Montgomery residents Karl and Stacy Woyton opened their own indoor pickleball court facility alongside their neighbors after meeting at their neighborhood outdoor pickleball court and bonding over the sport.

Designed by former architect Stacy Woyton, Pickleball Hideout opened Dec. 8, 2023.

How it happened

Karl Woyton said he previously operated Shankz Mini Golf & Arcades in The Woodlands and picked up pickleball after retiring. He participated in several national tournaments where he medaled in multiple tournaments.

The two decided to open their own indoor pickleball facility to have a space to play and engage with the community in a weather-controlled environment alongside their neighbors Henry Woyton, Sonia Woyton, David Rowe, Sean Arnold, Lou Mategrano and Vicky Mategrano.“Playing outside all the time started to become a health hazard between the heat and the cold. Texas is too hot in the summer to play outside,” Karl Woyton said.

Stacy Woyton said pickleball is a sport that encourages community engagement and allows for a fun method of exercise.

“[Pickleball] has been around for 50 years and I think that [during COVID-19] everybody was forced to go outside, everybody had time on their hands and needed to get some exercise,” Stacy Woyton said.

The setup

Pickleball Hideout features six indoor courts with air conditioning and an online court reservation system that allows players to reserve and access courts on their own using a personal code.

Open seven days a week from 5 a.m.-10 p.m., players can download the Court Reserve app and reserve a court at their convenience.With the goal to promote health and inclusion through Pickleball Hideout, the facility also offers lessons and can hold events for up to 60 people.

“We've seen people lose weight, we've seen people get much healthier and seen their reaction times get faster. It's just good exercise, and it's a whole lot of fun,” Stacy Woyton said.

• 18952 Freeport Drive, Montgomery
• www.pickleballhideout.com