Dreamland Shuts Its Doors: The End of an Era for MLP’s Birthplace
Some places are more than just venues—they’re the heartbeat of a community. That’s exactly what Dreamland was for pickleball.
Today, the iconic facility in Dripping Springs, Texas, announced it’s closing its doors for good, marking the end of an era for the sport and its players.
Dreamland wasn’t just a spot to play; it was the birthplace of Major League Pickleball (MLP) and The Dink Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) and a hub for countless iconic events that shaped the sport’s trajectory.
From hosting MLP tournaments to memorable battles like the Battle of the Venues, where the Dream team took on Team Chicken N’ Pickle, Dreamland was more than a venue—it was a stage where pickleball history unfolded.
The Dink Media Team
Founded in 2020 by Steve Kuhn, the visionary behind Major League Pickleball, Dreamland was designed to be more than a pickleball facility.
With its state-of-the-art courts, a mini golf course, a self-pour beer garden, a children’s playground, and a splash pad, Dreamland was a community hub where sports, fun, and relaxation coexisted.
Dreamland’s impact on pickleball goes far beyond its amenities. It was here that Major League Pickleball was born, bringing a team-based format to the sport and redefining what professional pickleball could look like.
It was also the birthplace of The Dink Minor League Pickleball (MiLP), an innovative round-robin team competition. Teams of four players (2 women and 2 men) competed in guaranteed matches featuring four 21-point games (2 gendered, 2 mixed).
This format brought a fresh, accessible approach to competitive pickleball, making it a fan favorite from the start.
Its closure feels like losing a piece of pickleball history. While the sport continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, it’s places like Dreamland that laid the foundation for where we are today.
It may be gone, but it’ll never be forgotten.
Cheers to the memories—and to the bright future of pickleball it helped create.
