Seacoast Pickleball: New indoor facility opening in York at former Seacoast United

YORK, Maine — Harry Wesson wanted to play pickleball year-round but had nowhere to go — so he bought a building where he will soon open southern Maine’s newest pickleball facility.

Seacoast Pickleball will open its doors at 1050 US Route 1 in York this September in a space previously used by Seacoast United. Crews will finish work this month converting its massive interior into a pickleball complex with eight courts and two lounges for viewing.

Wesson and Michele LaBranche, the director of Seacoast Pickleball, say they look forward to giving members the complete pickleball experience in a region where weather can make it hard to enjoy the game every day.

“We’re so seasonal here, as far as being able to play in the wintertime,” said LaBranche. “It’s nice to have an alternative.”

Pickleball, often called the fastest-growing sport in the county, is similar to tennis but on a smaller court with plastic balls and paddles. The game was pioneered in Washington state, combining tennis, ping pong and badminton, with its first tournament held in 1972.

The sport has grown steadily over the years but has enjoyed a surge in popularity since the turn of the century. Pickleball groups have sprung up in communities throughout the country, including the Seacoast of Maine and New Hampshire.

The York Paddle Tennis and Pickleball Club brought pickleball to York at their outdoor facility on Mill Lane in 2020. The club has been looking to expand from four pickleball courts to six, though their project is on hold with the town Planning Board amid concerns from neighbors about noise.

The new facility on Route 1 gives pickleball players in town a new enclosed place to enjoy the game without brushing up against abutters.

“After a hard day of work, there is nothing better than to come out and have some fun,” LaBranche said. “It’s just a good relationship-building game.”

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Wesson, longtime coach and entrepreneur, seeks a home for pickleball

Wesson has lived in the Seacoast since 1995 and has coached baseball, including at the facility he purchased last year for Seacoast Pickleball. Over the years, he has owned grocery stores and partnered to own Aroma Joe’s franchises.

Wesson was in South Carolina three years ago when a friend showed him pickleball. He initially was skeptical of its potential, starting with the name. The game was dubbed pickleball by pioneer Joel Pritchard after his family dog, Pickles.

“I would say that the name pickleball kind of distracts from what kind of game I thought it could be,” Wesson said. “It was a lot more competitive to my liking than I thought.”

Wesson returned to the Seacoast but struggled to find a place to play indoors year-round without concern for the weather. He decided to set out in search of a facility to own himself. Wesson shared a banker with the previous owner of the building at 1050 US Route 1, and he was notified the building was available for purchase.

Wesson met LaBranche when he was on a walk-through of the property and LaBranche stopped by out of curiosity.

“Michele literally came by, was quizzical about what was going on,” Wesson said.

LaBranche has played sports her whole life and has lived in York for 40 years. She said she was ready to be the director of the new organization and serve as the face of Seacoast Pickleball, so the two became a team.

Wesson said he prefers to stay out of the spotlight. The goal, for him, was simply to find a community and a venue for his new favorite sport.

“If I can come here and play the game and nobody knows I’m the owner, that’s what I’m looking for,” Wesson said.

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Seacoast Pickleball offers multiple courts, practice area and more

When the work is completed on the new facility, two championship courts with a larger playing field will be in the center of the building. Nearby will be a few more playing courts, and against the back wall will be two courts for practicing dinking and serving. Each court will be separated by a net so games will not interfere with each other when a ball goes out of bounds.

The practice courts will feature ball servers nicknamed “lobsters” to keep with the Seacoast theme. Also catering to the coastal vibe will be the Low Tide Lounge on one end and the High Tide Lounge with bleachers on the other end. The lounges will be outfitted with comfortable seating, and while alcoholic beverages will not be served, members will be welcome to bring their own.

A section will also be included for games like ping pong, jazzminton and cornhole. Wesson and LaBranche said the club’s evolution will be dictated by the members and their needs.

“The people are in charge,” Wesson said.

Because pickleball is so accessible many believe it is mostly intended for older generations, but Wesson said the statistics of the industry do not indicate that's true. He said people of all ages have become involved, and he intends to work with local schools on getting kids playing as well.

“This is for all ages,” Wesson said. “This is not your grandfather’s game.”

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seacoast Pickleball: New indoor courts opening on Route 1 in York