Grand opening to be held July 25 for new home of yacht club, sailing school
The Lake Geneva Yacht Club and Geneva Lake Sailing School in Fontana is celebrating the formal opening of its new facility, the Buddy Melges Sailing Center, with a grand gala on July 25.
On July 3, Lake Geneva Yacht Club Commodore F. Terrence Blanchard and Geneva Lake Sailing School President Thomas Freytag participated with members and officers of the yacht club and the sailing school in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
In a press release from the sailing center, Blanchard said having been in the works for many years, the new site will serve as a place for some of the best sailing competition in the Midwest and member social events on Geneva Lake.
“We are very excited about and proud of our new facility and look forward to welcoming our members, guests and donors at our grand opening gala on Saturday, July 25,” he said.
“Our gala will be a spectacular event to showcase our state-of-the-art facility and what our club has to offer now and for many decades to come.”
According to the release, the celebration in the new building is expected to attract more than 200 guests. Lee John’s Catering of Waukesha will provide the dinner; music will be by Lynne Jordan and the Shivers, a Chicago band.
The new facility
The new facility contains approximately 12,000 square-feet of interior space on two floors, with the Sailing School, on the first floor, which has six indoor and outdoor classrooms and support space, and the Yacht Club, on the second floor, boasting a large dining and bar area, trophy displays, and a deck overlooking Geneva Lake, the release said. Additionally, a room at the main entrance features Inland Lake Yachting Association memorabilia and exhibits that honor members of its Bilge Pullers Hall of Fame.
The Buddy Melges Sailing Center – built by Briohn Construction Corporation of Brookfield and designed by Mary Cook Associates of Chicago – includes the Yacht Club and the Sailing School as well as the other buildings on the nearly eight acres of lakefront property.
“Our guiding principle throughout this project has been to insure the future of competitive sailing on Geneva Lake,” Past Commodore John D. Simms, Jr., who has served on the club’s Executive Committee throughout the planning and building process.
“Yacht Club members and Sailing School supporters have long hoped for a suitable and enduring facility to share, and I am pleased to say that with the help of innumerable volunteers we have achieved that goal.”
