By Addie Porter
Lancaster County is now home to one of the largest sports complexes in North America, and the home training facility for USA Field Hockey team, Spooky Nook Sports Complex in East Hempfield Township.
The privately-funded, multi-million dollar project, which began in 2011, has officially put Lancaster on the map for something other than rolling cornfields and horse-and-buggies.
Chosen after a long search for the perfect location, the original building used to be used as an Armstrong World Industries distribution center. The current facility will include over 800,000 indoor square feet and sits on 65 acres of land, and the accommodations include fitness centers, brand new fields and courts for team sports such as volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball, field hockey, basketball, tennis and lacrosse, locker and team facilities, summer camps, party rooms, a food court and smoothie bar, and much more.
Though the complex is not entirely finished just yet, several sports teams have been made available to local athletes to participate in for the 2013 season, such as basketball, field hockey and volleyball.
“I’m excited to see where the season takes us,” said freshman Ellie Barley, a member of the ninth-grade Elite basketball team. “We’re a new team, and I think we have a lot of potential.” Barley also mentioned how nice the brand new courts are.