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In 1965, a bunch of guys were hanging out on Pleasure Island, sailing our boats. Lake Sabine is such a great place to sail.

On the 18th day of May 1965, 24 of us signed a charter for the incorporation of “The Port Arthur Yacht Club” — our goal was to teach sailing and promote boating activities.

The club grew to 74 members in six months’ time. We hosted the Lamar University Sailing Team, the Sea

Scouts and other youth groups, and sponsored Junior Sailing camps during the summer. This community outreach continued until last year, 2023.

We signed a land lease with the City of Port Arthur and, in 1978, built a very nice Port Arthur Yacht Club building which was financed by selling bonds to our members. Our total investment was well over

$200,000. The boathouse alone cost us $50,000.

One of our members, Port Arthur businessman George Lohman, offered to sign a $100,000 loan so the City could build more boat slips, and the money received from renting the slips would be used to pay off the loan.

After Hurricane Ike, the Marina was destroyed. We rebuilt several slips ourselves and also hired an electrical contractor to bring power back to the boats. The current City leadership isn’t interested in anything that we have done.

Originally, we had a 40-year lease on the city property upon which we paid to have the clubhouse built. That same lease gave us the right to extend our stay for additional consecutive 5-year terms — We continued to engage the City regarding a renewal but were ignored.

The new Pleasure Island Director that was hired, with an unbelievable salary, was determined to make Pleasure Island a “cash cow.” My slip fee went from $175 per month to $315— fees comparable to the Boardwalk in Kemah.

Last year, a so-called “developer” was awarded a contract for a water park/ hotel venue by the Port Arthur City Council. Our clubhouse is now being awarded for his use. The City certainly had plenty of other vacant/ underutilized buildings available? This the same developer Beaumont City Council previously told to “take a walk” when he failed to perform on proposals.

During recent Council meetings Club members were asked if we lived in the city of Port Arthur. It was also pointed out by the Pleasure Island Commission Chairman that he was upset that the Marina tenants did not look like himself or Port Arthur.

So, now we have been evicted from the yacht club building we built.

MLK would be embarrassed by some Councilmen’s (and Mayor’s) recent statements and behavior towards Club members. So much for embracing character over the color of ones skin.

The Port Arthur Yacht Club is what drew much development to the Island and also introduced hundreds of children to the waterfront.

In conclusion, it appears that the City of Port Arthur is intent on “KILLING the Goose that laid the Golden Egg.”

Respectfully submitted,

John Ardoin, PAYC Founding Member