Flying Pickle Chattanooga Pickleball Club: The Flying Pickle pickleball club officially broke ground Wednesday for its first Tennessee location in the Mill Town neighborhood of Chattanooga. The 46,000-square-foot facility at 2105 South Lyerly Street is scheduled to open in late summer or early fall of 2026, bringing a major new venue for the fast-growing sport.
Facility Plans
The club will feature 16 climate-controlled courts plus a larger tournament court for professional events. Owner and operator Bryan Bledsoe said the design was shaped by feedback from professional players.
“We’ve had the ability to do probably the most thought-out design with the inclusion of pro player feedback to create what we believe is the most dynamic pickleball space,” (Bryan Bledsoe).
The project cost has increased to $8 million, up from the original $7 million estimate. Work on the site begins next week, and crews will start vertical construction of the steel structure in January.
Membership and Amenities
The Flying Pickle will operate as a membership-based club but will also welcome non-members. Amenities include a restaurant called The Kitchen, locker rooms, and a mezzanine for viewing matches. Bledsoe explained the goal of creating a social environment.
“We’ve definitely been very specific about making sure we’ve included The Kitchen, a social place and space, the locker rooms, so that it is more than just reserving an hour of gameplay, coming and playing and leaving. We’re really going to encourage our members to spend more time at our facility.”(Bryan Bledsoe)
Membership pricing for the original Idaho location ranges from $119 a month for basic access to $389 a month for a pro family membership, with discounts for annual plans.
Team and Support
Bryan Bledsoe and his wife, Julie Bledsoe, are managing partner and head designer through their company Dwell Designed Construction, which serves as the general contractor. Partners Kim Smith and Aaron Smith will assist with construction and operations, while Brad Sedgwick of Builtwell Bank is the financial partner.
The Idaho-based Flying Pickle currently has 12 clubs open or in development across nine states. The Chattanooga site will be the company’s first facility built entirely from the ground up. Bledsoe reported strong community response from local pickleball groups.
Company Background
The Flying Pickle was cofounded in 2023 by professional pickleball players Susannah Barr and Nick Petterson, along with Paul Starita. The Chattanooga location aims to showcase the most advanced design in the franchise network.
News in Brief: Flying Pickle Chattanooga Pickleball Club
The Flying Pickle broke ground on a $8 million pickleball club in Chattanooga’s Mill Town neighborhood. The 46,000-square-foot facility will feature 17 courts, including a professional tournament court, and is set to open in late summer or early fall of 2026 with memberships and social amenities.