The luxury sports vacation has evolved. Travelers are no longer content to spend a week in a beach chair. They want mornings of competitive drills, afternoons of doubles, and evenings of farm-to-table dining with a mountain view. The destination getaway has become dynamic, active, and increasingly built around the court.
Few places answer that demand better than the tennis resorts in North Carolina. The state holds a rare geographic advantage for racquet athletes: in a single trip, you can rally at over 2,000 feet of elevation in the cool Blue Ridge Mountains or grind out points on historic Sandhills clay, where American resort tennis has deep roots. Add a booming pickleball culture, celebrity-backed court programs, and some of the most storied hospitality in the South, and North Carolina makes a compelling case as the premier racquet destination on the East Coast.
Here are five of the state’s standout tennis resorts, including what they offer on the court, who’s running the programs, and what awaits when you finally put the racquet down.
Etowah Valley Golf & Resort (Etowah, NC)
Located on a lush plateau roughly 2,200 feet above sea level near Hendersonville, this relaxed resort lodge is a peaceful sanctuary hidden within the Southern Highlands, where the Great Smoky Mountains weave into the Southern Blue Ridge.
Tennis & Pickleball
Etowah Valley offers hydro-clay tennis courts integrated into the resort’s 240-acre estate grounds, a soft-surface treat that’s easy on the joints and rare at a property this intimate. Pickleball and padel are not part of the official amenity lineup, making this a destination for the tennis purist.
Instruction here is personal and unhurried. Private lessons and casual group hitting sessions are available by appointment, in keeping with the resort’s low-key character.
The courts are overseen by the resort’s longtime tennis professional and club operations staff, a teaching pedigree that traces back to Pinehurst itself.
The central clubhouse pro shop handles court check-ins, ball purchases, and basic gear needs.
Beyond the Court
A championship mountain golf course designed by Edmund Ault, a heated swimming pool, croquet, a six-acre lake, and Zeke’s Greenside Tavern for post-match meals. Rooms and lodges feature private balconies overlooking the fairways and mountains.
High Hampton Resort (Cashiers, NC)
A spectacular 1,400-acre private mountain estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains, High Hampton Resort has been meticulously reimagined to blend rustic history with ultra-luxury modern amenities, and its racquet program may be the most pedigreed in the state.
Tennis & Pickleball
The competition-caliber layout features four Har-Tru clay courts, one classic hard court, and six dedicated pickleball courts. The nine courts sit between the resort’s historic dahlia gardens and the Fitness Studio, with mountain views in every direction. The hard court stays open year-round, weather permitting.
The entire racquet program was developed under the direction of Andy Roddick, the former world No. 1, US Open champion, and part-time Cashiers resident, making this a rare chance to play on courts shaped by one of the sport’s modern legends. Day-to-day coaching is backed by world-class Peter Burwash International (PBI) programming, with private instruction and clinics offered across a range of skill levels and ages, plus match-play and open-play opportunities for every kind of player.
Court reservations, equipment rentals, and instruction bookings are handled concierge-style through the resort, with equipment located at the Fitness Center. One charming tradition to note: High Hampton requests classic, all-white tennis attire on its courts, and soft-soled tennis shoes are requested (though they’ll honor your choice of color and style.)
Beyond the Court
A Tom Fazio-redesigned 18-hole golf course, a private lake with docks and paddle sports, miles of hiking trails, croquet on a dedicated lawn, complimentary afternoon tea, and dining built around Blue Ridge Mountain ingredients.
Omni Grove Park Inn (Asheville, NC)
A historic 1913 mountain masterpiece built from native granite boulders, the Omni Grove Park Inn offers sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a 50,000-square-foot Sports Complex that anchors its racquet program.
Tennis & Pickleball
The Sports Complex offers six tennis courts: three indoor, climate-controlled courts for year-round play and three scenic outdoor courts. The indoor courts even carry a bit of star power, having been resurfaced around the time Venus and Serena Williams stayed at the resort during the 2018 Fed Cup tie in Asheville. Pickleball courts are also located at the Sports Complex and are available exclusively to overnight guests and members. A racquetball court rounds out the indoor racquet options.
Lessons and clinics are available for every skill level, from first-timers to competitive players. The programming includes cardio tennis, summer kids’ camps, league team training by advance arrangement, and the head pro’s signature “Fireball Triples,” a fast-paced format with three players per side and an orange ball.
The program is led by veteran Head Tennis Professional Wayne Forester, supported by a staff of teaching pros who handle private lessons, hitting sessions, and clinics for adults and juniors.
While there’s no standalone pro shop, the retail outlet inside the Sports Complex carries tennis balls, apparel, and gear, with equipment available for guests who arrive without a racquet.
Beyond the Court
The resort’s famous 43,000-square-foot subterranean spa, with mineral pools, waterfalls, and eucalyptus steam rooms, is reason enough to visit. Add a Donald Ross-designed golf course, an indoor pool, a full fitness center, and some of the best sunset views in Asheville, and you have a true four-season retreat.
Pinehurst Resort (Pinehurst, NC)
Globally revered as the “Cradle of American Golf,” this historic Sandhills institution delivers an equally elite athletic experience off the greens. Pinehurst has hosted tennis events at the local, sectional, national, and professional levels throughout its long history, and the racquet program today is as polished as the rest of the resort.
Tennis & Pickleball
Pinehurst’s tennis center features pristine, championship-caliber clay courts maintained to the standard you’d expect from a property of this pedigree. Pickleball has been part of the Pinehurst community since 2012, and the dedicated pickleball facility sits at the Pinehurst No. 6 complex, right next to the clubhouse.
The instruction calendar is one of the deepest in the state. Tennis lessons and clinics are available for youth and adults across all skill levels, while pickleball clinics run five days a week, alongside private and semi-private lessons. The resort also hosts Nike Adult Pickleball Camps, intensive weekend programs that cover technical skills, strategy, specialty shots, and positioning.
The pickleball program is led by Head Pickleball Professional Aimee Bonnell (PPR Certified), who manages daily court activity, instruction, tournaments, and resort events alongside her assistants. She works in tandem with a full staff of USPTA/PTR-certified tennis professionals on the clay-court side.
The full-service Pinehurst Tennis Shop handles racquet rentals, ball machine hire, and professional stringing services. One standout perk: with a tennis membership of more than 450 players, the staff runs a game-matching service that can arrange a singles or doubles match at your level, virtually any day. Pickleball equipment is available to borrow at no extra charge.
Beyond the Court
This is Pinehurst, home to multiple championship golf courses, including the legendary No. 2, a full spa, croquet and lawn bowling, swimming pools, and the kind of old-world Southern hospitality that has drawn travelers for more than a century.
Sapphire Valley Resort (Sapphire, NC)
Tucked deep in the scenic “Land of Waterfalls” of Western North Carolina, Sapphire Valley specializes in high-energy, seasonal outdoor mountain adventures and has quietly become one of the Southeast’s most notable racquet camp destinations.
Tennis & Pickleball
The tennis facility, nestled between picturesque mountain peaks, features eight pristine clay courts. Alongside them sit three dedicated outdoor pickleball courts with permanent lines and nets, the resort’s newest amenity, open year-round, weather permitting.
Camps are the resort’s calling card. Sapphire Valley hosts official Nike Adult Pickleball Camps, intensive multi-day programs organized by DUPR rating level that focus on stroke mechanics, strategy, positioning, and competitive play. It also hosts Nike Tennis Camps for adults and juniors, featuring singles and doubles instruction and coached match play. With average summer temperatures around 75°F, it’s an ideal escape from lowland heat.
The camps are led by Nike-certified directors and experienced coaching staff, including pros with ATP and WTA Tour coaching backgrounds, supported by the resort’s resident recreation team.
There’s no traditional tennis pro shop. Instead, pickleball court access, passes, and scheduling are arranged through the Red Bird Golf Shop, with the resort’s community amenities serving as the broader racquet hub.
Beyond the Court
A golf course, indoor and outdoor pools, a zipline course, fitness facilities, three restaurants, and easy access to the region’s famous waterfalls and hiking trails.
The Best Time to Visit
Spring (April to May): Mild temperatures in the 60s and 70s make this the sweet spot for multi-hour outdoor singles matches, free of summer humidity. Clay courts in the Sandhills are in prime condition.
Summer (June to August): This is the absolute best window for the high-elevation mountain escapes of Cashiers and Sapphire Valley, where average summer temperatures hover around a crisp, comfortable 75°F while the rest of the South swelters. It’s also peak season for the Nike camps at Sapphire Valley and Pinehurst.
Fall (September to October): Peak leaf-peeping season. Play your matches amid the brilliant changing colors of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, widely considered among the best fall foliage in the country.
Final Thoughts
Whatever your racquet vacation looks like, whether it’s an intensive pickleball camp in the Land of Waterfalls, a clay-court clinic at the storied Pinehurst Resort, year-round indoor play in Asheville, or a match on Andy Roddick-developed mountain courts in all-white attire, the tennis resorts in North Carolina deliver a remarkably diverse, genuinely premier experience. Few states let you choose between Sandhills clay and mountain-peak hard courts in the same long weekend.
Have you played at one of these resorts? Drop a review in one of these resorts. Your firsthand experience helps fellow racquet travelers pick their next court-side getaway.
