The exclusive yacht clubs of the Windy City are an integral part of the good life in Chicago, Illinois. Sunrise breakfasts, sunset dining, luxurious amenities, powerboat racing, and exclusive memberships embody the paradise of Chicago’s shoreline.
Spend a sunny day sailing the scenic coastline, savor local, ostentatious seafood while enjoying spectacular shorefront views, dock your yacht, or compete in an annual regatta. Joining a yacht club is the perfect excuse to purchase a brand-new watercraft or try a new water sport. Whatever your passion, dust off your sailing gear, head back to the water, and explore Overhead Garage Door’s list of the best yacht clubs in Chicagoland, Illinois.
Chicago Yacht Club
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The magnificent Chicago Yacht Club, founded in 1875, is one of the oldest and most exclusive yacht clubs. Platinum Clubs of America ranks the Chicago Yacht Club in the top 10 yacht clubs in the U.S. This beautiful venue offers diverse opportunities to enjoy the water and hosts over 200 events at its two locations on the city’s shoreline, one in Monroe Harbor and another in Belmont Harbor. The main dining room at Monroe Station offers unsurpassed outdoor dining with a 180-degree view of Lake Michigan. Belmont Station is family-friendly and offers summer dinner specials for members to enjoy.
A leader in sailing education, the Chicago Yacht Club has one of the most comprehensive junior sailing programs in America. The club is home to over 1,400 members, ages four to 100, and boasts Olympic medalists and a winning America’s Cup skipper. Whether you want to learn how to operate a small motorboat, improve your yacht-handling skills, or try racing, the club’s skilled staff and coaches will help you achieve your goals.
- Location: 400 E. Monroe St. and 300 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.
- Hours: 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Columbia Yacht Club
Established in 1892, Columbia Yacht Club fosters a deep sense of community and a love of the lake among club members, officers, and staff. It’s a club where the friendly staff welcomes you aboard a world of cruising, regattas, stand-up paddle boarding, racing, and power boating. The Columbia Sailing School, in the heart of downtown Chicago, caters to all ages and abilities. Each season, U.S.-certified sailing instructors help you improve your sailing skills in enjoyable and safety-oriented course options.
You’ll also find menu choices perfect for every occasion, whether dropping in for Fajita Fridays after a sail or celebrating with friends and family on Prime Rib Saturdays. The club’s kitchen sources local, sustainable, fresh ingredients for its seasonal menu. Comfort food, international cuisine, and dining with lake views are the best ways to entertain family and friends. Columbia Yacht Club has a variety of beautiful indoor dining spaces with unmatched views and impeccable service. From quiet sunrise breakfasts to sunset dining or crews readying for races, this club is professional, welcoming, and community oriented.
- Location: 111 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago.
- Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club
When the gaff-rigged New England schooner built for Franklin D. Roosevelt sailed into the new harbor at Montrose in 1934, Richard J. Frankenstein and William S. Ahern founded the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club. Construction of the clubhouse began in 1936. The Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club is an inclusive all-volunteer club. Through the efforts of over 800 regular members, it maintains and improves the club’s facilities at no cost to the City of Chicago.
Friendship, community, laughter, sailing, and power boating are synonymous with the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club. The club promotes sailing and instruction in proper small boat handling through its crew school, and its name represents participating in sport, not for gain, but for the love of acquiring nautical experience. The volunteer-managed bar is open for members during boating season, summer holidays, or club events. The Head Bar Stewards designed a bartender training program that includes certification, and the club welcomes members to join the team.
- Location: 601 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago.
- Hours: 24/7.
Burnham Park Yacht Club
Founded in 1938, the Burnham Park Yacht Club is in the museum campus of Chicago’s magnificent lakefront on the eastern shore of Burnham Harbor, the most sheltered harbor in Chicago. Burnham Park Yacht Club only serves its members and prides itself on promoting the knowledge and enjoyment of yachting in Chicago. There are several membership categories available, ranging from regular to social memberships, and you don’t have to own a boat to qualify for membership in the club.
Some of the club membership privileges include a dining room, a full bar, patio service, educational seminars, sailboat fleet racing, junior and adult sailing schools, power fleet cruising, a club directory listing, and reciprocity with other yacht clubs all over the world. Members enjoy power boating cruise events, sailboat racing, development seminars for skippers and crew, and dinghy racing. The Burnham Park Yacht Club menu includes appetizers, soups, salads, New York-style pizza, entrees, seafood, and mouthwatering desserts. The club kitchen delivers to your boat, or a curbside collection is available.
- Location: 1500 S. Linn White Drive, Chicago.
- Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, noon to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
So, there you have it. Overhead Garage Door has shared our list of the best yacht clubs in Chicagoland, Illinois. Like these prestigious yacht clubs, Overhead Garage Door is here to serve the community and has been since 1969. If your home needs a garage repair or installation, contact us to find out how we can enhance your garage’s safety. While you’re at it, discover all the locations that we service in the Greater Chicago area. Our professional, service-oriented team is one of the largest in Northern Illinois.