History

Charter members of the Mackinac Island Yacht Club in 1937
Photo donated by George Gornick on August 27, 1967
(Please click on image for larger view.)

The Mackinac Island Yacht Club was founded in 1937 with the acquisition of the former George Sweeney home by the original club members. the first Commodore of the Club was J. E. Buker. Members own the clubhouse and lease the land on which the clubhouse stands from the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.

Although the club grew steadily throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the house itself fell into disrepair. W. F. "Bill" Doyle, elected Commodore in 1955, undertook a project of restoring the house and adding a burgee room on the east side of the original building. In 1985 the club enlarged that room into the present dining room and added two additional sleeping rooms to the second floor.

Early yachters in Halimand Bay, Mackinac Island
Photo courtesy Mackinac State Historic Parks.