KISSIMMEE, Fla. — As we ring in the new year, we welcome a fresh start. That also means the chance to experience a new Osceola County attraction meant to nourish the body and even pick up a new hobby.

1. Crush Yard in Kissimmee is almost open. The 48,000 square-foot facility was once a grocery store. So instead of the produce aisle, the space includes 10 pickleball courts.

2. Evan Addington is the Pickleball Director of this location, which he describes as a pickleball, bar, and lounge destination.

3. Evan was a tennis coach at a major hotel nearby, and was recently approached by his boss there.

“I was told, ‘Hey, there’s this fun [pickleball] game coming. And we need somebody to learn.’ And that’s what started my pickleball journey,” he said.

4. He admits that the sport can get competitive. It can also be a first step toward a new health journey in 2025.

“The court’s very short with a lot of fast movements,” he said. “The speed of pickleball is just fast enough to engage you the entire time; just slow enough that you can actually see progress. It’s the best.”

5. Kids, too, are getting in on it. Crush Yard also provides coaching. The Kissimmee location is Crush Yard’s 2nd location in the United States. The original is in Charleston, South Carolina. The company is planning to open two more in 2025, but Kissimmee’s is the largest.