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Clear Lake Yacht Club

Clear Lake and CLYC History 

  
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Sailing
The Ritz,  Yes there was a Charles Ritz.  In 1922 he purchased the building known at various times as the Stevens House, the Stratton Hotel, and the Oakwood Park Hotel and moved it to the Lakeshore.  This building, constructed in 1882, has probably held more official and unofficial CLYC meetings than any other on our lake.  The Ritz was destroyed by a grease fire in 1999. 
The Ritz in the early days, the only way to South Shore was by water. Large docks for boating clients to park their craft became an early fixture of the Ritz. The tradition of boating to the Ritz continued to the end. It was Charles Ritz who introduced the refrigerated glass-fronted meat case from which customers could choose their dinner as they walked in the front door. This tradition was maintained by all subsequent owners. The Ritz was known for its steaks.  In 1936, the second story of the Ritz was converted from sleeping rooms to a key club. Until 1963, when liquor by the drink was legalized in Iowa, cage lockers in this area were used to store members' bottles of liquor, for which they each held keys. The Ritz provided them the mix
Island view,  The Island House Hotel was built in 1870 and owned by Jim Emerson.  It was a place of beauty and social activities for its day, with excursions to and from the island by the steamboat, Lady of the Isle.  This elaborate hotel burned in 1875 and to be rebuilt and burn again.  After changing hands several times, Dr. J.B. Morrison sold the island to C.R. Woodford in 1897.  In 1971 it was donated to the State with the stipulation that it remain in its natural and everyone could enjoy it. 
Outlet,  Originally, a natural outlet ran through the ground of the Outing Club on the south end.  In the 1850's Oscar Stevens rerouted the water flow several hundred yards to the south to operate a flour mill.  Over the next 60 years a dispute arose between the local farmers and property owners on the lake, leading to the dynamiting of the wier.  The Supreme Court of Iowa intervened in 1910 and established the outlet level.