While you might not peg Quartzsite, AZ as sailor’s paradise, its home to a yacht club that boasts the largest membership in the world, even though it’s located hundreds of miles from a body of water.
So how does a yacht club wind up in the middle of the desert?
A great sense of humor, basically.
Back in the 70s, a man by the name of Al Madden bought Quartzsite’s old beer bar “The JIGSAW”, and jokingly renamed it The Yacht Club, even coming up a rather snappy motto: “long time so sea”.
Before long, the business had taken off, and Madden was selling memberships to the Yacht Club to ANYONE who qualifies.
How do you qualify for membership?
Membership at the Quartzsite Yacht Club only costs $49.99 plus tax a person.
Can you fill out the form and send payment for your membership? …then you qualify !!! … or if you apply online using the button to the right your membership will be shipped to you (additional $15 S&H)
There is one particular perk, though, that ends up being the best of the bunch: reciprocity.
You see, a good majority of Yacht Clubs around the country offer reciprocal memberships, which means that those belonging to another club can present their card and gain access without a fee.
It Seems members of the Quartzsite Yacht Club began to notice that their joke membership was being taken seriously at other clubs around the country …
(the one-time fee allowing them to enter much swankier, actually-real yacht clubs.)
Membership fee is $49.99 plus tax.
Online price will have a $15 S&H charge added during order.
International shipping please contact the restaurant for shipping fees.
Any visitor to the club has the option of joining; and with their membership they receive a signed membership certificate and an official membership card.
