History of the Olcott Yacht Club

The Olcott Yacht Club (OYC) is located on the west bank of Eighteen Mile Creek, where it flows into Lake Ontario. The land was purchased in 1919 by five charter members: Faber Gooding, Kenneth “Cap” Hedley, Dr. Wilton C. Paull, Harold Shaeffer, and George W. Starling. In 1920, the Club was formally incorporated with Cap Hedley serving as its first Commodore. That same year, the original clubhouse was built, consisting solely of what is now the Grog Room and bar.

Throughout the 1930s, the Club expanded with the addition of a second floor, along with the lounge and dance floor area. In the 1960s and 70s, major renovations included the addition of a kitchen and the enclosure of the north patio, now serving as the lower dining area.

By the 1980s, OYC added expanded restroom and shower facilities, new docks, and a remodeled second-floor dining space. The Commodore’s Porch was enclosed, and an outdoor upper deck was constructed. During this time, the Club also acquired several nearby parcels of land to support future growth.

In 1999, the Club launched its Haul Out and Storage operations by creating a haul-out slip in the south lot and acquiring a 20-ton Travel Lift. Today, OYC hauls and stores approximately 45 boats annually, with capacity continuing to grow.

In 2000, the Junior Sailing Building was completed. This multi-use space includes a classroom for youth sailing instruction, member storage lockers, and offseason storage for the Junior Sailing fleet and haul-out equipment.

From its humble beginnings to a vibrant facility, OYC has grown steadily thanks to the dedication and volunteer spirit of its members. As a self-help Club, we take pride in maintaining and improving our clubhouse and anchorage—and we continue to look forward to a future where we can offer slips to our membership.