Howard County's 1st Indoor Pickleball Facility Will Open This Fall

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Pickleball continues to pique the interest of area athletes, so much that Denise and Will Richards have decided to open Dill Dinkers in a 15,000-square-foot light-industrial complex at 9179 Red Branch Road in Columbia this fall.

Pickleball, a combination of badminton, Ping Pong and tennis, prompted the Richards to launch the first indoor pickleball court in Howard County. The couple began playing pickleball as a hobby, but then decided it could become a business venture for them.

“My wife and I were playing Pickleball in a converted horse arena in Pennsylvania that lacked heat and proper restrooms during the middle of the winter but, despite these deficiencies, the place was packed with participants,” Will Richards told WMAR. “This amazed us and we wondered about the possibilities for a facility that included every modern comfort."

Once open, Dill Dinkers plans to offer co-ed, men's, women's and youth leagues and tournaments for various skill levels. Private lessons and walk-in play also will be available.