Drive Shack plans massive indoor golf facility in New Orleans

Drive Shack will turn the former Times-Picayune building on Howard Avenue into a massive indoor golf complex by early 2019.

Demolishing the former building at 3800 Howard Avenue, Drive Shack will build a new three-story complex that will have 60,000 square feet. The Mayor’s office expects construction of this $29 million facility to start in the fourth quarter of 2018.

The former Times-Picayune production hub, which is nearly 50 years old, has sat vacant for over two years. A group of developers bought the unused facility in 2016 for $3.5 million.

This planned Drive Shack facility will have 90 driving range bays, an arcade, a restaurant and bar, an outdoor lounge, and several meeting and event rooms. The planned Drive Shack in New Orleans is one of five planned locations in the United States. The company just opened its first location in Orlando, Florida, earlier this month.

“This golf-themed complex will provide our residents and visitors a whole new entertainment experience,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in an official release. “Drive Shack will not only create hundreds of new jobs, but also attract even more investment for our city. Right next to I-10, Drive Shack is sure to catch a driver’s eye and become a new fan favorite for everyone.”

• Drive Shack moving forward with plans to redevelop the old Times-Picayune building [Nola.com]
• Former Times-Picayune building sells to local investors for $3.5M [Nola.com]
• Topgolf competitor Drive Shack set for Saturday debut [Orlando Sentinel]