Best Places to Stay and Things To Do Near Spooky Nook Sports Complex
Headed to Spooky Nook Sports Complex near Lancaster, Pennsylvania? We’ve got your complete guide to this popular travel sports venue. We’re telling you where to stay and all the best things to do. Plus a few travel tips to help you enjoy the area.
Our family consists of 4 kids who have played a plethora of sports over the years. So a fair portion of our family travel has been related to their games.
And we are certainly not unique.
Some studies, like THIS one from Statista, show that up to 72% of U.S. kids participate in organized sports. And the travel sports industry in particular is growing.
Those travel sports bring many families to Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Manheim, Pennsylvania. Spooky Nook Sports is the largest facility of its kind in the United States. It encompasses over 800,000 square feet of indoor space and multiple outdoor fields. Twelve different sports are played at the facility.
Just like when traveling for a family vacation, traveling for sports is best with some “know-before-you-go” info.
And we’ve got your complete guide. We’ve found where to stay Near Spooky Nook Sports Complex. We’re showing you things to do near Spooky Nook too. And we’ve got a few tips to make your travel ball weekend a little easier.
So, lace up those basketball shoes. Pack up that batting bag. And head to Spooky Nook with all the training you need for a great trip.
Where to stay near Spooky Nook Sports Complex (Lancaster location):
A full-service hotel is located inside Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Lancaster County. Warehouse Hotel at the Nook is steps from the courts and fields where tournaments are held. It’s super convenient for families who don’t want to explore outside of the venue itself. Having a room to go back to in between games is the best feature of this hotel.
Warehouse Hotel books up early though and can be pricey for its style of lodging on big tournament weekends. It also doesn’t provide much of a respite from the throngs of teens or gym-like atmosphere. And it has limited options for food for an entire weekend.
But, there are good options closer to Lancaster and only about 10 minutes from Spooky Nook.
Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn, and other brands have options within a short distance.
We like the area near the Shoppes at Belmont in Lancaster best.
The Residence Inn by Marriott Lancaster and Home2 Suites by Hilton Lancaster, are on our list of favorites. They, among others, allow us to collect or use points with the 2 brands. (That’s always a plus, especially when traveling for an event, a time when hotel prices can be elevated.)
Both are likely to be filled with other athletes and their families. They offer small fitness centers, indoor pools, and no-frills but clean accommodations.
Both of these casual, laid-back digs offer access to tons of food options also. PF Chang’s, Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar, and P. J. Whelihan’s are some sit down options close. Starbucks, CAVA and Chick-Filet are among the many fast food choices.
And forgot anything from sneakers, to toothpaste, to lipstick? (Don’t judge - sometimes moms needs to at least feel put together.) You’re also close to shops like Dick’s Sporting Good, Target, and Ulta, as well as other stores.
In other words, even if the team isn’t racking up “w’s” you can still grab a good meal. Or get some things checked off your shopping list.
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Things to do At Spooky Nook Sports Complex
Games of your athlete’s chosen sport are sure to take up most of your time while you’re at Spooky Nook. But, what is there to do if you have some downtime?
Turns out the answer is “plenty.”
Some of the best things to do at the Spooky Nook complex building are:
Explore the venue. Rinky-dink sports venues stand aside. Spooky Nook definitely takes the cake for the most things to do inside an actual sports tournament venue.
Eat. Spooky Nook has a lot of different options in the food category. Forklift and Palate Restaurant is the sit down restaurant and bar located inside. There’s also a food court with grab-and-go options like cheeseburgers, hot dogs and pizza. There’s an açaí stand, smoothie bar, pretzel stop, and a cotton candy and popcorn stand. And don’t forget the coffee shop.
Play. As soon as you enter the Spooky Nook Sports Complex, you’ll see one of its biggest entertainment options flanking the entrance. A collection of rock climbing walls provide a fun activity for athletes (and their ever-so-hard-to-entertain siblings). An arcade also helps kill time between games.
Shop. Everything is bigger in Spooky Nook. That includes the retail options. The usual t-shirt vendors are likely to be located near the entrance. Yet, there’s also a sizable sports store. It features sports clothing and a good selection of shoes.
Wondering how just by being here you’re helping to make the world in which we travel a bit better?
Check out Castles and Carpools charities page HERE.
Things to Do Near Spooky Nook Sports Complex
Even with lots to do inside the sports complex, exploring a little outside of the gym is great too, if you have the time. And luckily, the area has several great options for things to do near Spooky Nook.
Here are some things that top the list:
Amish Cultural Experiences - One of the largest Amish communities in the country is located in Lancaster. That equates to delicious Amish restaurants, interesting museums, and enriching learning experiences. The Amish culture is fascinating and inspiring in its simplicity and devotion to faith. Spending a day exploring it is a great thing to do near Spooky Nook.
Amusement Parks - Two theme parks are located a short distance from Spooky Nook. Hershey Park is about a 1/2 hour from the venue. It’s a 115-acre park packed with family rides, 15 roller coasters, and a water park. The candy and chocolate theme is based off of the town’s namesake, Milton Hershey. Dutch Wonderland is a smaller amusement park that’s great for younger kids. It has over 30 rides, a water play area, and live entertainment.
Sight and Sound Theater - Sight and Sound Theater is an immersive theater experience that is as impactful as it is entertaining. The theater provides a 4-D experience of live plays based on Biblical stories. Checking out the schedule and adding a performance to your weekend at Spooky Nook is definitely worth it.
Shop, Dine, and Explore Downtown - We love the downtown area of Hershey, located near the amusement park and about 30 minutes from Spooky Nook. Cute shops, restaurants and even a chocolate museum make it a fun afternoon outing between games. Downtown Lancaster also has a few fantastic museums, an escape room, and a make your own pottery store. It too is a place to find terrific restaurants, great coffee shops, and more. And it’s only about 15 or 20 minutes from Spooky Nook.
Check out this post all about more things to do near Spooky Nook:
All Of The Best Things To Do On A Travel And Learn Trip To Lancaster’s Amish Country And Hershey
Tips for your weekend at Spooky Nook
No know-before-you-go list would be complete without some tips. Here are a few things to know before your Spooky Nook tournament:
A fitness center is located inside the complex and offers day passes. It makes a great way for adults to get in a little exercise while their athlete hangs with the team.
A great walking and running trail is located behind the back parking lot. Head outside on nice days if you prefer your exercise to be of the sunshine variety.
The coffee shop inside Spooky Nook is a little (somewhat) secret spot. It’s where you can get away from the feeling of being in a huge gym. Block out the neon clad crowds of people walking by. And you’ll feel like you’re in a cute boutique coffee cafe for sure.
While most smaller venues don’t charge for parking, this one does. Expect to pay about $10 a day to park.
Not all of the courts have seating court-side, although some do. Don’t forget your folding chairs. Small sets of bleachers are located on a catwalk above some of the higher numbered courts as well.
Our cell service was limited at the venue. Free wi-if is available though.
The Spooky Nook Sports Complex was built in 2013. It has hundreds if not thousands of athletes and families come through the doors most weekends. So, while it’s a good facility with a lot to offer, don’t expect “plush”.
The same rings true for accommodations. Expect higher than anticipated hotel prices for the area and class of hotel, especially during weekends of big tournaments. (Translation - expect budget-ish hotel with higher than budget prices.) For this reason, we have found stays here equate to a descent use of hotel points if we have them available. Hotels tend to be in lower point categories, so they cost fewer points than their counterparts in higher categories.
