Our Mission

Deer Valley Athletic Club has been a welcome part of the High Country since its beginnings in 1986. Founded by Ray and Billie Howell as Deer Valley Racquet Club, the original vision was simple yet powerful: to create a family-friendly tennis and fitness facility accessible to everyone in the Boone community.

Over nearly 40 years, that vision has evolved into what is now Deer Valley Athletic Club (DVAC)—a lively hub for families of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds. Today, we offer something for everyone—from newborns to centenarians.

Growing Through Change

DVAC has seen ownership changes over the years, each one building upon the Howell family’s legacy. In January 2020, Halle Pilkington acquired the club with a renewed mission: to focus on the members, listen to their needs, and ensure the club continued to grow and serve the community.

Just months later, her mission became more complicated

Resilience Unprecedented Times

When COVID-19 closures arrived, Halle had to consider not only members’ needs but also how best to support employees. She set two clear goals:

1. Ensure all full-time staff remained employed in some capacity.
2. Revamp the business to better serve current and future members while restoring the Howell family’s vision of a family-centered club life.

Through creativity and resilience, the staff kept the DVAC spirit alive—offering outdoor bootcamps, masked tennis camps, and safe programs for families. As Halle reflected, “After COVID and the uphill battle the company faced from the beginning, it finally felt like the club was making progress.”

New programs were launched, funding was secured, and when it was safe, families returned to enjoy everything DVAC has to offer.

Overcoming New Challenges

In 2024, another challenge struck: Hurricane Helene, which caused nearly $200,000 in damage to our outdoor facilities. Once again, our community came together. Thanks to the generosity of individuals, local organizations, and national partners, DVAC was able to rebuild and come back stronger than ever.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to those who supported us, including:

• USTA Southern, USTA North Carolina, and USTA National
• Stars Serving Up Love Fundraiser
• WE Are: Women Entrepreneurs Asheville Recovery Endeavor
• The Boone Chamber of Commerce
• Every single member who donated their time and energy