The Nopkehee docked at Peninsula Yacht Club. Photo: Peninsula Yacht Club
Nov. 12. By Dave Yochum. A member mutiny at the Peninsula Yacht Club may have been averted with word that it will reopen in time for Thanksgiving dinner service indoors. The lakefront facility has been closed since Sept. 11, apparently because of water damage.
The club is as much a private business as a club, in that it is owned and operated by a huge, for-profit real estate investment trust.
Despite being closed for three months, members were required to pay dues of $154 a month, upsetting those who relied on the facilities for meal service and entertainment.
Repairs to the first floor
The reopening date of Nov. 5 came and went as PYC made “needed repairs to the first floor of the clubhouse and pool restrooms,” according to a message to members yesterday from Kathee Dishner, general manager.
She could not be reached for comment today.
The message said PYC will waive December dues for social memberships, which provide access to the dining room, a library and the bar.
New resignation policy
Those who want to resign can do so immediately, rather than wait six months as outlined in the membership policy.
“We would be sorry to see you leave, but we want the Club to be full of Members who are excited to be part of our family,” the message says.
The reopening date is Thanksgiving, with dine-in and take-out options.
Background
The club and marina, which were owned by Morningstar Marinas, were purchased in July of 2020 by Safe Harbor Marinas. In October of 2020 Safe Harbor was acquired by a real estate investment trust (REIT) named Sun Communities Inc. for approximately $2 billion.
According to Millionacres.com, a Motley Fool real estate investing service, Sun Communities has focused on manufactured housing and RV communities. As of last year, Sun had interests in 426 manufactured housing and RV communities with more than 143,000 sites across 33 states and Canada. Its portfolio included 266 manufactured home communities, 126 RV communities, and 34 mixed communities.
The Safe Harbor acquisition last year brought with it 99 marinas, including Peninsula Yacht Club.
