It is no secret that Dallas summers are brutally hot. A prolonged stint outside in the Texas sun this time of year is known to cause not only physical exhaustion but also frequent wardrobe changes. Then comes the emotional trauma as you run another cycle of sweat-soaked clothes through the washing machine and ask yourself, “Why do I live here?”
There is a hardy group of Dallasites who will fight through these harsh conditions if that is what it takes to play the game they love: pickleballers. These brave souls are often seen playing outdoors early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid, you know, dying, but as pickleball continues to take over Dallas and the country, more comfortable alternatives, such as indoor courts, have started to pop up everywhere.
Dallas offers plenty of options. If you want to focus solely on pickleball, you can find a place to rent a court for an hour, play your game, and come back the next day. On the other hand, there are also spots that offer dining and drinks, comfortable lounge areas, and private lessons. Over the last few weeks (some of them the hottest all summer), I have given some of the courts a try. Here is what I found.
Preston Playhouse
13130 Preston Rd. | 972-385-3641
Living in the skeleton of an old LA Fitness, Preston Playhouse houses nine indoor pickleball courts that players can rent for $40 an hour. It also has two indoor padel courts, a sport that was described to me as a cross between tennis and racquetball, and a pool, seemingly the only thing left of the building’s former habitant. In between the courts, there is a lounge area, water stations, and ping pong tables. After your hour on the courts, head to the arcade area and choose from a surprisingly large selection of arcade games, including Pac-Man, Galaga, and NBA Jam. (I played as the Mavericks and beat Charles Barkley and the Suns behind a 33-point effort from Derek Harper.) Rent out the whole place for private events—they will even open up the bar in the lounge area for you.
Oasis Pickleball Club
5757 St. Hwy. 57, Rockwall | 972-772-7768
Oasis Pickleball Club is a passionate pickleballer’s haven. While the facility does not technically have indoor courts, it does have eight enclosed courts covered with a roof that blocks out the sun and other potential play-hindering weather events, so I am going to count it. In addition to the enclosed courts, the club also has 42 outdoor courts and two champion pickleball courts, which have hosted the Professional Pickleball Association’s Texas Open since 2020. Non-members can pay $15 to play and the club offers lessons given by the Professional Pickleball Registry and the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association for those who are looking to improve their game. Oasis Pickleball Club is the self-proclaimed best pickleball facility in Dallas, and based purely on how massive the place is, it is tough to disagree.
Picklr
Multiple Locations | 469-577-1711
Picklr opened its first location in Utah back in 2021. Three years later, there are over 275 Picklrs across the country, and the brand is still expanding. Of the 275 locations, four of them are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The indoor pickleball giant has spots in McKinney, Denton, Fort Worth, and Hurst. Picklr offers three types of memberships: the unlimited membership, the competitor hybrid membership and the competitor a la carte membership. They also offer a $30 per person drop-in fee that gives you access to full-day use of the facility. The franchise partners with the Professional Pickleball Association, Pickleball Inc., and Texas’ own Drew Brees, so you know it’s as real as it gets here.
Chicken N Pickle
4600 Merlot Ave., Grapevine, 2965 St. Hwy. 161, Grand Prairie | 817-766-6320
Chicken N Pickle has locations in Grand Prairie and Grapevine, and my visit to the latter location proved the concept is different than the other places I checked out. The endless pickleball opportunities included multiple indoor courts, outdoor courts, and outdoor, covered courts. They’re available to rent for anywhere between 30 minutes and three hours. On Sundays during brunch hours of 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the courts are free to play. But Chicken N Pickle doesn’t end with pickleball. The Grapevine lot has a children’s playground, a shaved ice hut, and at least four bars equipped with multiple TVs perfect for watching your favorite sports team. Their full-sized restaurant menu features just about any chicken-based dish you could ask for. At the bar, you’ll find a drink menu with over 20 draft beers and 14 cocktail options, including a $6 margarita.
Pickleball Kingdom
1301 Custer Rd., Ste. 200, Plano | 469- 969-0000
Pickleball Kingdom has locations in 13 states across the country and, like all the previous places I visited, it is benefiting from the nationwide pickleball boom. Plano’s Pickleball Kingdom has 15 indoor courts and offers three levels of membership. The Ace Membership includes just one person and is $99 monthly; the Team Membership includes two people and is $175 monthly; and the Royal Membership includes more than four people and is $249 each month. With any of these memberships, there are perks, including discounts on private lessons and ball machine fees, and free court reservations. Non-members can reserve courts for $15 an hour and can participate in the club’s open play sessions for $25. Perhaps the best feature offered by Pickleball Kingdom is Pickleball 101, a free class on the rules and fundamentals of the sport led by a club coach. New locations at the Galleria and in Fort Worth will open within the next year.
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