Indoor sports complex by Inch & Co. in York vs. Spooky Nook, Lancaster
Work on building an expansive indoor recreational facility in York County could begin this spring….
Work on building an expansive indoor recreational facility in York County could begin this spring.
York-based Inch & Co. has released preliminary plans to build a 250,000 square-foot sports center on the site of the vacant playing fields of the old Central York High School in North York borough. Groundbreaking is planned for this spring on a 13-acre complex along Columbia Avenue, pending full borough board approval.
Inch & Co. is billing this as “one of the region’s largest indoor recreation facilities.”
The company has already ventured into the sports world with NIL vehicle deals with Penn State football players.
The proposed sports complex will comprise two main structures: A dome will house a turf field for football, lacrosse, baseball, soccer and field hockey; an adjoining structure will accommodate 16 volleyball courts, eight basketball courts and pickleball and tennis courts.
Planned amenities include a fitness center and areas dedicated to “sports performance” and recovery, physical therapy and chiropractic services. A cafe, lounge and apparel store also will be included.
The complex will hope to differentiate itself from others in the region, such as Spooky Nook in Lancaster County, by offering multi-faceted training and development options for grade-school athletes through high school and beyond, according to Inch & Co. part-owner, John Inch Jr.
He sees this as a unique destination for someone who says, “‘My son is 12 years old. He doesn’t know what he wants to do, but he wants to get involved in sports. Where can I train him? Where can I get top-of-the-line training?’
“This will be everybody’s facility,” Inch said.
It certainly would be the only one of its kind in York County.
Spooky Nook, headquartered in Manheim, Lancaster County, bills itself as the “largest indoor sports complex in the United States” by offering courts and playing fields for more than a dozen sports in its 700,000-square-foot indoor facility. It also has hotel accommodations on-site.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @YDRPennState.
