Pickleball Euphoria now owns its largest facility — a milestone that turns three years of phased buildouts at Springhurst into full control of the property.
The Louisville facility started as four tennis courts at a larger multi-sport complex which owners Stephanie and Josh Daniels converted to 10 pickleball courts in less than a month. Nearly three years later, the campus has 23 pickleball courts, six tennis courts, a pro shop and an additional building converted for pickleball.
Buying the property gives the Daniels more control over one of their largest facilities, but the significance goes beyond the real estate. The company is using the flexibility of ownership to expand tournament opportunities, develop its tennis program and continue investing in the physical spaces across its three locations.
Meanwhile, work is underway at the original Gardiner View location, and the Clarksville, Indiana location is next on the list as Pickleball Euphoria continues figuring out how to make three very different buildings work for the same customer experience.
From Leasing to Ownership
The Daniels originally signed the initial lease at Springhurst in September 2023 and opened the doors a month later. After converting to the first 10 courts, the operation continued to evolve. The club added a pro shop and private mezzanine court before taking over another building on the property. The former multi-sport building, which was previously used for volleyball, field hockey and other activities, was converted into 12 additional pickleball courts last summer.
By the time the purchase of the property was completed a few months ago, Springhurst had become a 23-court pickleball facility with six tennis courts and programming across both sports. Now, the Daniels are excited for the opportunity to use the entire property.
Courts can now be shifted as needed for tournaments and tour stops without having to sacrifice the regular programming players have come to expect.
“We can still keep our hourly rentals, open play, things like our mixers and then still have the space to host events as well,” said Stephanie.
That has already been put into practice. Pickleball Euphoria hosted Southern Pickleball for the first time this July, with Stephanie describing the tournament as an efficient and positive experience. The facility is also hosted the sixth annual VIPS tournament, a local event benefitting a visually impaired preschool, with more than 200 players.
A Partnership that Started on the Court
The Springhurst purchase also brought a different kind of development in the brand’s story.
Steve Fulton, whom the Daniels first met through pickleball, became an investor in the property. Fulton participated in many Pickleball Euphoria events before eventually becoming involved on the business side.
Fulton also operates Pickleball4Others, a non-profit using pickleball to bring different groups onto the campus. The program has included adults with disabilities, Big Brothers Big Sisters and St. Joseph’s Children’s Home, among other groups.
The arrangement has created opportunities for Pickleball Euphoria players to get involved as volunteers, while giving outside organizations a place to use the sport as a way to build community.
For the Daniels, the relationship represents one of the less obvious ways growth can come from operating a pickleball facility. A relationship built on the court can turn into a business partnership off it, while the same facility opens its doors to programming that serves the community beyond its membership.
A Sport They Didn’t Plan For
This new ownership also changes Pickleball Euphoria’s relationship with tennis, a sport the brand didn’t set out to run in the beginning.
The company now manages six tennis courts at Springhurst, giving it responsibility for tennis programming alongside its pickleball operation. Stephanie recognized the tension surrounding mixed tennis and pickleball facilities, particularly as operators around the country have faced concerns about one sport replacing the other. Her approach is to build both.
Pickleball Euphoria wants the same welcoming environment it worked to create for pickleball players to extend to the tennis side. Facility improvements are already underway, including updated brand colors and additional parking, with more changes planned for the tennis program.
The commitment is also personal. The Daniels’ teenage daughters have grown up around pickleball, while one also plays on a tennis team. Having both sports operating at the same property gives the family a chance to participate in both sides of the business.
Reinvesting Where it Began
While the Springhurst location is the brand’s largest, its original Gardiner View location is getting a much-needed update.
The three-court club occupies an older A-frame gymnasium and has long served a different purpose in the company. Stephanie described it as the more intimate location, where groups can rent multiple courts and effectively have the space to themselves.
She explained how the renovation addresses some long-standing limitations they are excited to finally address. Gardiner View has been the only location without air conditioning. It’s also the only facility without the Pickleball Euphoria branding and colors. The renovation has allowed the owners to update that all, add HVAC and turn the previous portable nets into permanent ones.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Stephanie. “It’s getting a totally new facelift on the inside.”
The changes are aimed to alter the look and feel of the facility without eliminating what makes that location special. Its smaller size gives groups an opportunity to reserve the space and it’s something Stephanie emphasized as one of the location’s advantages.
“We love the spot because we sacrificed so much to bring it to life initially,” said Stephanie. “Everyone thought we were crazy, and we may have been a little bit, but we’ve enjoyed the journey and we’ve certainly been blessed to grow quite a bit since then.”
The Next Step
The brand’s third location in Indiana has presented its own set of challenges. Clarksville operates inside of a dome and has caused the Daniels to look more closely at how that build affects acoustics including sound vibration and absorption, with potential solutions still being evaluated.
“We’ve had so much to learn along the way,” said Stephanie. “Whether it’s about sound absorption or moisture and dehumidification, just different things that you wouldn’t really think of day to day when you’re just playing.”
These facility updates will come after the Gardiner View renovations are complete. Stephanie said they want to make sure they don’t rush into the next project.
For Pickleball Euphoria, growth is less about adding more courts but more about making each property better suited to the people using it.
“If it wasn’t for your customer, you wouldn’t be here,” said Stephanie. “We want them to have a good experience.”
The facilities may never operate exactly alike. The buildings, layouts and technical needs are too different for a single formula to work. The brand’s approach is instead to keep adapting each property while maintaining the same standard for customer experience.
“We just hope it’s received well and that everyone who walks through the door feels like they’re at home and has a good experience,” said Stephanie. “We’re just going to continue to reinvest in that and try to do the best we can.”
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Jordan Meek is a staff writer for Pickleball Innovators, where she covers the rapidly evolving business of pickleball — from facility growth and technology to player experience and industry strategy. A graduate of Denison University with a degree in Journalism, she joined Peake Media in 2025 and brings a passion for storytelling and curiosity to every piece. Jordan is driven to spotlight the leaders shaping the sport and uncover insights that help operators thrive in the fastest-growing game in America. Reach her at jordan@peakemedia.com.
