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For the past year and half, motorists exiting Highway 101 off Steamboat Island Road outside West Olympia have watched a massive steel structure rise from a sodden field. Until recently, no signs offered any clues to the future intent of the green 25,000-foot structure, whose ceiling peaks at about 70 feet.

Providence logo (2015)“People would walk in and say, ‘we see a lot of work going on and we don’t know what you are,’” said Ali Hollandsworth, manager of the new Steamboat Island Tennis & Athletic Club.

The mystery was solved when the facility opened its doors on November 1, 2015. Since then, tennis players ages 4 to 73 have ventured in to exchange lobs on the four indoor courts.

steamboat tennis
The 25,500-square-foot Steamboat Island Tennis & Athletic Club opened in November, and features four indoor tennis courts, a pro shop and lockers and showers; a second building for racquetball, aerobics and a swimming pool is in the planning stage.

Owner Drake Nicholson, a Tumwater resident who also owns Nicholson & Associates Insurance, first picked up a tennis racket at age 12. Nicholson said he loves the exercise, competition and camaraderie of the sport.

“With tennis, you play people at your own skill level,” Nicolson said. “Whatever level it is, it’s a ton of fun.”

He added, “I have a lot of laughs, even more laughs, with people who haven’t perfected their game.”

Nicholson and his family were living on nearby Madrona Beach Road when he first envisioned a tennis and athletic club at the site in 2003. His children were in fourth and eighth grade at Griffin School, a couple blocks away. Nicholson said he also liked the site’s proximity to Highway 101, the Griffin neighborhood grange and a putting green.

But a downturn in the economy and other obstacles ultimately led to 12 years passing. In the meantime, the Nicholson family moved to Tumwater; both children are in college.

steamboat tennis
Ali Hollandsworth worked at Capitol City Tennis & Athletic Club in Tumwater before signing on as the manager at the new Steamboat Tennis & Athletic Club.

So far, about 70 members have signed up. The new members live in various parts of Thurston and Mason Counties. The Griffin School students are also using the courts during PE classes.

The facility features a mezzanine, where patrons can enjoy coffee and see the action on all the four courts. Underneath the mezzanine is a pro shop that offers tennis equipment.

The facility also offers a snack bar, and showers with lockers. The lockers each bear the names of fabled tennis pros.

Hollandsworth worked at Capitol City Tennis & Athletic Club in Tumwater before signing on as the manager at the Steamboat Tennis & Athletic Club. Hollandsworth, a resident of Tumwater Hill, started playing tennis four years ago at age 39 so she could compete on the court with her daughters, Alexa and Mickayla.

Hollandsworth agreed with Nicholson that the sport is fun for players at all skill levels. Lessons are available to all at the facility.

steamboat tennis
Cody Leimback, a tennis pro at Steamboat Tennis & Racquet Club, gives a lesson to a beginning player at the facility on a recent Saturday morning. Leimback played college tennis at the Division II level at West Chester University in Pennsylvania.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re good or excellent at (tennis),” she said. “It’s good for everyone … No one says, ‘You don’t belong there.’”

A bulletin board that bears the message “Do You Want to Play?” allows patrons who don’t have partners to find someone to play with.

Future plans include pickelball courts, a hitting wall, and eventually a swimming pool in a second building that will include racquetball courts and exercise equipment, Hollandsworth said.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said.

steamboat tennis
The facility features a mezzanine, where spectators can watch the action, and a pro ship underneath.

For membership information, click here.  Details on tennis lessons and classes can be found here.

Steamboat Tennis & Athletic Club
3505 Steamboat Island Road NW
Olympia, WA 98502
360-539-7877
Follow the Steamboat Tennis & Athletic Club on Facebook.

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