Then And Now of the Detroit Boat Club on Belle Isle
The Historic Detroit Boat club has been around since 1839, but it was not located on Belle Isle then. In 1889, the Detroit Boat Club was moved to Belle Isle. A new clubhouse was built on Belle Isle in 1891, but was burned in 1893. Another boathouse lasted until 1901 when it also burned. On August 4, 1902, the current boathouse (the first concrete structure in the US) was built. In 1992 rent on the Detroit Boat Club property jumped from $1 to $100,000. Utility payments fell behind and membership continued to drop. The club filed for bankruptcy citing a $1million debt. The city announced plans to take over operation of the building. In 1996, the boat club members voted to move out of the city. Since the social club left Belle Isle in 1996, the historic building has fallen into disrepair. Current assessments put the needed repairs over $20 million. There are no projects to restore the boat club, as time and weather further the deterioration of the building.