Was your introduction to pickleball when Taylor Swift promoted her Tortured Poets Department album with a custom Kansas City Chiefs paddle? Or maybe you’re just a really big Ben Stiller fan and want to learn about the sport before The Dink hits theaters this summer? Well, you’re not alone. While true Washingtonians will have learned about the sport’s 1965 Bainbridge Island origins through playing it during grade school PE, in the past few years, hearsay and placements in media (s/o The Golden Bachelor) have led to a rise in interest in the sport. If you’re looking to give it a go, read on to learn about some of the best places to pickle around the Sound.
The Picklr Fremont
Pickleball isn’t actually everywhere…yet. As the state that birthed the sport, we in Washington surely feel its gravity more than most. But as for why it feels like it’s proliferating to the furthest reaches of the world, well, The Picklr—and its over 60 locations (they’ve projected to have 175+ locations open by the end of next year)—probably has something to do with it. In April, Seattle got its first taste of this big dill deal when The Picklr opened an outpost in Fremont. The 27,000 square-foot facility is less of a casual court setup and more full-on complex, packing in 10 indoor courts (including a championship-sized one) all featuring pro-level surfacing, lighting, and acoustics. It’s membership-based, with plans starting at $100/month (yes, really), and unlocks like leagues, clinics, nationwide access, and a built-in community. New players skeptical about the price can ease in with a free intro class, but pickleball enthusiasts will seemingly have a lot to benefit from the franchise.
Fremont