Pickleball is Growing in Culpeper!
June 1, 2024 Things to Do
Contributed post written by: Brandon Mackie
*Photo Credit: Pickleheads
If pickleball sounds familiar, that might be because it’s the latest craze in Culpeper, Virginia. This once-niche game is now a popular pastime attracting players of all ages and abilities.
Considering how easy it is to learn how to play pickleball, it’s not difficult to understand why the number of players in Culpeper is growing so rapidly.
What Is Pickleball?
Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong to create a sport that’s just as fun but not quite as strenuous.
The game can be played indoors or outdoors, in either a singles or a doubles format. To play, you’ll need a court, pickleball paddles, and a plastic ball similar to a wiffle ball.
Pickleball’s rules are simple. The ball is served diagonally to the opposing side of the court. After service, the ball must bounce once before it can be returned. Just like tennis, the objective is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court, making it difficult to hit back.
Compared to other racket sports, playing pickleball doesn’t require as much speed or stamina. You just need to learn the basic moves, and you’re ready to go – which is exactly what 36.5 million US pickleball players did during 2022.
Where to Play Pickleball in Culpeper
If you’d like to get playing right away, here’s a list of pickleball courts in Culpeper:
Mountain Run Lake Park (Public Court)
Along with scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Mountain Run Lake Park is home to four outdoor pickleball courts, which have permanent lines and nets.
It’s free for the public and open from dusk until dawn, and restrooms are available for both players and parkgoers.
The park itself is very accessible as it’s only a 15-minute drive from downtown Culpeper. Lakeside picnic areas, charcoal grills, and a playground for kids make it the ideal place for a day out once you’ve finished your game, too.
PATH Recreation and Fitness Center (One-Time Fee Required)
PATH Recreation and Fitness Center is located on Crossroad Parkway, Culpeper. It has four top-notch indoor hard courts with permanent lines and portable nets, and restrooms are available for players.
The courts are open Monday to Thursday between 5 am and 9 pm, Fridays between 5 am and 8 pm, and weekends between 8 am and 2 pm.
Aside from playing pickleball, you can also use the gym and enroll in fitness, yoga, and tumbling classes. If you have toddlers, don’t worry – Kid’s Corner child care can attend to them while you play.
Culpeper County Fieldhouse (One-Time Fee Required)
Culpeper County Fieldhouse is located on Competition Drive, Culpeper. It’s open daily from 8 am to 9 pm, except on Sundays (10 am to 6 pm).
At the Fieldhouse, there are three indoor pickleball courts with permanent lines and portable nets. The country club has restrooms, as well as amenities for other sports, including basketball and volleyball.
This is another great choice if you’ve got kids in tow – children aged one to six can have uninterrupted play time in the gymnasium.
Final Thoughts
In Culpeper, Pickleball is starting to gain ground on other sports – and it’s doing so pretty quickly, too.
The highly social atmosphere and community-minded approach mean new players just keep falling for the game. The question is, will you be next?
