February 12, 2015

The Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame will undergo a major renovation in 2015. When the facelift of the 22-year-old space is complete, the changes will offer new ways for visitors to learn and enjoy Texas tennis history.

Anyone who has visited the Texas Tennis Museum knows there are treasures there – the Battle of the Sexes scorecard, Maureen Connolly’s trophies and Randy Snow’s wheelchair – but today’s visitors want more than just objects in glass cases. The new museum is envisioned as an engaging historical journey.

“Visitor’s expectations are not the same as they were when the building opened 22 years ago,” said Courtney Henderson, president of the Museum. “They want a more dynamic story. The text, imagery and artifacts in the renovated space will relate and give context to one another. Visitors will depart with a deeper understanding of tennis’ role in Texas history."

A large portion of the updated museum will be allocated to the key people who contributed to tennis’ statewide expansion. The Hall of Fame Inductee’s Room will feature nine large displays and an interactive kiosk. 

“We want visitors to come in contact with the people whose hard work made tennis in Texas a reality,” said Jim Chaffin, secretary-treasurer of the Museum.  “We play tennis at facilities such as McFarlin Tennis Center in San Antonio or Al Kruse Tennis Center in Corpus Christi without putting much thought into the people behind those names – the people who had a major impact on the growth of tennis in Texas.”

When the renovation is complete this fall, it will add up to $500,000 in upgrades to the Museum and signal the completion of a two-year effort to breathe new life into the museum. 

The Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame launched a capital campaign in 2014 to cover the cost of renovating the space. 

“The enthusiastic response to the project has been overwhelming,” said Chaffin. “It is time to bring our facility up to the level that our collection demands – a level that visitors expect from such a beloved institution.”