Indoor Pickleball Club to Open in State College Area

A new indoor pickleball club is coming to the Centre Region this summer.

The Picklr, which is billed as North America’s fastest-growing indoor pickleball franchise, is expected to open in August in the former Big Lots location at 503 Benner Pike in College Township, the company said in a release on Tuesday.

The 27,000-square-foot facility will feature nine courts with proprietary outdoor surfacing from Just Courts, the official court layer for The Professional Pickleball Association, along with a pro shop and private event space.

Steve Smith, a 1999 Penn State grad and former Nittany Lion football player, will be the owner and operator of The Picklr State College.

“Bringing The Picklr to State College means the community will benefit from the best-in-class indoor pickleball experience offered anywhere,” Smith said in a statement. “I love everything about Penn State. To be back where I went to school and provide a world class home for pickleball, means the world to me.”

Members will get unlimited open play, league and tournament access and exclusive programming, as well as access to other Picklr clubs around the country. The Picklr is offering founder memberships that lock in a lifetime discounted rate.

Once open, hours will be 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

The Picklr currently has about 70 locations nationwide, including Pennsylvania clubs in Chester and Bucks counties. The company is rapidly expanding, with 500 facilities in development around the country.