A Titan of Tennis in the High Country Turns 100 View from the upper courts
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he Yonahlossee Racquet Club (YRC), located between Boone and Blowing Rock, is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year. “We’re proud of our long history and still thrilled about being part of the community and looking forward to our next 100 years,” said YRC General Manager Ripley Amell. “There are but a few places that exude such a sense of calmness and beauty, wrapped up in the friendly competition found while playing tennis, other than the Yonahlossee Racquet Club, perched at over 4,000 feet.” YRC owes its beginning to a girls’ riding summer camp that originated in 1922, says Amell, a native Canadian. Yonahlossee Camp and its 750 acres were purchased by a developer who wanted to build a destination resort that included an indoor pool, indoor tennis court and outdoor clay courts. The developer later sold the racquet club to a group of Yonahlossee residents, incorporating it as the Yonahlossee Racquet Club. These pioneering resident/ players became the builders of additional outdoor clay courts and the first members of the Yonahlossee Racquet Club. Since 1987 YRC has been administered by members, who were instrumental in its growth and financed its improvements. The club initially had four outdoor clay courts. The years following were periods of growth in tennis—leagues and tournaments began mushrooming around the High Country,
resulting in greater demand for court time. To meet the need, the club built two more courts, all six having a surface material called Har-Tru. In addition to the courts, a new and much-needed lounge was added to the clubhouse in 2018. Eventually, volunteer members could not be expected to administer the Club’s operations, and with membership growing, it became necessary to hire staff. Amell, who joined the staff three years ago, has worked in the tennis resort/club industry in Canada and the US for more than 34 years and has been cultivating a renewed focus on a new member experience while respecting the rich history of YRC. Today, the YRC has more than 175 members, including families with three generations represented. “The club promotes a lot of easy friendships through what we do,” said Amell. “Not many clubs in the United States can say they’re celebrating 100 years—it’s a hidden gem.” Famous players have visited the club, notably Stan Smith. And the club has had the privilege of hosting prestigious USTA Adult Championship tournaments in the past and is now the home of the Tournament Players Academy (TPA), which moved its operations up from Tampa, FL. YRC/TPA now works with top junior tennis players in the High Country who are preparing for a college tennis career. YRC is a not-for-profit organization. It
is a members’ directed club governed by a Board of Directors drawn from its membership. Besides governance, members perform valuable services, such as helping staff with social events, spring and fall cleanups and assisting in any club undertakings. Non-members are welcome to enroll in lessons, programs, and kids’ summer camps. However, only members and their guests have exclusive use of the courts. Members also benefit from a variety of social and competitive events. “This 100-year milestone is a considerable achievement and speaks volumes of those who have served it through good and bad times,” says Amell. “Its history is rich and colorful and a great testament to the will of people within Yonahlossee, as well as community members, to create and keep alive the spirit of YRC.” YRC is currently open to new members, with the following options: • Resident Memberships: members who own property within one of three subdivisions at Yonahlossee • Community Memberships: members who reside outside of Yonahlossee • Social Memberships: members who reside in Yonahlossee who do not play tennis but would like to take advantage of YRC’s social events, pool and fitness center For more information, email manager@yonahlosseeclub.com and visit www.yonahlosseeclub.com. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2022 —
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