IN THE
CLUB
Pickleball
Kingdom
PLANO , TEXAS
Pickleball is King in Texas by DREW WATHEY
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 fullservice 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 Arizonabased 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 .” •
PHOTO BY CS9SPORTS
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