The Highlands Sports Complex near Wheeling knocks it out of the park for family fun.
There’s a brand new sports and recreation facility in West Virginia that will rock your world. Located outside of Wheeling in The Highlands, a retail destination anchored by Cabela’s off of Interstate 70, the Highlands Sports Complex is a 200,000-square-foot multisport facility that encompasses 15 acres and is one of the finest in the mid-Atlantic region.
With six floating hardwood courts that are lined for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball; a full-size, regulation outdoor field for football, lacrosse, and soccer; and a full-size, indoor, 88,000-square-foot multi-purpose turf field that provides a versatile space for football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, and softball, the complex not only serves the local community but is primed to be a family-friendly travel destination.
For parents with children who participate in travel leagues or who are just looking for indoor entertainment options, it will make you weep with joy. There’s a video arcade complete with virtual reality games that, at 4,000 square feet, is larger than most homes, and an indoor climbing center filled with creative climbing walls that will make you wish you were a kid again. And guess what? Even adults can participate—just book a one- or two-hour session that ranges in cost from $10 to $15. And yes, they have four dedicated party rooms ready to be rented for special celebrations. While the complex has a full-service cafe, its strategic location in The Highlands also means it is only steps away from a wide variety of dining and lodging options.
The newly opened facility is already expanding and adding an indoor fitness center, outdoor adventure course, and splash pad, all of which are expected to be open in 2021.
Vic Greco, principal of Mills Group and the architect of record for the Highlands Sports Complex, says the economic impact is undeniable. “When we started to work with the Ohio County Development Authority on this project, we knew it was a game changer not just for the state, but for the entire region.” Mills Group didn’t pull any punches when designing the facility—it has all the bells and whistles. The general manager of the complex, Harvey Greenidge, says one of his favorite aspects of the complex, which is in the process of being certified as a WELL Building, is that all the backboards, dividers, lighting, and thermostats can be controlled from an iPad. He says, “Gone are the days where you have to crank the baskets up. With the push of a button, we can control everything.”
The community response has been overwhelmingly positive. “Everyone who comes here absolutely loves it. They can’t believe that something like this exists here in Wheeling, West Virginia,” Greenidge says. “When we come out of COVID-19, we’ll be completely booked with tournaments.”
The Highlands Sports Complex is an exciting regional attraction, but it’s so much more: It provides an entertainment venue that is also building active and healthy lifestyles within the region. The climate-controlled environment offers superior playing conditions that allow everyone—from players to coaches to spectators—to be a part of the experience.
So this winter, instead of being stuck at home with your family figuratively climbing the walls, check out the Highlands Sports Complex, where you can take it to the end zone or literally climb some walls. 225 McCormick Way, Triadelphia, highlandssports.com
written by Nikki Bowman Mills
photographed by Carla Witt Ford
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