Walking into Pickle City USA feels like stepping into a home away from home.
People gather for pickleball matches, head to the bar for food and drinks, and play cornhole or putt-putt golf in the courtyard.
That community feeling and diverse selection of activities were purposeful for founder Steve McKeever.
“My dad loves pickleball, and when he loves a hobby, he always tries to find a market for it,” daughter and Director of Sales Hannah McKeever said. “He thinks about how he can expand it and create a space for his friends, family and the greater community around him. That was the idea behind the club.”
The club has been open since February and held its official grand opening event on June 10. The free event featured clinics, tournaments and open play, along with live entertainment from a DJ and a performance from platinum recording artist Chris Cagle, a longtime friend of the McKeever family.
“[The grand opening event] brought in a lot of new energy. The vibes were immaculate, and it showed us the potential of what we can do and the events we can host,” Hannah McKeever said.
The club has already attracted more than 350 members, a sign that the McKeever family's vision is resonating with residents across the DFW area.
What does Pickle City USA offer?
Pickle City USA is home to ten indoor courts, six outdoor courts and exceptional amenities, including:
- A gym
- A sauna
- A cold plunge pool
- A red-light therapy bed
- A pro shop with top pickleball and fitness brands
- A courtyard with cornhole and putt-putt golf
- A jumbotron
- A private party room and bar
Guests often gather at the bar to catch a game on TV, and the venue has hosted everything from book club meetings and birthday parties to mahjong games, Bible studies and corporate events.
“People are always surprised when they walk in the door. They comment on how big the facility is and how much we have to offer,” Hannah McKeever said.
That welcoming atmosphere extends beyond the amenities. As a family-owned business, Pickle City USA has built a culture centered on hospitality, connection and making guests feel at home.
“To me, Pickle City USA feels so much like my house,” Hannah McKeever said. “We had a bartender say that coming into work feels like we’re getting our house ready and preparing it for guests. We try to make it feel welcoming. The front desk staff all want to hop on the court and play with our members. The workplace feels like a family, and we’ve built a home around that.”
Do guests need to be members to use the space?
Guests don’t have to be members to access the space. In fact, an open play day pass is only $15.
“Our concept when we were designing this space was to make it feel like a country club, but for pickleball instead of golf. So, we get a lot of people who walk through the doors and say it feels like they have to be a member to be here,” Hannah McKeever said. “Yes, we have our memberships, which are great if you play pickleball a lot, but we welcome everyone. You don’t need to play pickleball to come. We have a bar, we have cornhole and we have a jumbotron.”
Lately, the team has been playing the World Cup games on the jumbotron, but they are open to screening nearly anything.
“We’ve had a lot of requests for a Love Island screening night. The possibilities are endless,” Hannah McKeever said.
For those interested in purchasing a membership, there are three tiers, each billed yearly:
- Social membership (calculated at $44 per month): free open play, with discounts on court reservations, gym access and clinics.
- Pro membership (calculated at $83 per month): free open play and gym access, with discounts on court reservations, the pro shop and the wellness suite.
- Elite membership (calculated at $125 per month): free open play, gym access and court reservations, with discounts on the pro-shop and wellness suite.
Five to ten years from now, Hannah McKeever hopes to host events every night, whether it be trivia, movie nights or other fun opportunities. She also looks forward to seeing every space full of people.
“I’m excited for when our club is all-encompassing, and every night feels like a ‘clocked out after work’ social activity,” Hannah McKeever said.
Those interested in learning more or exploring membership options can visit www.picklecity-usa.com today.
The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.