 The heritage of The Beach Club dates back to 1941 when Jack Mitchell, a well known resorter, prominently identified with Palm Beach Club life, built the Coral Beach Club on this site. The original structure was designed by John Volk, then a young architect from Austria. The Clubhouse featured an enormous swimming pool on the ocean surrounded by private cabanas.
Jack Mitchell was a charismatic individual who attracted many members to join his club. For three decades he operated his Club, which was famous for its private casual parties and the fact that children were always welcome. Mitchell was quoted as saying “Gentlemen, it’s time for a change. You’ll have to start wearing shoes on the dance floor.” By way of protest, the gentlemen refused to wear socks with shoes, thus starting a new Palm Beach tradition.
In 1969, Mitchell made provisions to sell the Club and its very valuable ocean front corner lot to a group of men who are known today as “The Founders” of The Beach Club. The old Coral Beach Club was demolished, and soon construction began on a new clubhouse, which was again, designed by John Volk. The new Club opened its doors in 1970.
All members of the Coral Beach Club, including Jack Mitchell, were invited to join The Beach Club; however, The Founders contributed the majority of the capital needed to construct the new Club. Without them, we would likely not exist today.
The Beach Club, as it was now called, immediately became known as “The Club for All Seasons” because it remained open for 11 months out of the year and had a reciprocal arrangement with the Sailfish Club for the 12th month. Club amenities now included an Olympic size swimming pool, more cabanas facing the sea, 5 tennis courts, a 70,000 square foot Clubhouse with a ballroom, indoor courtyard open to the sky, a dining room and snack bar.
Since its official reorganization in 1969, The Beach Club has been governed by an elected Board of Directors, which in turn has created member committees to oversee all aspects of the Club.
In the early 1980’s, three championship croquet courts were added to the Club’s west side property. The third court was made possible by a special land sharing agreement with our neighbor, The Palm Beach Country Club. Croquet has become a very important part of Club activities.
In 2005, exactly thirty-five years after the current Clubhouse opened to the members, the first step of the major renovation of the Club was completed. This renovation included a newly designed lobby, library, poolside grill and display kitchen, redesigned dining room to include a private dining room, mahogany bar and cocktail lounge, new restrooms and children’s play room. The history of the Club was recalled by naming the new ocean front dining room The Coral Beach Room and the private dining room The Founders' Room.
Also in 2005, the logo of The Beach Club was changed back to the graceful seahorses that once proudly decorated the logo of the Coral Beach Club, with the addition of tennis racquets and croquet mallets in recognition of today’s primary Club activities.
Today, the Club provides a full range of activities for our members, a very dedicated staff to serve them and a beautiful new environment in which to enjoy. |