At last. With dedicated, outdoor pickleball courts sprouting up in smaller cities and villages around the country, we are also beginning to see indoor options become just a little more plentiful. While we are certainly grateful for those YMCAs, Community Centers — and even tennis centers — that have embraced pickleball with temporary lines and portable nets, nothing beats playing in a dedicated, indoor venue when the weather outside is uncooperative.
So without further ado, the following is a roundup of dedicated, indoor pickleball venues that will turn you green with envy — unless, of course, you already regularly play at one of these facilities.
House of Pickleball
Located in Leland, North Carolina (just across the bridge from Wilmington), House of Pickleball is a pickleball-only facility that features 6 dedicated, indoor climate-controlled pickleball courts. The HOP, which opened in July 2018, offers drop-in play, round robins, socials, tournaments, instructions, and much more. It also features a viewing area, pro shop, a ball machine for rent, and beer, wine, cider, and snacks for sale.
Pickleball Zone
Located in Bend, Oregon, Pickleball Zone opened in October 2018. The 55,000 square foot facility hosts Trampoline Zone & Adventure Park on the ground floor and 8 dedicated pickleball courts on the 3rd floor. The Head Players Lounge on the fourth floor and observation balconies provide a great viewing experience for those not on the courts. The business model for the Pickleball Zone includes memberships and individual court rental, lessons, clinics, camps, round robins, challenge play, tournaments, and mixers.
The Alley Pickleball Club
Founded in December 2018, by Scott Smith, the Alley Pickleball Club — located in Richland, Michigan (Kalamazoo County) — has three indoor pickleball courts. The Alley offers social/fun play, clinics, cardio pickleball, round-robins, drill sessions, tournaments, and more. In November 2019, Smith’s second indoor facility, Alley Academy Pickleball Club West, opened in South Haven, Michigan.
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Iowa West Field House
Opened in September 2019, the Iowa West Field House — and its 6 state-of-the-art pickleball courts — is home to the Council Bluffs Area Pickleball Club. According to architectural firm, Schemmer, the “project was a 16,000 square feet tenant improvement project for the Iowa West Foundation in previously vacant bays of the Iowa West Fieldhouse… the existing facility already houses several basketball and volleyball courts. This project transformed the vacant bays into an indoor Pickleball facility with six courts including a specialized sports floor and court divider nets.”
Chicken n Pickle
Chicken n Pickle may very well be the first instance (of many) in which the business model successfully blended pickleball with casual dining. Chicken N Pickle is an “entertainment complex including a fast-casual dining restaurant, 8 pickleball courts (4 indoor and 4 outdoor), a bar and entertainment space, food trucks, outdoor lawn games like ping pong and Jenga and a living room with fire pits and TV screens for you and your friends to catch your favorite game.”
Chicken n Pickle opened its first location in North Kansas City, MO in July 2016. Since then a second location opened in Wichita, KS with three more to be opened in 2020 — in San Antonio, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, and Overland Park, KS.
Smash Park
Smash Park — located in Des Moines, IA — has a similar concept to that of Chicken N Pickle. Smash Park is a social entertainment venue featuring casual dining, an indoor deck with a full bar, outdoor fire pits and shaded beer gardens — and, of course, 6 indoor and 2 outdoor pickleball courts. In addition to the pickleball, Smash Park also includes shuffleboard, bocce ball, ping pong, cornhole, and a variety of other yard games.
Oxford Pickleball
The 16,500 square foot facility in Oxford, Connecticut, currently has 4 courts (with the ability to add more) featuring permanent nets, LED lighting, and men’s and women’s locker rooms. Along with daily drop-in play, Oxford Pickleball also offers clinics, lessons, and more.
Pickleball Station
Pickleball Station is an indoor Pickleball Court facility and Pro-Shop located in Kent, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. Pickleball Station offers 4 indoor courts for private reservations, drop-in play, lessons, clinics and leagues, and a pro shop with over 2,000 pickleball products including dozens of demo paddles.
Update: Pickleball Station in Kent, Washington closed permanently on March 12, 2020. See post comment below for additional details.
Pickleball Island
With 7 courts, a pro shop and lounge, Pickleball Island of Grand Island, NY is the largest dedicated indoor pickleball facility in all of New York. Pickleball Island offers open play, leagues, court rental, lessons, clinics, and 3 tournaments a year — including Speedy Singles (first Saturday in April), Dinking for Dollars (first weekend in September), and Dilly Dilly (first weekend in December).
Grand Oaks Pickleball
Located just outside the Villages (FL), Grand Oaks offers 3 climate-controlled courts — a great option if you’re looking to get out of the heat and rain of central, Florida. The teaching pros at Grand Oaks are my good friends, Coach Matty Klein and Mei Shen. Grand Oaks offers lessons, clinics, leagues, camps, socials, and the ability to book your own court time.
Pickleball & Tennis US
Located in Bonita Springs, FL, this store has a huge selection of paddles, accessories and, yes, a pickleball court. Pickleball & Tennis US is home to the Pickleball Grip ‘N Rip Show every Friday night from 5PM – 7PM, hosted by Barry Waddell and Pickleball Global.
Pickleplex of Punta Gorda
In June 2019, the Pickleplex of Punta Gorda had its ribbon-cutting for its 16 outdoor courts — completing phase 1. Next is phase 2 which will consist of building an additional 16 courts. Original plans called for PicklePlex to eventually include 32 outdoor courts, eight indoor courts, a fitness center with a pro shop, a restaurant and bar, and a conference center. Looking forward to monitoring their progress.
Wolverine Pickleball — Ann Arbor, Michigan — Coming Soon!
In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Wolverine Pickleball plans to build 16 indoor pickleball courts by 2020, consisting of one building of 10 courts and 1 building of 6 courts — with a beer garden, fire pits, and backyard games between the two buildings. Each building will also have sliding garage doors that open up — perfect for those cool, summer breezes.
Rally — Richmond, Virginia — Coming Soon!
With plans to break ground in spring, 2020, Rally would be housed in a 40,000-square-foot building with eight indoor pickleball courts. Rally would include a Sky Court — a rooftop pickleball court on the second level of the venue that also will have a rooftop bar. It also would include ping pong, bocce ball, and spikeball options.
The Rally design will incorporate plenty of garage doors and skylights, an open courtyard, and an outdoor beer garden.
So there you have it. In the comments below, please let me know if you have visited any of these pickleball venues — and, if I have left any “cool” venues off the list — please let me know that as well. See you on the courts!
Fabulous! Some vacant “box” stores may be perfect spots for indoor pickleball conversions.
Hi Ann, I know. These facilities are very cool. Thanks for chiming in!
Our mission statement [Council Bluffs Area Pickleball], contained in our bylaws is:
“To provide a fun, healthy, recreational activity for all members and guests, through a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.”
We offer reservations and have open play as well. Men’s & Women’s round robin weekly & free lessons every Tuesday afternoon.
Open seven days a week five dollars members for three hours of play, $7.50 non members. A special thanks to the Iowa West foundation for funding this facility, truly a community asset.
https://www.cbapb.com/
Thank you, Ed, for the additional information. It looks like you have a gem with that facility!
I am sorry to report that Pickleball Station in Kent, Washington closed permanently on March 12, 2020. The closure was announced in early February. It was not due to failure, but rather to the outstanding success of Pickleball Central, with which it shared space.
Thanks, Ken, for that update. I will modify the blog post accordingly.
Please explain more. Are you saying that Pickleball Central needs the space for inventory, employees, or something?
Yes, John, I think that’s exactly it.
Which of all these is the best business model, perhaps distinguishing the best non-profit and the best for-profit business models?
Great question, John. I would be interested to hear the experiences of others.
Has this question ever been answered? I also am curious.