Apple Valley Is Getting Two Massive Entertainment Spots
Apple Valley Is Getting Two Massive Entertainment Spots — Here's the Scoop
TLDR
- Skyline Social & Games is under construction at Orchard Place: ~100,000 sq ft of bowling, axe throwing, arcade, and outdoor games. Targeting an August 2026 open.
- Pickle Hall in Central Village: 18 indoor pickleball courts, a food hall with four vendors, and an 80-tap self-serve beer wall.
- Both got highlighted by the mayor at the 2026 State of the City as signs of Apple Valley's momentum.
If it feels like there's suddenly a lot more to do in Apple Valley, you're not imagining it. At the 2026 State of the City, the community development team called out two big entertainment projects under construction — and honestly, they're both kind of a big deal.
Skyline Social & Games
This is the giant building going up in Orchard Place, southwest of County Road 42 and Pilot Knob. It's the second location for a family-owned business that started near Duluth, where it grew from a bowling alley into a regional destination.
The Apple Valley version is nearly 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. Inside: 20 bowling lanes, 12 duckpin lanes, 5 axe-throwing bays, and a 60-game arcade, plus a restaurant and banquet space. Outside: nine sand volleyball courts, 12 cornhole courts, and four bocce courts. The company says its Duluth-area spot hosts over 600 teams in the summer — so expect leagues to be a big deal here too. It's currently targeting an August 2026 opening.
Pickle Hall
Over in Central Village (near Apple Autos and the post office, at 153rd and Garrett), construction has started on Pickle Hall. With 18 indoor courts for what's billed as the nation's fastest-growing sport, the timing is no accident.
The plan: 18 indoor pickleball courts in a two-story building, with a food hall taking up about a third of the space. That food hall will have four vendors and an 80-tap self-serve beer wall, plus patios and a rooftop deck overlooking the courts. The developer, Randy Motilall, grew up in the area. The mayor said late 2026 or early 2027; the developer is now aiming for a September 2026 opening for at least part of the complex.
If you can't wait, here's where to play pickleball year-round in the south metro right now.
Why These Are Landing in Apple Valley
Both projects fit a pattern the mayor talked up: filling in Orchard Place and Central Village, the developments built on former gravel-mining land. The city tracks all this activity in its monthly development newsletter, and the pace hasn't really let up — you can see it in Apple Valley's 2025 development recap, where project after project crossed the finish line. The city's pitch to businesses is "we'll guide you through without the red tape," and these two are the splashy proof. They also feed the local restaurant and retail scene — people who come to bowl or play tend to eat and shop nearby, which is part of why new spots like Moe's Southwest Grill keep filling in around them.
The Bottom Line
Two new destination venues in one year is a lot for a suburb this size. Watch for Skyline around August and Pickle Hall in the fall — though opening dates for projects this big have a way of sliding, so don't book the birthday party just yet. Either way, "there's nothing to do out here" is about to be a much harder argument to make.
FAQ
Where exactly is Skyline Social & Games? In the Orchard Place development, southwest of County Road 42 and Pilot Knob Road, on English Avenue.
When do these open? Skyline is targeting August 2026. Pickle Hall's developer is aiming for around September 2026, though the mayor mentioned late 2026 or early 2027.
What's duckpin bowling? It's like regular bowling but with shorter lanes, smaller balls, and squatter pins. Fun and a little quirky.
Is Pickle Hall just pickleball? Nope — about a third of it is a food hall with four vendors and a self-serve beer wall, plus a rooftop deck.
Do I need to be good at pickleball to go? Not at all — these places are built for casual players and social outings as much as serious leagues.
