History

Origins

The Marco Island Yacht Club's roots go back to the 1960s, when a small, one-story wooden clubhouse was built on our current site. Sailing was a big focus, and Members enjoyed participating or watching the action from the patio. However, in the 1980s, the wooden clubhouse burned to the ground.

The "Marco Island Yacht and Sailing Club" Era

Eventually, the site was purchased by Jack Antaramian. He completed our current Clubhouse in 1998 and established the Marco Island Yacht and Sailing Club (MIYSC) as part of his own development ventures. In 2001, he decided to sell the Club.

The Birth of "Marco Island Yacht Club"

A group of interested boaters very quickly put together a consortium to purchase the MIYSC. They decided to limit ownership to 200 Charter Members and mailed offerings to members of several boating organizations on the Island. The response was overwhelming, with mailbags of replies returned. The Steering Committee turned away many potential investors to keep the number to 200, and in Fall 2001, the Marco Island Yacht Club was born. In addition to the 200 Charter Members holding equity in the Club, there were more than 300 General Members when the Club opened its doors.

The Riverside Marina

When MIYC was founded in 2001, the Club did not have its own Marina, but owned a dozen slips in the adjacent MIMA Marina. In 2007, MIYC filed for  permits to build dockage on the northeast side of the Club. However, plans were shelved when the economic crash of 2008 hit.  In 2019, the Club reevaluated its position and filed updated plans based on strong market demand for larger slips in the area. A new 27-slip state-of-the-art Marina was approved and was christened "The Riverside Marina" in a beautiful grand opening ceremony on November 9, 2021. 

Beautiful Clubhouse Renovation

In 2024, the Club undertook a major transformation of the clubhouse, keeping Marco Island Yacht Club at the forefront of world-class yachting and social venues. Highlights of the renovation include:

Stylish New Decor: The update included a fresh, modern decor that reflects both timeless yachting elegance and contemporary esthetics, taking full advantage of of the most spectacular views on Marco Island.

State-of-the-Art Kitchens: The kitchens got a complete overhaul, bringing them up to the highest modern standards to ensure exceptional dining experiences.

Additional Bar: A new upstairs bar area was added, providing more options for members and guests to relax and enjoy their time at the Club.

Commodores Lounge: A brand new Members Lounge was created, offering a comfortable and inviting space for socializing, relaxation, and card games.

Efficient Space Utilization: The renovation optimized the layout of the clubhouse, making it more functional and accessible for members, guests, and staff, and increasing overall dining capacity. New office space was built above the current port cochère at the Club’s entrance, freeing up existing office space for reconfiguration into additional member areas and better traffic flows.