Pickleball Garage Opens Doors in Former FedEx: Fiona Wilson and Sara Dolentz, both avid pickleball players and business partners, had long seen the limitations of local facilities during the winter months. The duo, known for their shared passion for the sport, were accustomed to playing at outdoor courts—until the cold weather made that impossible. The idea to create a year-round solution began as a lighthearted joke, but it quickly took on a life of its own.
From Joke to Reality: Pickleball Garage Opens Its Doors
Just two weeks ago, Wilson and Dolentz made their vision a reality with the launch of Pickleball Garage, an indoor facility designed to offer locals a place to play no matter the season.
“Just the other week we thought, ‘This is it,’ This is what we envisioned from the beginning in this dirty warehouse.”- sara dolentz
On Friday morning, the familiar clanking of paddles echoed through the old warehouse at 1025 South Highway 89, nestled between Maverik and Whole Foods. Inside, a group of four players rallied on one of the vibrant blue courts. A black mesh divider split the space in two, leaving the other court ready and waiting for players.
It had taken some time and effort to find a building with just the right dimensions, but owners Wilson and Dolentz had finally succeeded. Months earlier, the pair, who also run Little Acorns Academy day care and preschool, set up a temporary net in the empty FedEx space to test it out, and they knew the fit was perfect.
With that vision in mind, they set to work. The duo scrubbed the greasy walls, repainted, resurfaced the floors, and laid down professional-grade PickleRoll material—a durable 1/16th-inch layer designed to play just like an outdoor court.
The facility boasts two regulation-sized indoor courts, providing more opportunities for both recreational and competitive players.
The opening of Pickleball Garage has not only filled a gap in the community’s winter sports options but also brought a fresh energy to the region’s pickleball scene. The duo’s decision to transform a former FedEx warehouse into the new facility showcases their commitment to the sport, offering players a space to enjoy pickleball year-round.
“A big part of it, from what we have learned from this experience, is we really do want to hear what the community is looking for so that we can put that together if it’s possible for them, because we obviously want to accommodate what people want,” – Sara Dolentz
News in Brief: Pickleball Garage Opens Doors in Former FedEx
Pickleball enthusiasts Fiona Wilson and Sara Dolentz have transformed an old FedEx warehouse into Pickleball Garage, an indoor facility featuring two regulation-sized courts. Their idea, initially conceived as a joke last winter due to the need for more indoor courts, became a reality just two weeks ago. The facility aims to provide year-round access to the sport, ensuring players have a place to play no matter the season.
ALSO READ: Tahlequah’s Pickleball Explosion Shows A Story of Community and Growth