The vision of Wightman Tennis Center began in 1962 when a group of Boston area tennis players aspired to create an inclusive private tennis club. By 1963, The Garden City Family Recreation Center, Inc. was incorporated as a 501(c)(7) nonprofit club. After three more years of planning, the group approached the Town of Weston to begin the permitting process.

In December 1967, The Garden City Family Recreation Center, Inc. changed its name to The Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman Tennis Center, Inc. with permission from the first lady of tennis herself, Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman. By February 1968 the Club had secured a special permit from the Town of Weston and the final steps toward the building process was underway.

 On February 19, 1969, Wightman broke ground on construction, and the Club officially opened its doors 15 months later at a dedication ceremony on May 24, 1970. From the very beginning, Wightman was envisioned as a family-oriented, quality facility with emphasis on the advancement of tennis through recreational and competitive opportunities, as well as junior development programs.