grosse pointe yacht club michigan

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The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (GPYC) dates to 1914 when 25 men formed a club to pursue their interests in ice boating and sailing on Lake St. Clair. The clubhouse was designed by Guy Lowell, a Boston architect and yachtsman, and was dedicated on July 4, 1929. Its Italian Renaissance façade with its 187 ft. bell tower is a well-recognized landmark to boaters around the lake, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

In 1997 the GPYC was named the “Number One Yacht Club in America” and is still considered among the best. The GPYC provides all the traditional amenities of a classic yacht club, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis and bowling facilities, as well as elegant dining rooms and ballroom. Boating members enjoy the GPYC’s central location on Lake St. Clair and the club maintains a spacious deep-water marina with a private gas dock.

The GPYC maintains membership in the Detroit Regional Yachting Association and holds two annual DRYA-sanctioned sailing regattas each year in addition to numerous other sailing-related events and programs, such as an adult sailing school, exclusively for its members.

Despite the region’s recent struggling economy, the club continues to boast more than 900 members and over the years the architectural integrity of Lowell’s original design and the spectacular view of Lake St. Clair have been meticulously preserved.

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Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

Inaugural Member – Private Yacht Club which has consistently been voted Number One Yacht Club in the United States by the Club Managers Association. Diverse programs from sailing, swimming, tennis, platform tennis and bowling, in addition to fine dining and children’s programs, are all benefits of membership.

788 Lake Shore Road Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236 USA

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313.884.2500

[email protected]

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The Chamber will provide leadership and services to the business community, promote economic vitality, collaborate with municipal government for business development and enhance the quality of life for those who live, work and visit in the Grosse Pointes.

(313) 881-GPCC (4722)

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16980 Kercheval Pl • McCourt Building • Grosse Pointe, MI 48230 • 313.882.6900 • Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm<br>Sean Cotton, Owner • Anne Gryzenia, Publisher • Jody McVeigh, Editor-In-Chief • Meg Leonard, Senior Editor

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Sean Cotton, Owner • Anne Gryzenia, Publisher • Jody McVeigh, Editor In Chief

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Boats galore at GPYC Free Access

The Great Lakes Boating Festival returns to the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club May 20-21.

GROSSE POINTE SHORES — The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club is the place to be next weekend for boating enthusiasts of all ages and interests.

The 34th annual Great Lakes Boating Festival runs noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 21.

The festival, previously coordinated by the yacht club, is produced this year by the Michigan Boating Industries Association.

“The person who used to put everything together retired, so they brought us in,” said Amanda Wendecker, vice president of marketing for the MBIA. “We have a lot of experience doing this with the Detroit and Novi boat shows.”

The weekend will feature 70 boats ranging in size from 16 to 60 feet, both on land and in the water, along with stand-up paddle board demonstrations, marine products and supplies. Some 20 dealers will be on hand.

The event, sponsored by the Grosse Pointe News and Genesis Cadillac, includes an art show, entertainment by the Circle City Steel band, Flavors Food Truck, lawn games and cocktails.

“If Memorial Day weekend is the official start of summer, then this is the unofficial start,” Wendecker said. “We’re expecting a couple thousand people.”

One of the more unique items on display will be an 18-foot hand-crafted wooden canoe inspired by Chris-Craft offered by Harp Boat Shop in Kansas City, Mo.

“That’s probably the farthest vendor we have coming,” Wendecker said. “Most of them will be from all over Michigan.”

A kick-off party and auction runs 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, May 19, to benefit the Youth Nautical Education Foundation, formerly the Grosse Pointe Youth Nautical Education Foundation. Tickets for that and more information can be found at greatlakesboatingfestival.com .

The festival is free and open to the public. On-site parking is $20, but a free shuttle will run from Parcells Middle School, 20600 Mack, Grosse Pointe Woods, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

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Behind the gates of Detroit's exclusive boat clubs

A year ago, a friend and I were denied service at a local yacht club that shall remain nameless for merely mispronouncing the name of the member we'd accompanied (he was outside on his boat). It was my first brush with the exclusivity of a club where boats are kept, and it left me wondering what lived behind the gates of these places where I was not welcome. Turns out, metro Detroit's yacht and boat clubs keep themselves sealed from the public (sometimes with barbed-wire fencing) because everyone would hang out at them if they could. On a visit to five well-known area clubs, we found beautiful views, swimming pools, and frozen blended drinks. But each club was also a cultural microcosm, representative of the people who call themselves members. Join us for a written tour from the blue-collar Kean's Marina, all the way up the coast to the hoity-toity Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.

Detroit Yacht Club

The historic yacht club on Belle Isle is one of Detroit's crown jewels. Founded in 1868, it's one of the oldest clubs in the country, and much of that history has been preserved. The Mediterranean-style clubhouse is steeped in nautical themes, with gold-painted rope and anchor embellishments along the ceiling, the face of poseidon carved into the concrete above the main entrance, and sailboat figurines and paintings throughout. At 93,000 square feet, the clubhouse is believed to be the largest yacht clubhouse in the country. It allows space for a seemingly endless array of amenities that include a banquet hall, bar, restaurant, snack shack, tiki bar, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, squash court, fitness center, beach volleyball court, and concert stage. Hundreds of members have joined the DYC just to utilize those offerings; the club's general manager says two-thirds of its members don't own a boat. And though one might assume such a grand club would feel stuffy or uncomfortable, the DYC appears devoid of pretense. "We're in the heart of Detroit," explains general manager Rick Price. "[The members are] down-to-earth people, they're normal Joe Blows. There's nobody here that looks at me any differently whether they have $10 million in the bank or $100 in the bank."

Kean's Marina

This "resort marina" has the tiki bar and playlist to make you feel as if you've been transported to Margaritaville. Beach music (think reggae hits like "Red Red Wine") plays throughout the marina, and people sip frozen cocktails garnished with mini umbrellas around a U-shaped pool.

Additional amenities include an indoor bar, jacuzzi, playground, and locker rooms. To hang out at Kean's, you must have a boat in one of its 400 wells or a storage rack. A convenience store and gas-up dock can be used by anyone boating on the river. Kean's is more affordable than a yacht club — it costs just $3,500 to put a 30-foot boat in the water and store it in the winter — and as a result, it's more laid-back and diverse. Co-owner Michael Litt says more than half of Kean's membership is black, and there's been a recent uptick in millennials who store their boats there.

Bayview Yacht Club

Bayview Yacht Club offers a home away from home for sailing aficionados in Detroit. It's not uncommon for members to set sail from the club several times each week. Commodore Ryan Farrell says he was up to four days a week until marriage force him to slow down his habit. On most weeknights, dozens of boat crews compete in races on the Detroit River as a sizeable crowd watches from a patio along the water's edge. Major races include a days-long regatta up Lake Huron all the way to Mackinac. Sailing and racing is really the focus here (the club counts an Olympian sailor among its members), so no pools or tennis courts, but there is a gorgeous bar-restaurant and lounge with plush leather seats. Much of the membership is from Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores, though the club is trying to diversify and expose more people to sailing. One of those efforts was underway the night I stopped by. Having not recognized me as a member, a regular asked if I was there as a "hitchhiker" — or, a person with no affiliation to the club who can join a boat crew once a week as part of a new program. "It's really not like the elitist sport most people make it out to be, I mean we're just Joe Schmoes around here," member Mike Dodge said as we stood at the water's edge. An air horn sounded, and a fleet of larger yachts came into view. He pointed out a 70-footer estimated to cost $300,000. "That boat typically has a lot more shrimp cocktail and lobster tail on it than some of the other boats," said member Kevin Rossell.

Edison Boat Club

"Egalitarian" is the word member Vince Pardi uses to describe this boat club for current and retired DTE Energy employees and their family members. "I love this club because you can have VP's and presidents and linemen and secretaries and nobody knows or cares," says Pardi. Situated on the grounds of a DTE natural gas plant, the club is more modest and homey than the others we visited. It has only 150 wells, and its primary features include a bar-restaurant, game room, and hangout area. On an overcast Friday evening, people of all backgrounds filled the windowed restaurant to take in the grey-blue view of the Detroit River. The atmosphere was cozy and friendly — no one inquired as to whether I was a member, and a guy who seemed to work at the facility popped up behind the bar and casually poured himself a shot of Jameson before disappearing again. The only unwelcoming aspect of Edison appears to be the barbed-wire fence that divides it from the McMansion community next door.

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

This massive yacht club on Lake St. Clair is far and away the most grandiose of any club in metro Detroit. The Italian Renaissance-style clubhouse is distinguished by arched windows and a nearly 200-foot bell tower. Inside, an elaborate rotunda connects two dining rooms and a long foyer. There, a large bronze fountain statue called "Rhythm of the Waves" produces a light pattering sound that greets guests when they arrive. The 75,000-square-foot site features a bowling alley, Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool, multiple tennis courts, and a sailing center. But it's the details that set Grosse Pointe Yacht Club apart. A harbor staff will do "virtually anything for these boating members," a membership marketing manager says, from delivering food to washing boats. A gourmet outdoor pizza oven can cook a pie in 90 seconds. The bathroom in the lobby has lotion and listerine . Grosse Pointe Yacht Club was once ranked the top yacht club in the country and currently sits in the top five. Membership, of course, does not come cheap. A social membership requires an initiation fee of approximately $3,500 and additional payments of about $500 a month. Boating members pay even more. On its website, the club professes to embody "the true spirit of excellence" but adds that "owning a yacht is not a measure of any of our members' worthiness. We value members that are authentic, sincere, and goal-oriented." Ninety percent of the club's members live in the Grosse Pointes.

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Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

Review Highlights

“ Dress codes are strictly enforced (no jeans, jackets required in the main ballroom ). ” in 2 reviews

“ The marina and boats really have no significance to a bride & groom unless they are boaters, and half the time the water stinks. ” in 3 reviews

“ you must be a member to get in. ” in 3 reviews

Location & Hours

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788 Lake Shore Rd

Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236

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Went here for a wedding - food great service great, band great staff great- the only thing is the room noise - some sound proofing would help- couldn't talk to the person across the table without yelling - other than that minor complaint it was a wonderful time !

Attended a seminar here, partial dinner included.very good waitress service. Huge chicken breast- juicy, served with steamed vegetables and potatoes. Water only, as even to purchase no other beverages were offered. Very good looking building- kept up quite well.

Always a special time at this picturesque venue. Food is excellent, service is top notch. I could come here everyday.

Came with friends from another club, we were greeted graciously. Went to dining area to sit and as I walked in a nurf ball came falling/sailing over the top of my head. Scared me a bit and threw me off a bit. Seriously? Kids playing in the bar area restaurant with absolutely no control over these "Free range"kids, from their lazy parents. (Kid we threw the nurf ball came to apologize for scaring me, which was nice and appreciated. Unfortunately, at a club like this, the kids are used to being out of control, since they know that no one dares to reprimand them. The whole evening dinner was spent watching this circus play out. Parents, have some guts, put down your drink and be conscious of others who are attempting to enjoy their food also. Or better yet take you and your kids to McDonalds!!!! We could tell the wait staff was at their wits end, everyone trying to carry their trays without tripping over one of the kids! I hope the pay and tips are worth the aggravation. There have got to be better venues to work!!!!

The staff is very personable and they give you an experience like no other. They host some amazing events and Mothers day brunch. They offer a amazing Adult learn to sail program that gives you some great tips to use. This place is always decorated so beautifully. Make sure you visit the Marine activity center. This is a wonderful club and very welcoming. You can always know your getting the full Grosse Pointe experience here. Please note... you must be a member to get in. But if you already are you know exactly what I am talking about. From the service to the staff giving you a experience. It has earned a solid place in my book.

View from lakeshore

Best members EVER!!! As someone that has worked there for 23 years. The members treat the staff like family!!! The best!!!

We have been boating for many years, traveling to many yacht clubs around the Great Lakes. This gives me a bit of a different perspective of the facility. The docks are difficult to access with a lot of current, only one staff member to assist us. After a long day of sailing we went to take our showers. My husband had no issue, the men's locker room had four nice showers. The women's only two, one with a torn plastic curtain. I never did get to use the shower as it was filled with tweens washing each other's hair. I asked if there were other facilities for dockers and was told no. As I stood in the hall waiting, one man made a snide remark about "always waiting for women". I suggested it was probably because there were only two women's showers compared to the four for men. He just laughed and said "we're an old club". An old boy's club would have been more accurate. The boat which is named "Old Money" was an accurate welcome to the club. They have old money because they don't believe in spending it equitably on the women's facilities. The food was at least editable.

Gorgeous place. You have to be a member or be able to sneak in on a family member's name (as we do). Weddings and special events here are beautiful. The Sunday brunch is a smorgasboard of deliciousness ranging from eggs to salmon to waffles to shrimp and crab to a whole room devoted to desserts. Dress codes are strictly enforced (no jeans, jackets required in the main ballroom). Prices are steep and all charges are added to the member's monthly bill. In the summer the pool is an oasis, though a crowded one. The dress code for the outside bar and grill is obviously much more relaxed, and they serve killer hummers.

One of my best friends was married at the GPYC, and there's a few things I thought about it. First, yes, you really couldn't ask for a more elegant setting for a wedding... except for the surrounding dock. Of course this would seem obvious (since it is a Yacht Club... right?), but not until we were behind the building was it visually apparent that this gem was multi-tasking as both a marina AND a catering facility! But still, there's a great arch on the dock where my friend and his wife had pictures taken; in the photos, it looked like they were out at sea, a really beautiful backdrop if you can get a skilled photographer who can work around the yachts. I can't say much about the food, because the bride and groom opted to have Andiamo come in instead of using GPYC facilities, so anything I'd have to say should be directed elsewhere. But the bartenders were staffed by GPYC. I can say they made the tastiest martini I've ever had at a wedding (and in the Pointes that's no surprise), and were more friendly (albeit, professional) than I expected them to be. The room we were in was absolutely gorgeous. The tables were set elegantly, the cloth chair covers matched the table coverings... I really can't describe it. You know what silverware and plates look like when you go into a diner? Think of the exact opposite of that... and that's GPYC.

Luxurious dining, excellent staff, the most beautiful and well-kept and maintained harbor on the lake.

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Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

788 Lake Shore Rd, Michigan 48236 USA

• Independent

Learn more about this business on Yelp .

The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club The 131' UNITY yacht leaving the club's harbor in 2009. Built by Palmer Johnson Yachts in 2002, it is the largest vessel docked at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club is a private marina and sailing club founded in 1914 and located on the shore of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan. It was founded in 1914 through the efforts of a group of 25 sailing and iceboating enthusiasts. Grosse Pointe Yacht Club is a member of the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association (DRYA). The club is prominently visible and a well-known landmark along the shoreline of the lake north of Detroit. Its facilities were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

Reviewed by Tiffany M.

The staff is very personable and they give you an experience like no other. They host some amazing events and Mothers day brunch. They offer a amazing Adult learn to sail program that gives you... Read more

Reviewed by Jim D.

Went here for a wedding - food great service great, band great staff great- the only thing is the room noise - some sound proofing would help- couldn't talk to the person across the table without... Read more

Reviewed by Jim O.

Attended a seminar here, partial dinner included.very good waitress service. Huge chicken breast- juicy, served with steamed vegetables and potatoes. Water only, as even to purchase no other... Read more

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• Wed - Sat: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

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Junior Sailing

Grosse Yacht Club is looking forward to an amazing Summer Program in 2023! With classes for all experience levels, a fleet of Optis, Laser (w/ Full, Radial, and 4.7 rigs), C420s, O'pen Bics, J22s and an exciting calendar of events, this will be a perfect summer to start or expand your adventures under sail!

Full day sessions: 9 am until 4 pm Morning sessions: 9 am until noon Afternoon sessions: Noon until 4 pm Kindersailing : Half-days, 9–12pm or 1–4pm

Sessions I: June 19 – 30

Sessions 2: July 3 – 14 (no sailing July 4)

Sessions 3: July 24 – August 4

Race Team: June 19 – August 11, Awards August 10

No Sailing : July 15 – 23, Mackinac Race

Kinder Sailing : July 17 – 21 and August 6–11

Class Descriptions

Learn to Sail (ages 7–11) †

An introduction to the sport of sailing, this course will teach the basics of rigging a boat, boat handling, sailing fundamentals and water safety with a fun, game-inspired curriculum. Instruction is done in club-owned Optimists and J/22s. Sailors are paired with one another and learn the basics of steering, trimming the sail, and balancing the boat in an exciting, hands-on way.  This class can be taken once or repeated until a sailor is ready to be in a boat on their own.

• You like watersports and want to try sailing
• You like having fun!

Adventure Sailing (ages 12–18) †

Adventure sailing is for the beginner to advanced teenaged sailor who wants to explore the water and improve their ailing in a fun and casual way. During this two-week session, sailors will get to sail the club’s J/22s, O’pen Bics, 420s and windsurfers. This class focuses on water safety and seamanship while allowing sailors to experience the joys of being on the water.

• You like being on the water with friends and want to learn to sail
• You want more variety in your sailing experience
• You want to have fun and improve your sailing skills without competition

GPYC Racing Team (ages 8+) †

GPYC’s racing team is a fun but intensive program for intermediate-advanced sailors who are ready to compete in local and regional regattas. Our racing team competes in weekly local events with additional opportunities to compete on a regional and national level. Sailor shave the opportunity to compete in the clubs Optis, Lasers, and 420s.  

Kinder Sailing (ages 5–6) †

This week long session is a perfect sailing introductionfor those who love the water but aren’told enough yet for our learn to sail program.Our instructors will use the sailing simulator and theclub’s J22s to get our smallest sailors comfortableon the water. This session will cover basic sailingconcepts and water safety. Half Days, 9–12 or 1–4pm

2023 Class Pricing

• February 1, Early Registration begins for Summer Programs
• February 1, Spring High School Registration Opens
• June 1, Registration Deadline
• CANCELLATIONS/ CHANGES Must be submitted to [email protected]
• CHANGES Will be accommodated based on availability.

Participation Requirements

• Pass a relatively easy swim test on the first day of each session.
• Wear a properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times on the water.

One of sailing's greatest lessons is learning the importance of being prepared and keeping checklists. Please review the recommended list below and make sure to label all that nice gear with your name !

PFD (lifejacket) †

US Coast Guard Approved, Type III. Brands like Extrasport and Gill are the most popular and comfortable. Fit is important, so please choose the appropriate size for THIS summer.

Sunscreen †

Every sailor must have their own tube. The more protection the better. Ideally choose a waterproof variety that won’t hurt the eyes.

Even better sun protection.

Sun Glasses   †

Important protection for the only eyes you have!

"Every sailor brings a bailer" which can easily be fashioned by cutting the bottom off of a big OJ or laundry soap jug.

Waterproof Watch  †

With a countdown function for racing sailors.

Change of Clothes †

Besides wearing clothes to get wet in, every sailor should have extra dry duds and a towel.

Staying hydrated is important for a safe, fun, learning experience!

Lunch/Money  †

You can bring your lunch or purchase from GPYC's Harbor Grill. We have a refrigerator in the MAC.

Good Attitude  †

Well rested, well fed, happy, and ready to HAVE FUN!

Answers to common questions about our Sailing Program

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GP Yacht Club, Detroit church on historic places list

The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club and a Detroit church, Spiritual Israel and Its Army Temple, have been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The two buildings are among 10 Michigan sites added to the list, the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office announced Wednesday. Michigan has more than 1,600 sites on the national list which recognizes places that are worth preservation.

"We're certainly delighted and honored to be designated," said Kevin Granger, commodore of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. "Our club has been around for a long time. We want to maintain it for everyone."

The yacht club was founded in 1914 and its clubhouse on Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Shores officially opened in July 1929. The clubhouse became an elite gathering place for successful businessmen and their families, according to National Register Coordinator Bob Christensen.

In an application for the national designation, Christensen notes the building's architecture.

"The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club is an excellent example of the Mediterranean Revival style, which enjoyed a bout of popularity in the United States from the turn of the nineteenth century to the early 1930s," he wrote.

Granger, who has been involved with the yacht club since his parents joined in 1959, said there are plans to establish a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to allow fundraising.

"We want to keep it in the character and the manner in which it was originally built," he said.

The building that houses Spiritual Israel and Its Army Temple was also noted for its architecture, according to Christensen. The building, previously known as Amity Lodge No. 335, is on Amity Street on the city's east side.

"The building itself, other than the highly visible and inappropriate replacement windows, retains high integrity as a large early twentieth-century former lodge building of neoclassical and commercial brick design that retains large and largely intact meeting spaces," Christensen wrote in the application about the building.

The leader of the church, Bishop Bobby J. Davis, could not be reached for comment.

When it was the Amity Lodge No. 335, a number of Odd Fellows organizations occupied the building beginning in 1913 or 1914, according to Christensen. The church bought the former lodge in 1960.

The church's existence in Detroit decades before is one result of hundreds of thousands of African-Americans moving from the south during the Great Migration of the 1910s and 1920s and establishing roots in northern cities such as Detroit, Christensen wrote. The Spiritual Israel and Its Army Temple denomination was founded in Alabama in the early 1900s and brought to Detroit in the 1920s and 1930s.

"Non-mainstream black religion seems to have been largely ignored by historians of the American religious experience until relatively recent years, but it seems clear that this large-scale and highly diverse panorama of non-mainstream black religion in Detroit brought about through the upheaval of the Great Migration represents an important feature of Detroit's religious and cultural history," he wrote.

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Historic list's newest members from Michgian

The 10 sites in Michigan that have been added to the National Register of Historic Places:

■Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Grosse Pointe Shores

■Amity Lodge No. 335- Spiritual Israel and Its Army Temple, Detroit

■Historic downtown districts in St. Louis and Mount Pleasant

■The Morgan West Wheatland Cemetery, Wheatland Township

■Saginaw County Fairgrounds Main Gate

■Walter H. French Junior High, Lansing

■Peoples National Bank Building, Jackson

■William A. and Catherine Cartier House, Ludington

■Wing-Allore House, Monroe

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