About Us
Portage Yacht Club’s mission is to provide exceptional service and fun to all our members. On the ground level are two large multi-purpose rooms with lake views, deli, kitchen, locker rooms, coat room, club office and large front deck opening onto the beach and park. Upstairs is a game room and an expansive deck with panoramic views of Portage Lake.
Located on beautiful, 650 acre Portage Lake in Pinckney, Michigan, our facility has something for everyone. With a summer season May through mid October, Portage Yacht Club provides swimming, volleyball, picknicking, 168 berths for sail and motor boats, and transient docks for easy boating access to our clubhouse . Our modern clubhouse facility has all the amenities including a year round restaurant with a delightful lakefront dining experience.
Our two acres of shaded grass picnic grounds is a delightful space to spend a day, with large mature trees, picnic tables, Weber grills, volleyball court, soccer field and jungle-gym swing sets. A large and sandy beach with beach chairs, children’s toys and sand pile offers you the comforts of your own back yard. The gentle breeze off the lake with the sunny skies will surely take away your stress.
Midwest Sailing, located directly across the street from PYC, is proud to be a full-service dock, hoist, and trailer repair destination, as well as a used and new sailboat retailer and repair shop. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or just discovering the thrill of the open water, our dedicated team is here to support your journey. Midwest Sailing is your gateway to adventure and camaraderie on the water. Join us as we navigate the winds and celebrate the spirit of sailing and boating!
Our History
Portage Yacht Club’s beach and park were originally established in 1931 as part of the Newport Beach built by Birkett Newkirk, the grandson of one of Dexter’s founding settlers. The original bathhouse, constructed with wood sourced from Pinckney’s Read Lumber Company, showcased a rustic charm and a strong connection to the seasonal cottage lifestyle. In 1958, Newport Beach became a non-public accommodation and was renamed Newport Beach Club.
Tom Ehman Sr. bought the Newport Beach Club in 1966 and relocated his sailboat retail business, then called TJ Sales, to Newport Beach Club. In 1985 both businesses were combined under the corporate name of Midwest Aquatics Group, Inc (MAGI).
Newport Beach Club became the staging grounds for the Huron Portage Yacht Club, a group of daysailers and sailing enthusiast from around the lake. Festivities were previously “headquartered” at one of the cottages where the race start signal was indicated with a shotgun fired from the end of the dock.
By 1992 the Club’s 60-year-old wood frame “bathhouse” had outlived its usefulness. In November of 1992, the old building was razed, and construction began on the new building, becoming available for member’s use in the spring of 1994. The current operating name, Portage Yacht Club, was adopted in 1995.