Quick Guide for New Arrivals & Visitors
Elk Mountain is a tranquil, picturesque town of under 200 residents. While there are no dedicated tennis courts within the immediate town limits, it serves as a serene home base. Your tennis life will take place via scenic drives to the premier regional hubs in Carbon and Albany counties.
- Closest Outdoor Hit: Veterans Island Park in Saratoga (approx. 40 minutes south).
- Closest Public Hub: Washington Park in Rawlins (approx. 45 minutes west).
- Premier Regional Center: University of Wyoming Tennis Complex in Laramie (approx. 60 minutes east) for year-round indoor play and elite coaching.
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FAQ: Getting Started
A: The most reliable method is to plug into the regional hub in Laramie. You can connect through the Alpine Tennis Association, check local Facebook groups, or use digital matchmaking platforms like PlayTime Scheduler at playtimescheduler.com to find local games.
A: If you are only here for a short trip, your fastest route to a match is contacting the Alpine Tennis Association or stopping by the University of Wyoming (UW) Tennis Complex. They host regular drop-in drills and Cardio Tennis where you can instantly meet and rally with active players.
A: Public outdoor courts in neighboring Rawlins and Saratoga are completely free and operate strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. For guaranteed indoor court time, you should call the UW Tennis Complex in Laramie ahead of your trip to reserve a visitor slot and pay the daily guest fee.
A: Instruction is centralized through the Alpine Tennis Association and the UW coaching staff. You can reach out directly via their site at alpine-tennis.org to book private sessions or join group clinics.
A: Beginners and intermediate players should attend the weekly drill sessions hosted by the Alpine Tennis Association. These clinics specifically group players by their NTRP ratings, ensuring you are paired with peers for both structured drills and casual point play.
Why Elk Mountain is a Tennis Traveler's Dream
For the avid tennis traveler, Elk Mountain offers a unique juxtaposition. You get to wake up in a quiet, high-altitude mountain retreat, then take a beautiful drive to meet a surprisingly dedicated and tight-knit tennis community. Playing at altitude (over 7,000 feet) is a fantastic way to train, forcing you to focus on footwork, breath control, and ball spin. The local players across Carbon and Albany counties are incredibly welcoming to travelers, making it easy for a community organizer or an extroverted tennis lover to instantly make friends on the courts.
Courts & Facilities
While Elk Mountain itself is a gateway, these are the exact facilities you will use in the surrounding region:
Laramie (Premier Hub - 60 miles east)
- University of Wyoming Tennis Complex: The crown jewel of the region. Features 6 state-of-the-art indoor courts and 8 outdoor courts. Surface: Hard. Lighting: Excellent. The indoor facility is available for public use for a fee. Call ahead for indoor reservations. Visit gowyo.com for facility hours.
- Undine Park: Located at 5th St and Ord St. Features 1 public outdoor hard court with lights for evening play. Pricing: Free. Policy: First-come, first-served. More info at cityoflaramie.org.
Rawlins (45 miles west)
- Washington Park: Located at Mountain View Blvd and Park Dr. Features public outdoor hard courts. Pricing: Free. Policy: No reservations required.
- Key Club Park: Located at 800 Colorado St. Features additional public outdoor hard courts alongside other park amenities. Pricing: Free.
Saratoga (40 miles south)
- Veterans Island Park: A scenic public park with an outdoor hard court. Pricing: Free. Policy: First-come, first-served.
Community & Finding Partners
The tennis scene here is regional rather than town-specific, requiring a collaborative approach to finding games.
- Alpine Tennis Association (ATA): The ATA is the heartbeat of local tennis, operating primarily out of Laramie. They organize leagues, social mixers, and USTA events. Visiting their site at alpine-tennis.org is the absolute best way to integrate into the community.
- USTA Wyoming: For competitive players looking for sanctioned leagues and tournaments, USTA Wyoming governs the state's league play. You can find regional team and tournament information at usta.com/wyoming.
Lessons & Coaching
Because Elk Mountain is a rural community, professional coaching requires a trip to the university town of Laramie.
- Local Pros: Local programming is led by highly experienced collegiate coaches. Dean Clower (Head Coach of UW Women's Tennis) and Coach Julie Gonzalez run drills, Cardio Tennis, and offer private lessons for all ages and skill levels. These are the most recognizable and highly-regarded figures in the regional tennis scene. You can book them via the ATA website at alpine-tennis.org.
Shops, Stringing & Services
There are no dedicated, standalone tennis pro shops in Elk Mountain or the immediate surrounding towns. Players must plan ahead regarding their gear.
- Racket Stringing: For stringing, local players rely on a grassroots network. The best approach is to contact the coaching staff at the UW Tennis Complex or the ATA, as they often string rackets for the local community using their own machines. For professional mail-in or regional drop-off services, players often use specialized shops in northern Colorado, such as Tension Racquet Stringing at tensionstringing.com.
- Gear & Apparel: Bring your tennis gear with you! Local sporting goods stores in the region cater heavily to hunting, fishing, and mountain sports, carrying very limited or no tennis equipment.