Pickleball is King in Texas

It’s often been said that things are bigger in Texas. With a land mass second only to Alaska in total acreage, the Lone Star State will soon lay claim to some of the largest pickleball facilities in the country.

One of the newest venues, which celebrated its grand opening in early June, is Pickleball Kingdom in Plano, Texas. With 275 founding members looking on, the opening day festivities attracted nearly 1,000 fans of the sport of pickleball.

Pickleball Kingdom features two levels with 14 indoor courts including a Championship Court, a Champion’s Lounge, Pro Shop, “The Kitchen” snack bar and locker rooms. The upper or mezzanine level provides pickleballers with four dink wall simulators, a full-service office that is available for members and guests, a conference room and an open loft lounge.

Dan Jenkins, area representative and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom–North Texas, was instrumental in securing the location of his newest foray into the sport. “The strip center located in Plano, on Custer Road, was previously and originally built as an Albertson’s grocery store,” he recalls. “Later, it was converted to an Asian market, which closed and it sat vacant for five years before we leased it.”

Due to permitting and design issues, Pickleball Kingdom took eight months to build, but Jenkins hopes that construction timelines for future facilities can be reduced to just three months based on lessons learned.

“Currently, in the North Dallas/Fort Worth area, it is the largest dedicated indoor court that features outdoor court flooring. But it isn’t just about the courts—we are creating communities. We want to provide the best experience, and be the best place to hang out, while positively impacting the lives of those in our community.”

Jenkins added that the location was chosen because it was large enough to accommodate the team’s vision, along with providing plenty of parking for guests, and it was easily accessible. “The building is in a desirable, densely populated area of North Texas, aligning with our mission to bring indoor facilities within a 15- to 20-minute drive of the major suburbs. Additionally, the landlord’s strong support of our plans made this location advantageous.”

Jenkins’ journey with pickleball began in the 1980s as a summer camp counselor and family camper. After being introduced to the sport, he quickly developed a passion for it, honing his skills and participating in annual pickleball tournaments at a family camp. This further fueled his commitment to sharing the joy of the sport, and now the development of premier pickleball facilities.

Pickleball Kingdom in Plano will lead the way in spearheading the expansion of facilities for the Arizona-based franchise. The company is committed to opening 20 state-of-the-art locations in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth region. The next two are slated for the Dallas Galleria area in late fall and North Fort Worth in the first quarter of 2025.

League play for men, women and mixed in beginner, intermediate and advanced levels is well underway at Pickleball Kingdom along with tournament action, and more is scheduled for later in the year. “Pickleball is on the rise in Texas because it blends social interaction, fun experience and movement, making it an enjoyable activity where players often don’t even realize they’re exercising,” says Jenkins.

“I feel that Texans also enjoy a little friendly competition—they want to get that winning shot, which pickleball provides. Not only is it healthy competition, but the sport also provides benefits for physical, mental, social and even spiritual well-being, which are part of our core values.”  •