PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — In 1965, one man's cure for boredom turned into the invention of a new sport: pickleball. In recent years, the paddle sport has seen growing popularity across the U.S., including in Central Texas.
Soon, new pickleball venues are making their way to the Austin and Pflugerville areas, according to an article from the Austin Business Journal.
Later this year, players should see the first phase of a new Rush facility built on more than seven acres of land on 10037 Menchaca Rd. in South Austin.
In late 2025, the project's second phase is set to be completed, with the potential for up to 15 pickleball courts, two paddle ball courts, professional lessons, food and drinks, and a co-working space. The $5 million project is aimed towards pickleball players in their late 20s-early 40s.
Meanwhile, just north of Austin near Pflugerville, indoor facility Pickleland is set to open its doors to the public on June 1.
The new area, equipped with 9 courts, will be located at 21427 Martin Lane. Pickleball lovers can experience lessons, pay-by-play, glow-in-the-dark games, alcoholic beverages and more.
Pickleland CEO Alexander Roja is planning to invest between $600,000 and $1 million total into the project, along with a 5-year lease to bring his vision to life.
What to know about pickleball
Pickleball can best be described as a combination between tennis and ping pong. The game involves single players or teams of two, and the first person "scoring 11 points and leading by at least 2 wins," according to the 2024 official pickleball rulebook.
In order to properly play the game, participants should make sure to have a pickleball paddle and indoor or outdoor balls depending on the location of the game.
As this sport continues to grow among players of all ages, Central Texas has been finding new ways to incorporate it into everyday life.
Boomtown is KVUE's series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown.