Visalia's pickleball players no longer have to wait out the Valley heat or fog to get a game in. Dill Dinkers has officially opened at 700 S. Bridge St., giving the South Valley its first indoor pickleball facility, complete with 11 regulation courts and a half-court set aside for lessons.
The club's debut, confirmed as officially open according to the Visalia Times-Delta, caps months of buildout since developers Bill and Georgia Revilla signed a 10-year lease on the property back in March. Beyond the courts, members and visitors will find exercise equipment, a table tennis setup, and vending machines stocked with snacks and drinks, rounding out a space built for more than just paddle sports.
The indoor club joins a city system that already provides outdoor pickleball play: Visalia lists pickleball courts among its park amenities, with some courts reservable and others open on a first-come basis. The city also requires a permit for commercial activities such as lessons in parks, a distinction relevant to players seeking organized instruction at a dedicated private facility. Visalia’s park and court rental rules set out those options and requirements.
Visalia's Second California Franchise
When the Fresno-based Revillas signed their lease on March 18, the plan was always bigger than a single court count. The Times-Delta's earlier reporting on the project described a facility expected to hold 11 pickleball courts. Those plans also called for cushioned courts and tournament-grade lighting, features aimed at giving Visalia a club that could host serious play, not just casual drop-ins.
The Visalia location carries extra significance within the Dill Dinkers franchise system. Earlier Times-Delta coverage noted it would become the company's second franchise in California, joining an existing Chico location. The company has 33 clubs in 15 states, and Chico is another California franchise.
Dill Dinkers grew out of founders Will and Denise Richards’ own search for year-round court time. The couple opened their first club in Columbia, Maryland, in November 2022; Will later drew on experience as a Domino’s corporate employee and franchisee to develop the company’s expansion plan. The franchise is therefore moving a business model conceived by players who saw a seasonal gap into markets such as Visalia. The company’s account of its founding traces that path.
What It Costs to Play
Court fees are $15 per person per hour with a $60 minimum. Members get half-price court fees, the ability to book courts five days before visitors and non-members, and free use of the ball machine.
Riding a National Pickleball Boom
Visalia's new club arrives as pickleball's popularity continues to grow nationally.
The national numbers provide a measure of the demand behind the expansion. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association counted 24.3 million U.S. pickleball participants in 2025, up from 4.2 million in 2020. It also counted 7.5 million “core” players—people who played at least eight times in 2025—suggesting the sport’s growth includes a substantial group of repeat participants, not only occasional newcomers. SFIA’s 2026 pickleball report details the figures.
Dill Dinkers itself has been expanding fast to meet that demand: co-founder Denise Richards said the company was up to 33 clubs in 15 states, and dilldinkers.com says it has more than 380 additional clubs in development across the U.S. The company traces its roots to its founders' decision to open a club in their hometown of Columbia, Maryland, and offers ball-machine use and pro-shop discounts. Locally, the ambitions are just as big: the Times-Delta has reported that Dill Dinkers' stated goal is to open at least 10 locations across the greater Fresno/Visalia area over the next decade, meaning the Bridge Street club may be only the first of many South Valley openings to come.
The club has 11 regulation courts plus a half-court for lessons, for a total of 11.5 courts.
