The Yacht Club: Where Cape Coral Plays

Locals call it a “tropical showcase,” and with good reason. Cape Coral Yacht Club is one of the original landmarks of the city located on the Caloosahatchee River in a beautiful tropical setting. The Yacht Club Community Park is home to an amazing number of facilities and amenities, including its own public beach, a fishing pier and a community pool. Once you cross over the bridges and take in gorgeous views as you drive through Fort Myers and Cape Coral, and cross the Caloosahatchee River, there are so many things to do along the 70-mile river that stretches from the western edge of Lake Okeechobee to San Carlos Bay. The Yacht Club Fishing Pier is a wonderful place to take a long relaxing walk and enjoy breathtaking views of the river, see the dolphins play, the manatees and a wonderful variety of birds that make the river their home. If you have a fishing license, you can fish for snapper, red or black drum, trout and snook from the pier. During the season, approximately 900-1,100 people visit the pier daily to fish because the pier extends 600 feet into the river. It gives fishermen an opportunity to fish in an area that usually would require a boat to reach. Extensive rehabilitation was done in 2006 and 2007 after Hurricane Charley; new fish-cleaning stations were added and several benches were installed along the length of the pier. The pier is located at the Yacht Club Community Park where you can also find the Cape Coral beach, a community pool, a public boat ramp, picnic shelters, lighted tennis courts and Pro Shop, a shuffleboard court, a Senior Center, outdoor racquetball courts, horseshoe pits, a playground and the Godman Cape Coral Yacht Basin. In the beach area, there is the terrific Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill, and a Stand-Up paddleboard rental place, SUPciety, located under the restaurant. Paddleboarders can paddle through the adjacent canal with quiet waters or the river with waves and currents. A beach pavilion is available for picnics, barbeques, birthday parties and other celebrations. The ballroom can be rented for weddings and private parties. Special events take place throughout the year, including the ever-popular tradition, “Sunset Celebration” hosted by the city on the first Wednesday off each month, featuring live music, local arts and crafts vendors, and of course, sunsets over the water. Here is a resource to view home ownership options near the Cape Coral Yacht Club.