design Group

Concept owner Michael Shamus, a tech consultant who owns production company ZK Productions and captains his ALTA Pickleball team, recently told Business Debut he’d spent a year and ½ searching for the right location—and found it in what used to be a warehouse for law enforcement and ballot machine storage. 

Shamus said the massive facility will be used as home court for Georgia Tech’s pickleball club and will offer memberships and walk-in play, in addition to leagues, summer camps, clinics, after-school programs, and more. 

Swing up to the gallery for more imagery and context. 

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