Longview House

Pros

• The renovations this season added bench seating and replaced rotting wood, improving the facility.
• Longview is a great place for tennis, with six full courts and short wait times.
• The staff at Longview are great and teach players how to play.
• The tennis camps are extremely effective and reasonably priced.
• The staff are friendly and provide quick responses for court reservations.
• Longview is wonderful to play tennis and offers a welcoming atmosphere.

Cons

• The courts are only in okay shape and will need to be resurfaced in the next couple of years.
• The layout is unique but inconvenient due to having only one entrance, making it easy for balls to go over the fence.
• There is a wish for more courts without the pickleball lines.
• The tennis club and their friends monopolize the courts, making it hard for others outside the group to get court time.
• Information about the formal court schedule is hard to find, despite priority use fees.
• A small, moneyed group tends to receive priority access to the courts funded by city tax dollars.

Review

Longview in Duluth has become a beloved hub for tennis enthusiasts, a place many locals feel they've grown up around. The voice of the reviews is consistently warm and welcoming: it's described as casual, friendly, and open, a spot where players of all levels can come out, play, and feel at home. The sense of community is strong, with a vibe that invites families, beginners, and lifelong players alike to join in the action and make the courts their own.

The facility sits on six full courts, which helps keep the wait times short and the opportunities to play ample. This season, the facility has shown care for its physical space by making renovations - adding extra bench seating and replacing some rotted wood. The courts themselves are described as being in ok shape right now, with a note that resurfacing will likely be on the horizon within a couple of years. For many users, these improvements reinforce a sense of ongoing investment in the place and its ability to serve the community for years to come.

A few architectural and logistical quirks come up in reviews. The layout is noted as unique, but not without its drawbacks: most notably, there is only one entrance, which can be inconvenient when a ball flies over the fence. This single access point can complicate flow and occasionally leads to interruptions in play. Nevertheless, the overall atmosphere remains positive, and the staff earn particularly strong praise for their responsiveness and hospitality. Quick call backs for court reservations, in particular, help keep playing schedules smooth and predictable.

Programs and instruction are a standout feature for many families and players. The staff are repeatedly described as excellent teachers who help people learn to play, and the coaching and summer camps are highlighted as effective and reasonably priced. The presence of a dedicated area netted off for beginners to practice without chasing after every ball adds to the accessibility for new players who are building confidence. In addition to regular lessons, community events like an outdoor movie night in August add to the sense that Longview is about more than just tennis - it's a shared recreation space for families and friends to enjoy together.

The social and community aspects are a recurring theme, with many calling Longview a great place to spend an afternoon or just hang out. People praise the workers and the overall atmosphere, describing it as wonderful and welcoming. The sentiment that "All the Tennis action" happens at Longview captures the energy of a place where people come, play, learn, and cheer each other on. For many, it's not just about the sport - it's a place to connect, unwind, and build memories with others who share an appreciation for tennis.

There is, however, a more complex note threaded through several reviews. Some patrons express concern about access and fairness in court time. They feel that the tennis club and their friends sometimes monopolize the courts, aided by a city-funded priority use arrangement. While this funding and priority status helps the club, it can make it challenging for others outside that group to secure court time. Additional frustration stems from reports that some groups claim approval from the club without clear, publicly accessible scheduling information. This dynamic, while not negating the positive experiences many have, suggests there is room for improvement in transparency and fair access to court time for all players. The tension between a community public resource and a private-leaning priority usage is a notable undercurrent in these reviews, particularly for those who rely on the facility for regular, casual play.

Some reviewers even note the pickleball lines as a point of contention. There's a desire for more dedicated tennis space or more courts free of pickleball lines, especially for those who want to focus solely on tennis. This tension between different user groups is acknowledged with a call for balance: keeping the site welcoming and usable for tennis players while recognizing the growing popularity of pickleball. Despite this, the majority of comments remain upbeat, underscoring a strong foundation of staff, programs, and a community spirit that many participants want to preserve as the facility evolves.

In sum, Longview is portrayed as a fantastic place to play, learn, and enjoy time with family and friends. It's celebrated for its friendly staff, effective coaching, and engaging programs, all supported by a sense of place that makes people want to return. The renovations and ongoing maintenance reflect a commitment to keeping the facility inviting, even as improvements like court resurfacing are anticipated. While there are legitimate concerns about access and the balance between public use and club-driven scheduling, the overall sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive: Longview is a vibrant community tennis center that people are eager to support, visit, and recommend. And if you're after a place to pick up the game, sharpen your strokes, or simply soak in a friendly outdoor tennis scene, Longview is consistently described as a wonderful choice. Tastes great.

This part of Duluth, Minnesota, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. Within a short distance, there are several dining options including Black Woods Grill & Bar and Perkins Restaurant and Bakery, as well as healthcare facilities such as Duluth Surgical Suites and UMD Health Services. Nearby pharmacies like CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens make accessing medications easy. Places of worship like Glen Avon Presbyterian Church and Trinity Lutheran Church cater to spiritual needs, while parks like Morley Heights Park provide opportunities for outdoor recreation. Additionally, there are cafes like Uncle Loui's Cafe for socializing with friends or family members. Overall, this area provides a comfortable and accessible environment for seniors looking to enjoy their retirement years in Duluth.

Restaurants

• Black Woods Grill & Bar (0.5 miles)
• Tavern on the Hill (0.5 miles)
• Perkins Restaurant and Bakery (0.5 miles)
• At Sara's Table Chester Creek Cafe (0.7 miles)
• Taco John's (0.8 miles)
• Burrito Union (1.1 miles)
• Subway (1.6 miles)

Physicians

• Maria Becker RN-Cosmetic Injection Specialist (0.5 miles)
• Duluth Surgical Suites (0.6 miles)
• UMD Health Services (1 miles)
• Lakewalk Imaging Center (1 miles)
• Hearing Wellness Center (1.1 miles)
• Pain Clinic of Lake Superior (1.1 miles)
• Chester Creek Dental, Duluth\u2019s Family Dental Practice (1.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare (1.1 miles)
• Lakeshore Lutheran Home (1.4 miles)
• Pavilion Surgery Center (1.4 miles)
• St Lukes ICU (1.4 miles)
• Bio-Medical Applications of Minnesota (1.9 miles)
• Tilderquist Memorial Med Libr (1.9 miles)
• Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center (1.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Glen Avon Presbyterian Church (1.1 miles)
• Duluth Congregational Church (1.2 miles)
• Trinity Lutheran Church (1.3 miles)
• Peace CHURCH (1.5 miles)
• Lakeview Covenant Church (1.8 miles)
• The Vineyard Church (1.9 miles)
• Kenwood Lutheran Church (1.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Super One Foods (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• Northland Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Super One Foods (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Essentia Health-Duluth 3rd Street Pharmacy (1.9 miles)

Parks

• Morley Heights Park (1.5 miles)
• Cascade Park (2.3 miles)
• Duluth Parks & Recreation Department (2.7 miles)
• Canal Park (2.7 miles)
• Lincoln Park (4.5 miles)

Cafes

• Uncle Loui's Cafe (1.8 miles)
• Duluth Coffee Company (2.2 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (2.4 miles)
• Blue Rock Coffee and Wine Cafe (4.5 miles)

Theaters

• Duluth Cinema Duluth, Mn (2.5 miles)