Indoor pickleball franchise Dill Dinkers brought one of its pickleball clubs to Cockeysville on Saturday.

The new club in the Railroad Crossing shopping complex features six cushioned courts; a party room; and a social area in the climate-controlled building. The company loans equipment for free and can give instruction to those who are new to the game.

Dill Dinkers offers open play, during which guests are paired with partners, or courts can be reserved in advance. Open play, generally a two-hour session, costs $7.50 for members and $15 for visitors. The first 200 individual members will pay $330 for a year of play, but there are also options for families.

“Pickleball is growing, and there’s a lot of different places opening up,” said player Ed Shott on Wednesday, adding that he came from Middle River to check out the club and membership offers.

Dill Dinkers has a cluster of locations in the mid-Atlantic, including Columbia, Finksburg and White Marsh in the Baltimore region. Baltimore County players can also find courts at County Home Park Tennis and Pickleball Courts in Cockeysville, or join the Baltimore Pickleball Club.

Steve Ator, the owner of the Cockeysville Dill Dinkers, came up with the idea of starting the club after seeing the growth of Dill Dinkers across the country. As he searched for a landing spot for his vision, he set his eyes on Cockeysville, where he worked, and bought a franchise.

“I’m beyond excited,” Ator said. “There’s a high demand for pickleball. I want to build a pickleball community here.”

More than 500 people flowed into the facility over the weekend for the soft opening, Ator said. The club offered free open play through Wednesday, when the courts were filled with young and elderly people alike, taking lessons and playing games.

“I’m really excited for a new place to play,” Laurie Rosen, a local player, said Wednesday.

Pickleball was the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. last year, according to the Maryland-based Sports & Fitness Industry Association. The sport is considered good for a wide range of ages because it’s fairly low-impact and can improve joint and cardiovascular health.