PicklePort Cancels $5M Myrtle Beach Venue as City Considers Public Option
PicklePort has canceled plans for a $5 million pickleball facility near Whispering Pines Golf Course, prompting Myrtle Beach leaders to discuss building a public venue.
Why this matters locally
The withdrawal leaves Myrtle Beach without a major private pickleball venue while local private courts close, putting pressure on the city to consider building a taxpayer-funded facility.
Plans for a proposed $5 million private pickleball venue along Harrelson Boulevard in Myrtle Beach have officially fallen through, as developer PicklePort pulled out of its long-discussed agreement with the city.
The planned complex was set to occupy six acres of city-owned land beside Whispering Pines Golf Course, near Myrtle Beach International Airport. Under the proposed 20-year lease, the company planned to build a 35,000-square-foot facility housing 12 indoor courts, alongside outdoor courts, a pro shop, snack bar, and meeting space.
Company representatives and city officials confirmed that the decision came down to shifting market conditions and rising front-end development costs. Pre-construction expenses for land clearing, roads, and infrastructure made the project financially unviable for private investors. Seasonality in a coastal market and climbing construction costs since original planning in 2024 further impacted profitability projections.
The cancellation marks the second major private pickleball project to be scrapped in Myrtle Beach, following the earlier cancellation of the proposed Tidal Creek Picklehouse in Market Common. Standing standalone private facilities have struggled to materialize, even as smaller projects tied to existing venues—such as Bistro B on North Kings Highway—have successfully opened.
The news comes as local options for racket sports grow increasingly limited. Private facilities like the Grande Dunes Tennis Club are slated for residential redevelopment, removing established courts from the local inventory. Currently, the city maintains fewer than 20 public courts.
In response to the growing shortage, Myrtle Beach City Council has begun discussing whether to build a publicly funded, municipal racket sports complex combining both tennis and pickleball. Municipal staff are evaluating potential sites, including the six-acre site near Whispering Pines, which remains restricted to recreational use under federal Land to Parks program guidelines. City officials noted that including tennis courts could open up grant funding opportunities from organizations like the United States Tennis Association.
City staff are currently developing cost estimates for a potential public build, with local hospitality tax revenues considered as a potential funding source. Further discussions and site evaluations will take place during upcoming council meetings.
Quick facts
- Project: Canceled $5M PicklePort Complex
- Location: 6 acres beside Whispering Pines Golf Course, Harrelson Blvd
- City Inventory: Fewer than 20 public courts currently available
- Alternative Under Review: Potential city-funded racket sports complex
Community brief · prepared from MyrtleBeachSC News material · original source
