Blue Ridge Pickle Barn offers slice of pickleball paradise in North Georgia
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia sits every pickleball player’s dream: A luxury house with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a chef’s kitchen, sauna, hot tub and beautiful scenery – all centered around a private, pro-level indoor pickleball court.
The Blue Ridge Pickle Barn by Kaizen Pickleball is a rental property located near Morganton, Georgia, that opened earlier this year and is already gaining a reputation as one of the best pickleball-specific vacation homes in the U.S.
It’s the brainchild of Chip Bulloch, a real estate developer who got into pickleball a couple years ago and quickly noticed that pickleball and vacations go hand-in-hand. So he built a pickleball retreat that can host groups of 6-8 people at a time.
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“I was already looking to build or buy an Airbnb, and it just kind of clicked in my head that I could build a pickleball barndominium and have that be the focus,” he said. “We’ve had about 15 groups come through so far, and people have been really liking it. Everything revolves around playing the sport we all love and then resting and having a good time in a beautiful area of the country.”
Out of the first five groups who stayed at the house, four have already rebooked another stay, Bulloch said. He also heard from a woman and her husband who have been traveling around the country for 8 years playing pickleball who told him their time at the Blue Ridge Pickle Barn was one of the best pickleball trips they’ve done – specifically because they could hang out and play with their friends, rather than being thrown into an open play situation like at many other resorts.
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Dedicated to constant improvement
Bulloch’s brand – Kaizen Pickleball – is based on the Japanese word Kaizen that means “continuous improvement” or “change for the better.”
That’s been a key concept for Bulloch throughout the process of building and operating the property. Each group is asked to fill out a detailed survey about their stay, and each time Bulloch takes that feedback and makes small tweaks to improve the guest experience. In the handful of months that the Blue Ridge Pickle Barn has been open, he’s made improvements to the court lighting, acoustics and several other areas of the home and pickleball court.
Guests also have access to a premium ball machine, training aids and optional private or group lessons from experienced coaches in the area.
“We’re constantly making upgrades, so the first group that stayed at the house, when they come back they will see substantial improvement,” Bulloch said. “And then another year from now, it’s going to be even better.”
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He’s also noticed a community aspect starting to form among people who have stayed at the house. When he first opened the Blue Ridge Pickle Barn, he bought a high-end record player and asked guests what their favorite albums were. When they tell him, he makes sure to buy that album and add it to the collection at the house so they can listen to it during their stay.
He now has 52 albums available for guests, and a handful of those he didn’t even buy – the guests got them and added them to the collection themselves.
“People seem to really love that aspect of it. They’re listening to the music they love, drinking their favorite wine, spending time with friends and family and playing the game they all love,” Bulloch said. “It’s a dynamic that resonates with a lot of people in the pickleball community.”
There’s plenty to do in that area of Georgia outside of pickleball, too, Bulloch said. Within a short drive there are 5-star restaurants, great hiking, waterfalls, Blue Ridge Lake as well as multiple golf courses and wineries. In the fall, the town of Ellijay (30 minutes from the house) hosts a huge apple festival that draws thousands of people to the region.
“The fall and spring are absolutely beautiful, and the summers are mild because you’re in the mountains,” said Bulloch, who is from Atlanta, which is about two hours south of the house.
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‘Pickle Barn’ concept expanding across the country
As demand has accelerated, Kaizen has introduced a limited Founders Club that provides members with preferred booking opportunities, priority access and exclusive benefits before remaining dates are made available to the public. Membership is intentionally limited because the property has finite annual capacity.
Bulloch said he believes the Blue Ridge Pickle Barn represents the beginning of a new category of destination travel — one centered around pickleball rather than simply accommodations. The concept combines luxury hospitality, active lifestyles, game improvement and meaningful social connection in a setting that allows guests to shape the trip around their own group.
Plans are already in the works to expand the concept beyond the Georgia property. Bulloch has his eyes on locations in New York, Florida, Texas and Arizona for future pickleball vacation retreats.
“People don’t remember hotel rooms,” Bulloch said. “They remember the laughter on the court, the conversations around the bar overlooking the court, and the time they spent with people they care about. We want to help create those memories.”
