East Texas’ First Indoor Pickleball Haven: Tyler Indoor Pickleball, the first indoor pickleball-only center in East Texas, is set to open to the public on May 1. The facility will feature 12 courts and several amenities designed to make the game more accessible, fun, and weatherproof for the growing pickleball community.
Facility Offers More Than Courts
The new indoor center will include recovery rooms with saunas and a cold plunge, party rooms, lounges, and a pro shop. TVs will be installed on every court for live viewing, score tracking, and training.
“When we do events you can actually watch them on television and on social media,” said Leilani Kamahoahoa, director of operations.
“Then when we’re doing round robins, you can track your scores and everything on the televisions, and when you’re doing drills you can actually turn back and see what you’re doing.” – (Kamahoahoa)
The building also features soundproofed walls to reduce noise, creating a more pleasant environment for players and spectators.
Designed for All-Weather Play
Tyler Indoor Pickleball was built to solve a common issue in East Texas: unpredictable weather. With no other indoor-only pickleball facilities in the region, players often face canceled games due to cold, heat, wind, or rain. “It was cold and windy outside, you couldn’t play,” said Anwar Khalifa, president of Indoor Pickleball Inc.
“It’s either cold or hot, rainy or windy. 70 to 80 percent of the time it’s either miserable or you can’t play. It’s really a lot more fun when you don’t have to deal with the elements.” – (Khalifa)
The center will host local and regional tournaments. Several groups from around Texas have already booked events.
“We’ll have our own local tournaments here, we’re going to be having regional tournaments where people come from everywhere, not just this area, to play in these tournaments.” – (Khalifa)
A Builder Turned Pickleball Leader
Khalifa has spent over 30 years in the home-building industry. His interest in pickleball began when a client requested a court for their home.
“As a youngster, I played racquetball, and I wasn’t too bad at it- I wasn’t great but I wasn’t too bad at it, but I was getting old and fat.” – (Khalifa)
“I was building a customer a home and they told me they wanted a pickleball court. This was about two and a half years ago, and I’m like ‘what’s that?’ I didn’t even know what it was.” – (Khalifa)
After taking a beginner’s lesson, he became hooked on the sport and decided to create a space where more people could enjoy it.
“This is exciting for me. It’s something completely new, a completely different business venture for me. It kind of got me thinking and kind of got my blood flowing again.” – (Khalifa)
Inclusive Sport for All Ages
Khalifa and Kamahoahoa credit pickleball’s rapid growth to its accessibility and appeal to all ages and skill levels.
“I’ve played sports my whole entire life, and in order to play those sports you have to be super fine-tuned. What makes pickleball so amazing is that whether you’re 80 or 12 it just generally doesn’t matter, because it’s so engaging right from the beginning. You can play at your own level, so it really encompasses every skill level, every age, every talent, and it’s still incredibly fun.” – (Kamahoahoa)
A report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association shows pickleball participation has grown over 223 percent in the last three years.
“The community that creates is so amazing because you connect with people that you would never otherwise connect with if it wasn’t for this sport.” – (Kamahoahoa)
Membership and Access Details
The center will offer walk-in and membership options. Walk-ins cost $10 for a three-hour session on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., or $15 during evenings and weekends. Memberships start at $40 per month for individuals, with discounted plans for families, couples, and different age groups.
A Big Step for Pickleball in Texas
This new center could become a hub for pickleball in East Texas. With indoor courts and a focus on building community, it gives players of all backgrounds a reliable and fun place to play year-round. The success of this project may inspire similar centers across the region.
News in Brief: East Texas’ First Indoor Pickleball Haven
Tyler Indoor Pickleball, East Texas’ first indoor pickleball-only facility, opens May 1 with 12 courts, lounges, recovery rooms, and a pro shop. Built by Anwar Khalifa, the center offers all-weather play and will host local and regional tournaments. Walk-ins and memberships are available for players of all ages.