New In-door Pickleball Facility in Poulsbo Should be a Draw for Pickleballers From Bainbridge Island to Port Angeles

Indoor Pickleball has finally arrived in Kitsap County. Chandler, AZ.-based Pickleball Kingdom https://pickleballkingdom.com/ just put the finishing touches on a 31,500 square foot facility in Poulsbo in the combined former homes of Office Max/Depot and Big Five Sporting Goods.

The new center is located at 21800 Market Place NW in the Poulsbo Olhava neighborhood, squeezed in between Wal Mart and Olympic College’s nearby Poulsbo campus. The North Kitsap locale is Pickleball Kingdom’s 12th and the first in Washington State. The company is looking to add at least 100 more sites in the next year in places like Arizona, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

The Poulsbo facility features 12 courts and its emergence is a result of lengthy conversations in the past  year or so between the company, the City of Poulsbo and representatives of the Bainbridge Island Pickleball community.

Led by the local franchise duo of John and Mara Hylton, the new venture “will introduce a premier indoor pickleball facility to the area and also become a destination in its own right, as the closest facility to the birth of Pickleball on nearby Bainbridge Island,” said Ace Rodrigues, Founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom, in a previous statement to The Island Wanderer.

“There’s no better place to have a Pickleball Kingdom (facility) than in Poulsbo, which is right by Bainbridge Island, where pickleball was created,” added Rodrigues. “John and Mara Hylton have a passion for the sport and are committed to provide Poulsbo with top-tier facilities and a welcoming environment, making it especially meaningful to serve a community so close to pickleball’s birthplace.”

“We are so excited to be bringing Pickleball Kingdom to Poulsbo,” said Mara Hylton. “We are honored to be opening a few miles away from Bainbridge Island – and the birthplace of the sport. …  We look forward to adding to the entire Kitsap community with 12 indoor courts at the former Office Max and Big 5 (stores).” Big 5 decided not to renew its lease at its Poulsbo location, making it available for the Pickleball crowd.

The new facility had its grand opening a few weeks back and already has more than 200 members signed up. Prices vary from $25 for open play to monthly individual player fees of $109 to annual fees of $1,199. There are also team fees and so-called Royal Family fees that tout special advantages. “The capacity is still to be seen,” noted Myra, who runs the Poulsbo franchise with her brother, John. “We have heard other clubs can have 80 to 100 members per court (so we could see 1,200 being our max), but it will be determined by the members being able to access enough court time and once we feel we are full, we will have people on a waiting list for memberships.”

Unique to Pickleball Kingdom is a video replay feature, where players can replay a close plays, for example, or video themselves playing. Myra said members will be given a certain number of replays for free, and then they can purchase packs of replays in the future. “It will be a minimal cost (like $5 for 25 replays, with the pricing to be determined later). … At this time, we are just seeing if people are using the replays and (whether) they love” using it or not.

There was previously talk of having a restaurant, or coffee shop in the facility but that plan has been scotched, Myra said. “We have a community room for events (birthday parties, corporate team building, etc.) and a Mezzanine for viewing. … We (do) offer light snacks (candy, nuts, etc.) and hope to add draft beer soon. We won’t be adding a restaurant or coffee shop as we are pure Pickleball, but hope to partner with local providers to have vendors on site for special events.

While Myra doesn’t know the exact number, she said at least 100 Bainbridge Islanders have signed up to be members.  “The great part about our location is  (that) it is becoming a centralized location for all of the local clubs to meet and play, it’s been super fun to watch!”

“Our main goal is to create community,” she added, “whether players are experienced or new ones, our mission is to provide the space for players of all ages to meet new people and grow their community, inside and outside of Pickleball. We’ve witnessed new players meet each other during our Pickleball 101, exchange numbers, and then meet up the next day. It’s awesome.”

Among other amenities, the Poulsbo Club features:

State-of-the-Art Indoor Courts: Engineered to deliver the best playing conditions, combining outdoor court surfaces with indoor benefits to ensure perfect play regardless of the weather.

Professional Coaching and Clinics: Catering to all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned players.

Youth Programs: Inspiring the next generation to take up and enjoy the sport.

Leagues and Tournaments: Designed for players seeking competitive play opportunities.

Community and Corporate Events: Promoting a sense of camaraderie and community among members.

“It’s going to be a first-rate facility,” said Clay Roberts, a spokesperson for Bainbridge Island Pickleball. “I think it’s going to be well received and well used. … It’s something that’s been needed on Kitsap and Olympic Peninsula(s) for some time now.” Furthermore, it will be located across from the emerging Poulsbo Event and Recreation Center, and in Roberts’ mind will help transform the underused retail mall into a “health and fitness center for Poulsbo.”

Source Materials: Some info obtained from The Kitsap Sun https://www.kitsapsun.com/. Photos by Kevin Dwyer and one photo courtesy of Clay Roberts. 

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