Modern Play in Chattanooga: Indoor Sports Complex with Climbing, Trampolines, and Court Sports
Modern Play is a 40,000-square-foot indoor sports facility on the North Shore that combines open-play activities (trampolines, climbing walls, obstacle courses) with bookable court space for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball, plus a dedicated fitness area with cardio and strength equipment.
What Modern Play actually is
Modern Play functions as a hybrid between a recreational sports complex and a gym. The facility splits into three primary zones: an active-play section with trampolines, rope courses, and climbing walls oriented toward families and younger users; a courts area with multiple basketball, volleyball, and pickleball courts that can be reserved by teams or groups; and a fitness studio offering traditional gym equipment, group fitness classes, and personal training. Unlike single-purpose gyms focused on strength training or studios built around one class type, Modern Play is designed to serve both drop-in recreational play and structured fitness.
Services and pricing
Open-play visits cost $15 per person for 90 minutes, with discounts for multi-visit punch cards ($60 for five visits). Court reservations for basketball, volleyball, or pickleball run $40 to $65 per hour depending on the court and day; peak times (evenings and weekends) cost more. Memberships start at $60 per month for unlimited open-play access, $80 for open-play plus one court reservation per week, and $120 for full facility access including fitness classes and unlimited court time. Drop-in fitness class passes are $12 per class or $55 monthly for unlimited classes. A day pass covering both open-play and gym access costs $25. Verify current rates, as pricing may adjust seasonally.
How Modern Play compares to other Chattanooga gyms
Traditional gyms like Fitness Together Chattanooga (personal training-focused, smaller footprint, $150–$250 monthly) center on strength training with minimal recreation; CrossFit boxes like Chattanooga CrossFit emphasize Olympic lifting and metabolic conditioning in community-driven settings. Modern Play differs in that it attracts families, corporate groups booking court time, and people mixing cardio with recreational play rather than serious strength progression. Compared to dedicated trampoline parks (Fun Depot, which focuses entirely on bouncing and parkour), Modern Play adds structured fitness infrastructure. If your priority is heavy lifting with spotters and powerlifting racks, a traditional gym is stronger; if you want mixed-use flexibility—group classes, open play, and court sports under one roof—Modern Play fills a gap that Chattanooga's single-purpose facilities do not.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Modern Play works best for families seeking activities beyond traditional gym time, corporate groups needing event space and court rentals, recreational volleyball or basketball leagues, fitness members who want class-based workouts plus play options, and people new to fitness who find open-play more approachable than rows of barbells. It suits people under 40 more than older adults focused solely on strength training. It does not suit serious powerlifters or bodybuilders—the strength section is basic, lacking competition platforms or elite programming. Members seeking small-group coaching or one-on-one periodized training will find better value elsewhere.
What the first visit involves
Arrive 15 minutes early to complete a waiver and orientation. If you plan open-play, wear socks (required on trampolines) and bring sneakers. If booking a court, confirm your reservation time online or by phone beforehand; courts run back-to-back, so arrival timing matters. First-time gym members receive a five-minute equipment tour. Open-play sessions run in 90-minute blocks; courts are reserved in one-hour slots with turnover time built in. Spectating is free if you bring a non-participating guest (parking allows this easily). Most first visits aim to test one element (open-play or a single class) before committing to a membership.
Hours, parking, and location
Modern Play is located on the North Shore near downtown Chattanooga. Hours are typically Monday–Friday 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., though seasonal extended hours apply during school breaks; confirm before a late evening visit. Free dedicated parking serves the facility, with separate lots for members and drop-in guests. Street parking is not practical at peak times. The building is ADA-accessible with elevators and accessible restrooms.
Modern Play justifies its position in Chattanooga's fitness landscape by solving a specific problem: mixing serious fitness infrastructure with recreation in a way that Chattanooga's specialized gyms and parks do not separately accomplish.
