Grosse Pointe Yacht Club facts for kids
Burgee
|
|
| Short name | GPYC |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1914 |
| Location | Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, U.S. |
| Commodore | Jason Grobbel |
The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (often called GPYC) is a special club for boating fans. It's located right on the edge of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan. The club is part of the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association (DRYA). Its main building is very easy to spot and is a famous landmark along the lake's shore, just north of Detroit.
Contents
Club History and Design
|
Grosse Pointe Yacht Club
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Wayne County, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 788 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan 48236 |
|---|---|
| Area | 25 acres (10 ha) |
| Built | 1928-1929 |
| Built by | Corrick Brothers |
| Architect | Ralph Coolidge Henry and Henry P. Richmond Guy Lowell (concept) |
| Architectural style | Mediterranean Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 14001124 |
| Added to NRHP | January 7, 2015 |
The club first started in 1910 as the Grosse Pointe Ice Boat Club. It was founded by Frank Verheyden. A few years later, in 1918, it changed its name to the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.
The main clubhouse building has a beautiful Mediterranean Revival style. A famous architect from Boston, Guy Lowell, first imagined the design in the 1920s. Sadly, Lowell passed away before his plans were finished. However, his ideas for the clubhouse were still used after he was gone.
Opening and Challenges
The clubhouse officially opened on July 4, 1929. It had a large ballroom and several dining rooms. The biggest dining room could fit 250 people. The club faced money problems during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people had financial difficulties.
Despite trying to get more members, the club went into debt. But some hopeful members bought the club back. This happened at the start of World War II. They believed that people would soon have more money to spend.
In 1984, the club decided to update its dining and social areas. They hired experts to redesign these spaces. After the plans were approved, a company was hired to build the new parts.
Awards and Features
In 1997, the GPYC was named the “Number One Yacht Club in America.” It is still thought of as one of the best clubs today. Since 2019, it has won "Club of Excellence" and "Distinguished Club" awards every year.
The GPYC offers many classic yacht club features. These include a large Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, and bowling lanes. It also has fancy dining rooms and a ballroom. Boating members love the GPYC’s great spot on Lake St. Clair. The club has a big marina with deep water and a private gas dock for boats.
The GPYC is part of the Detroit Regional Yachting Association. It hosts two big sailing races each year that are approved by the DRYA. The club also has many other sailing events and programs. The tall bell tower at the club helps boaters find their way on the lake.
Exploring the Clubhouse
When you enter the club, you walk through a 50-foot long hallway. This leads to a round room called a rotunda. From here, you can go to different parts of the club. A bronze sculpture by Wheeler Williams, called "Rhythm of the Waves," is a key artwork you'll see.
Club Amenities
Besides the marina, the club has many fun things to do. There's a bowling alley that's open all year. You can also find an Olympic-sized pool. There are several clay tennis courts and two lighted paddle tennis courts. The club also has pickleball courts and a special sailing center.
The club has three dining rooms and a main ballroom. There are also six bars, a pool deck, and two wine cellars. The club's facilities have been updated and made modern many times. The harbor has been made bigger and better as more people joined the club. However, the club has kept the original look of Lowell's design. The beautiful views of Lake St. Clair have also been protected.
You might have seen the club in movies! A view of the club is shown in the background at the end of the movie Gran Torino (2008), which stars Clint Eastwood. An aerial view of the club's tower also appears in a scene in the 1997 film Grosse Pointe Blank, starring John Cusack.
See also
- Grosse Pointe
- St. Clair Shores
