Black Desert Resort adds 21 pickleball courts, expands guest play

Black Desert Resort has turned pickleball into a core part of the stay at its Ivins property, where 21 courts sit against Southern Utah's red rock and black lava scenery. The centerpiece is a Championship Court with seating for up to 1,000 spectators, and future phases are set to lift the total to 29.

For guests and members, the game is built into the resort experience. Pickleball is complimentary, open play is first-come, first-served, and no reservation is required. Complimentary shuttles run hourly between the resort and the courts from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., while paddle rentals and on-site assistance make it easy for travelers to show up and start playing without hauling gear across the desert.

The real shift is in how the resort packages the courts. Black Desert offers clinics and lessons for everyone from first-timers to competitive players, along with group play, private events and full-court buyouts for corporate outings or social weekends. That gives the property a retreat-style rhythm: check in, head to court, book instruction, then fold match play into the rest of the trip. The courts are also promoted as a year-round offering, which makes them part of the resort's identity rather than a seasonal extra.

Black Desert's biggest credibility boost comes from the pro game. Earlier this spring, the resort and Greater Zion brought world-class pickleball to Southern Utah through the Greater Zion Cup, one of only five Cup events on the Carvana PPA Tour. The tournament awarded 1,500 PPA ranking points, drew more than 1,000 players, and was listed as event No. 7 on the 2026 tour calendar. The PPA Tour scheduled the 2026 Greater Zion Cup at Black Desert Resort for March 23-29, 2026, marking the first PPA tournament at the venue.

Opened in 2024 with 325 rooms and suites, Black Desert now has the lodging inventory to support that mix of casual play, group travel and tournament tourism. For players who want more than court time, the appeal is obvious: a resort where pickleball is not tucked beside the pool, but built into the reason to come.